Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Best 45-70 Lever Gun

That's a chitty deal, but my first impression is that there was more at play than just a thin web in the magazine tube/receiver joint.
The Marlin Owners link described an actual milled void in the web between the magazine tube recess and the barrel threads, not a thin, weak spot prone to cracking. I wonder if they were referring to a bad lot of rifles or a consistent design flaw.

That/////

And, in another configuration with sister 39, old Fajan stock and my checkering..

Back in my CAS days. The 39 was good for practice.

With antique eyes, the scope is better. I think I'm past my tang sight days.

But, IMO the rifle is actually prettier set up like that. I reshaped the stock to resemble the old long tang Marlins, sent to to Errol Case in MO for a classic checkering pattern after a tung oil refinish. It has a Wild West trigger,

DF

And, another pair of LR .45-70's. Pedersoli Sharps.

DF

I've carried a Marlin 1895 for a lot of years. I like the pistol grip. I did however, have the barrel cut down to 18-1/2" , and Wild West Guns did some smoothing up. There was no stainless back then and I had mine Chrome, matt finished, and had a Pachmayer decelerator pad added. I also like the XS sights on it. They are very fast sights, almost as fast as a scope. I've had no problem with the rifle. I had a couple of earlier ones with the straight grips and porting, I'd never have another one of those. My wrist doesn't work with the straight grip.
I've had a few of the early Miruko 1886's and they were heavier than I'd like to carry all day. Beautiful guns though for sure. I've had the standard, model, the high grade, and the Montanas.

I have to agree with Shrapnel on the Browning 1886. Mine happens to be the Winchester repro with rebounding hammer (which I had disabled), and tang safety (which I had removed and covered the slot with a vernier tang sight). I do have a Browning 71 without the rebounding hammer and tang safety and that is the way to go. I did have a couple of Marlin Cowboys in 45-70 but only have that one in 38-55 now.

Have you ever shot a 45-70? Might change your mind if you do.

Never seen one in the flesh, but another source for 86/71s is Pedersoli. They're built from forgings, I believe. A YouTuber, Cap and Ball IIRC, has done at least one review of the 86. Seemed pretty nice. I'd want to handle one before buying.

That's how flinches are developed.....grin.


I've run some of the Hornady Manual loads for the Marlin through Quickload. The max pressure loads go into the 40K psi pressure range.

I have a JM 1895GBL. My 405gr Load with 40gr RL7 gets over 1500 fps, and predicted pressure is right around 30K psi. That's as far as I care to go with the Marlin 1895.

Don't ya know...

DF

Wow...

Now, that's the real deal.

Thanks for posting.

DF

I can't speak for a Winchester or Browning in 45/70, but I have two Marlins. Both are accurate and smooth working. My fascination with big bores is about over, but I'll probably hang on to my Guide Gun.

I've found that personally I don't need loads heavier than Trapdoor levels. They do everything I'll ever need a big gun for.

Anyone see the new Pedersoli 86/71 in the flesh? It looks good in the pics and now they are making them in .348 Win. It looks like one can be had for around $1,400. Has anybody actually seen one?

I'm guessing that those with Marlin 1895 receivers that "let go" probably stated that their loads "are safe in my gun" prior to the moment they discovered they weren't.

Wouldn’t want to be very close when it went. Shrapnel can travel pretty far.

“It’s safe in my gun” until it’s not.

No reason to hot rod these fine guns.

They’ll behave if we behave.

DF

My Miroku 45-70. Checkered it and added a pad.

DF

I had a really nice Marlin Cowboy gun, kicked like a mule. However the newer marlins that I have had leave a lot to be desired.

Yeah, Remlins are not the same as JM marked Marlins.

The Cowboy Marlins are lighter than the Miroku 1886's. Easier to carry, kick more.

DF