Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Which big bore ?

I have a Marlin 35 rem in a 336. Shoots awesome with Hornady Leverevolution and other loads.

I have decided on a big bore lever. Here is the problem:

450 or 45-70?--I know they are identical so the choice here is not all that difficult.

More importantly and almost impossible to decide!

SS/LAM full size XLR or giude gun? I like the extra velocityof the long barrel but I love the handling of the short guy also. If the XLR had a 20 or 22" barrel= no brainer!

Those who have both is there a big difference in handling? Please help!

I hate making these decisions man!

Also I just handled a 26" octagonal Cowboy 45/70 yesterday!

A bit unwieldy with that long barrel, but what classic looks!!! WOW

God! even more confused!

My choice would be the plain Jane 1895 .45-70 w/ 22" barrel, if I wanted it for a primary hunting rifle, but it sounds like your preferences run toward the laminated stock, stainless steel and maybe a quicker handling package.

Why not just get the .45-70 XLR and have the barrel cut to 20 or 22 inches, whichever you decide on?

I really like my 336 marlins in 35 rem. I have two but neither one will group as well as my guide gun in 45/70. With 350 grain Cor Bon laods it will put 3 rounds in a nickle at 100 yards. I would make it a 45/70 for sure. Cowboy action loads are great mild practice loads. Factory 300 grain loads make great low recoil 100 yard deer loads. Full power loads from Cor Bon, Buffalo Bore, and Garretts can and have taken every thing from elk and moose to African dangerous game. The versatility posible in having diferent power levels available in factory and custom ammo is really useful. With the 450 marlin you basically get full power soft points. If you handload ,the 45/70 case actually has greater case volume so it can duplicate 450 loads in a marlin gun of modern manufacture. In a modern single shot like my Winchester 1885 it can excede 450 performance. Everybody that I have talked to with a guide gun has been delighted with it so I think if you are buying the gun to hunt in heavy cover the little guide gun is the way to go. If for some reason you want to use a 45/70 lever gun as a lomg range outfit then buy a longer barreled version.

If you handload definitely go for the 45/70. If you don't handload, buy the +P loads like CorBon, Garretts, Buffalo Bore (like ruraldoc said), but still get a 45/70.

You can't go wrong with any of the 1895 45/70 models. Pick what you like and go huntin'. For me, it was the guide gun. I picked it because it carries great. It gives up about 25fps of muzzle velocity per inch of barrell length to the longer 1895s, but for me it's an easy tradeoff to make.

Pop, alot of what your askin is whether or not somethin works for you, an without knowin you one iota, its a tough call.
Personally, I'd rather have a longer barrel than short. I like iron soghts, an the longer the sight radius, the better. That said, I have to admit that for me, the guide gun is darn nrear perfect, even with that shortie bbl. It comes to the shoulder fast, an the sights are right there, no fishin for em.
I've hit things at over 200yrds with this gun, and even tho its starting to show wear, I don't think I'll ever sell it or trade it.
The longer barrel versions are nice, and I think the 95 with the 22"bbl an the open pistol grip is a darn sight prettier than the guide gun, but its just not as handy.
The cowboy is a fine example of sight radius at work, but what goes for the 95 goes for the cowboy.
If I just needed a handy, accurate gun, I can't imagine a better choice than the guide gun.
450 vs 45-70?
The .450 is 40,000 psi SAAMI, the 45-70 is 28,000. If you have old/classic/weak/worn 45-70s you want to make darn sure not to stuff em with 40,000psi rounds. No problem as such for the .450, other than that, the 45-70 is capable of a lil more velocity at 40,000psi than the .450. Some other nuances here an there, but essentially factory SAAMI loads will be hotter for the .450.
Good luck n good shootin

The SAAMI pressure specification for the 450 Marlin is 43,500 PSI. The SAAMI pressure specification for the 45-70 Government is 28,000 PSI in deference to the many Springfield Trapdoor and other older single shot rifles still in circulation. Even SAAMI specs will not protect some of the older 45-70 rifles as many should not be subjected to more than 21,000 PSI, some no more than 17,000 PSI. The literature supports a safe operating pressure for the Marlin 1895 45-70 of 40,000 CUP or approximately 42,732 PSI.

After a long and painful deliberation of which marlin to get I finally ordered it this morning. I hope I made the right choice!





In 450 Marlin of course! :lol:

All you need, now, is a "peep" and a buffalo.
Have fun, POP!

Thanx!

Pop, looks like a good choice. I was lucky and found a used XLR in 45/70. Down here in GA I wanted a shorter barrel. Took it to the gunsmith I usally use and had the barrel cut to 20"; left the sights off; plugged the gap left by the rear sight; and had a Nikon 2X7 Monarch Scope mounted Warne Bases and Rings Mid Height. Most of the shots I take are close range, so the shorter barrel feels good to me. Don't know how the .450marlin will feel when you sight it in but the 45/70 felt pretty stout after about 10 shoots. If you haven't heard of MarlinOwners.com you might like to take a look over there.

POP great choice ilove my xlr but it is in 45-70 i am going to start handloading soon should be fun. but in the mean time i started using buffalo boar ammo what a power house!!!!! also i find the xlr very accuurate with 4 differenttypes of factory ammo. all group with in 1.5 at a100yds !!

Sounds like a tack driver on steroids!

POP, I have that exact Rifle... I love it. I did put a set of Brockman's Ghost Ring Sights and I love it.

That round is very easy to Hand load.

I have a Cowboy model yes it seems unwealdy at first but the more you handle and shoot it the easier it gets and the better it feels. That long barrel really does a lot to keep recoil down. and it will give you a bit more range with it's longer eye relief

You wouldn't have gone wrong with either, but my preference is for the 450 as well. That said, it is just that, a preference. I have it in guide gun and BFR revover. I also have a 22 inch model 444s with a matching BFR revolver. I would like to have the long model 45-70 for nostalgia, but the 450 is soooo sweet.

The reason many will tell you to go 45-70 (besides just their preference) is that the number of loads for purchase is greater, as the round has been around since Custer. You can buy reduced loads over the counter, but it is hard for most people to buy full power Marlin loads from a local store. You can order them by phone of web site, but most of the rounds you will find at almost every sporting goods store are the ones safe for old models. (And please guys, don't start telling me about how in your town you can walk up to the Wal Mart and get the Black Hills or other high power loads. A few places might have them, but the vast majority don't.) Many loads are available for both the 45-70 and the 450, but you have to look for them, or order them from some place. If you go to a local Gander Mountain, Bass Pro Shop or Wal Mart and get a box of 450 Marin it will give you a nice big BOOM.

If you reload it doesn't make one hoot of difference which one you get. You can load down or up, heavy or light. You got the one that "spoke" to you in the store, "take me home". (Okay, they all speak to some of us. My wife swears they are breeding in my gun safe.)

Dito the post about Marlinowners.com.

Why not consider the 444 Marlin? Go to beartooth bullets website and look around. They have some excellant articles on how versatile the 444 is compared to other large bores. After spending time reading about this round, I decided to do something different and to max out the round in terms of what it can do. Ive been very happy ever since. Hope this helps...

Congrats on the new Big Bore lever gun Pop! I picked up a 444 lever gun years go and then sold the rifle after uisng it little. Then got back on track sometime later and purchased my first 1895 Marlin in a 45-70 model. I liked it a lot but wanted something that shot flatter and some months later purchased the Marlin 1895 in the "Triple Quad" .444 caliber.
I ended up putting a scope on the .444 model but it didn't seem to hender the handling one iota.

Marlin 1895XLR .45-70 if you don't mind Stainless/Laminated Wood.
Marlin 1895 .45-70 Classic if you prefer Blued/Walnut.