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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
I've had this pre-safety 1895, 45-70 for many years, bought it used at a gun show for $185, was missing the rear sight. I killed deer with it back in the day, just now got it out and am working with it again. Many moons ago, I cut off the top of the factory stock on a table saw, glued pieces of wood to build a cheek piece and comb. After I got is shaped to suit, I painted it with Brownell's crinkle paint. The finish has worn over the years and it isn't the prettiest gun. But the action is really slick and it has a very good trigger. Recently I mounted a Bushnell 4200 2.5-10. It had a VX III 1.5-5x20 in the Redfield rings. The Leupold is an excellent scope. I already had the 4200; I like 2.5X for quick shooting, 10X for range work. The larger objective should be better in low light. 4200's have very good glass and a good duplex reticle. I'd put it even with or ahead of the VX-III. 4200's have a shorter ER than Leupolds, but with solid cheek weld and a good hold, no problem. Recoil isn't that bad, although the scope was slipping in the rings. I clean them with acetone, applied rubber glue and reassembled. It's holding. Over the years, I had used a number of powders such as RL-7, 3031, 4198, Vv 133 and 120, my current favorite is John Taffin's 52 gr. H-322 load with 300 gr. jacketed bullets at around 1,875 fps. H-322 is an Australian powder. I got some Combined Technologies 300's at SPS for a good price. I had a few Hornady 300 gr. JHP's on hand. The Hornady 300's out shot the CT 300's Here's the best Hornady group at a hundred. I can fairly consistently shoot 1 1/2" or better with the Horn, nearly that good with CT's. I'm using W/W brass, Fed 210 primers, Redding dies and Lee Factory crimp die. I took it hunting this past weekend, didn't shoot anything, but it's ready and I'm ready. It's sighted 1 1/2" high at a hundred and I have a printout for holds out to 250 yds. It's not a long range gun, but it'll do pretty good with a drop chart. DF
Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 11/06/17.
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,924
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,924 |
Mine doesn't have the character or personal touches yours has but I hope I get to use mine as long as you have yours.
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,781
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 17,781 |
Moose, mine looks like yours.. Haven’t shot it a lot, but killed whitetails, and antelope.. May try a buffalo next winter.. Don’t use it a bunch, but when we head to grizzly country, it is a comfort to have this in the camper..
Molon Labe
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Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,740
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 7,740 |
I have been reloading 405 grain bullets for mine.
I have taken 4 white tails with the hornady factory Lever Whatever ammo.
I am really liking the Marlins and am thinking long and hard about focusing my efforts on the marlin line of cartridges. Thanks for sharing.
"Shoot low sheriff, I think he's riding a shetland!" B. Wills
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
Mine doesn't have the character or personal touches yours has but I hope I get to use mine as long as you have yours. Lot prettier than mine... Those are nice guns and shoot very well. DF
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
I have been reloading 405 grain bullets for mine.
I have taken 4 white tails with the hornady factory Lever Whatever ammo.
I am really liking the Marlins and am thinking long and hard about focusing my efforts on the marlin line of cartridges. Thanks for sharing. From all reports, factory Levermatic ammo is good, but the cases are shorter to accommodate the ogive on that bullet. Thus, for me that brass is useless. Due to it's shorter length, I can't use the Lee Factory crimp. And, I like the LFC. You could load those cases without the crimp, but with thin necked brass in a kicking round, the LFC makes a lot of sense, may produce more consistent ammo. DF Edited to add, I have two 45-70 LFC dies, could grind enough off the bottom of one to accommodate the shorter Hornady Levermatic brass. But, I have a bunch of W/W brass, don't need to do that. If someone has a good supply of the shorter brass, that may be one way to utilize the LFC. That would be easier and cheaper than having Lee make a custom LFC die.
Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 11/06/17.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 573
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 573 |
Here's mine, made in 1972. The top gun is a 70's Mod 94 in .357
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
NIce pair, had seen that photo before.
I never get tired of looking at fine rifles, those are in perfect conditioin.
Pre-safety Marlins should bring a premium.
DF
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Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,924
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 13,924 |
NIce pair, had seen that photo before.
I never get tired of looking at fine rifles, those are in perfect conditioin.
Pre-safety Marlins should bring a premium.
DF And they do. I gave up on trying to afford an original .444
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Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,060
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 19,060 |
Here's mine, made in 1972. The top gun is a 70's Mod 94 in .357 Very nice. I like the clean look without the checkering.
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Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 573
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2015
Posts: 573 |
The 45-70 came out of Alaska, it was a Guide's camp gun
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 861
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 861 |
Here's mine, made in 1972. The top gun is a 70's Mod 94 in .357 I own the same exact Marlin 45-70 type rifle that's in this pic. Yeah I like it
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
I have a 26" Cowboy 1895 with Ballard rifling. I find the Microgroove to be very good with jacketed bullets, the gun I posted with its target is Microgroove.
I'm doing additional load development with the CB gun, shooting different cast as well as jacketed bullets.
Another matter, I had some Speer cowboy type 405 gr. coated bullets loaded with 4198. After a number of years, those rounds wouldn't fire. I pulled one and found a lot of corrosion, such that the powder was ruined and the primer was dead. They were all duds. I dumped the whole lot. Same load, 405 Lasercast, all fired, no corrosion. I'm thinking the coating that Speer put on those bullets reacted with the powder to make a mess. I don't see those bullets listed, maybe they quit making them. I sure don't want any more. Anyone have a similar experience?
DF
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 11/08/17.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,625
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,625 |
Here's a couple pics of mine. It's also a 70's gun I think.
NRA Endowment Life Member (and proud of it)
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. - Plato
Deuteronomy 22:5
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
Beautiful country; I like the dogs and the bruin.
Looks like you guys were having a good time, dogs, too, not so much the bear.
DF
Last edited by Dirtfarmer; 11/13/17.
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,625
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,625 |
Beautiful country; I like the dogs and the bruin.
Looks like you guys were having a good time, dogs, too, not so much the bear.
DF At that time I was 71 and that was my very first bear shot on top of the mountain behind us. It took me 3 1/2 hours to get to the dogs and bear. It took me two shots to the chest to bring the bear out of the tree dear. I LOVE my 45-70 as you will also.
NRA Endowment Life Member (and proud of it)
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. - Plato
Deuteronomy 22:5
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
Looks like rugged country. 3 1/2 hrs. up and down those hills would be a work out...
Packing that bear out would be even more fun...
DF
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Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,625
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 12,625 |
Brought the bear out whole. No packing. Notice the dust on the hide.
NRA Endowment Life Member (and proud of it)
Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Wise men speak because they have something to say; fools because they have to say something. - Plato
Deuteronomy 22:5
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Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105
Campfire 'Bwana
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OP
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 37,105 |
Brought the bear out whole. No packing. Notice the dust on the hide. If we had to work that hard making a living, we'd be complaining... DF
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