I was so pleased with my 444 that I decided to take the plunge with the 45-70 (I've never owned that caliber). Very pleased with overall fit, function and accuracy. I was going to put a peep sight on it, but these new Marlins are NOT drilled for peeps and I really need a scope nowadays so I committed blasphemy and put a Leupold (so I guess double blasphemer) 4X on it. Loaded and shot 8 rounds of Hornady 325 FTXs at 100 yards after initial sight in @ 25.:

Congratulations on your purchase.

I really like the 1895s and have 3 of them. a std. 22" barrel, one straight stocked guide gun, and a guide big lever. Have a '69 444 and a '81 35 Rem also.

All of a sudden, my safe is infested with them! didn't realize how much I like and enjoy hunting with them. Aside from the new 444 and 4570, I have a 1981 vintage 444, an 1892 in 44 Mag and the sweetest 336 RC (1952 manufacture) in 32 Win Special.... It's a sickness I tell you.

The Williams receiver sight uses the rear scope base holes.

Not the ones I always installed on my Marlins. They were always mounted on the side.

Congrats jorge! I’d wanted a Marlin GG 45-70 ever since they came out. Got one 4 years ago, and finially shot it about 5 weeks ago. Ten shots on first outing, the first 5 to get on paper, then these 5 at 100, using a 1-4 Vortex, with my homegrown 430 grain WFN @ 1789 fps average.

Very happy with rifle and load performance! I hope to get back to my home state and poke a hog with it! memtb

I have a 41 mag and a 45-70.

They will grow on you even if you put a scope on them.

Glad for you.

Congratulations on the lever gun interest.
I have had a resurgence of interest myself. I have had 45-70’s in the safe for years. But, interest waned when the eyes and iron sights use went downhill, including apertures. So 1ea blued and 1ea stainless 45-70’s with 20” barrels sit far back in the safe.

After my wife acquired M92 replicas in 357 and 44, Finally, reluctantly ordered scope bases for the 45-70. I have a scope mounted on the stainless, but not fired yet. But, I have been on a lever action binge since. Winchester 94 30-30 Trapper, then a Marlin 1894 45 Colt, Winchester 94M laminated, Winchester 94 Trappers in 357, 44, 45 Colt, and a Browning Micro 22.

Yep, they are addictive. And now waiting to see what Ruger will produce in the Marlins. I have accepted that mine will wear scopes and moved forward. Absolutely fun Guns.
And the 45-70 with 400 grain plus hard cast and/or 350 grain plus flat point copper bullets, is a potent closer range package.

You have previously had an older Marlin...call Brownell's for the top screw model.

The caliber is a dream for reloading. Bullets from 250 grains to 500 are easily found. Velocity can be from 1100 fps to over 2000 fps depending on bullet and load.

Thanks all. memb, that's an outstanding target! I'm going to load some cast pills my buddyFLyBoy Flem cast for me.. Just waiting on the brass now. Care to share your load?

Really depends on the bullets.

Thanks jorge, There was some, OK probably a lot, of luck involved there. I stepped-up the charge a bit, and the group opened some! It appears that the first load, may just be the best load! Good Luck with yours! I’ve been a one gun hunter for 30 years.....but, I’m getting a little anxious to take this one hunting! memtb

Load Data: The usual “WARNING”, as this is not a real timid load

A for what’s it’s worth note: I hand-lapped the barrel prior to any shooting

Case: Starline Nickel
Bullet: Accurate Mold #46-430GV ( 430 grain wide flat nose) Powder Coated, Gas Checked, Sized to 0.459”, Seated and Crimped in Last Groove
Powder: RL 7 43.0 grains
Primer: CCI Standard

Thanks!

FWIW the XS sights use the rear scope mount holes. I have the XS on all 3 of my Marlins, including my 1895SS, as well as the scout rail to put a red dot or long eye relief scope when wanted. I've been carrying my 45/70 some this year, I love the old girl. I plan on chopping 3-4" off the barrel this spring to make it a little handier in the brush.

edit to add: I'm shooting 50 grains Varget w/ 405 gr Lasercast at 1650 fps for now. Haven't killed anything with that load yet, but it'll blow through some serious chunks of wood @ 50y. Previously I shot the 300 gr Hornady HP with enough IMR4198 to get 2250 fps. Blow a coyote into pieces, and shot a doe in the back of the head @ 150 yards. Accurate load, I had initially loaded them to 2400, but recoil was more than I wanted.

Your welcome jorge, I hope that you find something that makes you smile! memtb

I have some other good recipes from Woody, but I will surely report back once I'm done. Thanks again!

Your going to like your Marlin a lot Jorge. Great rifle in a great a cartridge. Mine is from 1978, I bought used 18 years ago. Refinished it, changed the trigger and ejector and smoothed it up some. Mine has a scope mounted mostly because I find peep sights difficult in low light.
Shoot mostly reloads in it, I don’t load it to to hot, no need. The load I use most, for deer, 300gr Hornady at about 1400-1500 fps goes completely through and leaves a impressive blood trail.

I like my 45-70 Cowboy, 26" Ballard rifled. It had a tang sight, but my antique eyes dictated going glass.

I cut back the comb to look more like the old long tang guns. Refinished with Tung Oil/Urethane, had it checkered in a classic pattern by Errol Case in MO.

DF

I liked the tang sight look...

DF

the top of the Marlin receiver is drilled and tapped for scope bases and the XS and Skinner receiver/peep sight attaches to these holes. Both are top choices for a rugged and reliable iron sight. Skinner Sights also offers theirs with a machined cut out that Talley and I think Warne medium height quick detach rings attach to allowing a quick removal of the scope for peep sight use. Best of both worlds?

Loads depend on bullet you use and what you plan on killing. Here in Alaska I run the no longer made bonded bullets from Alaska Bullet Works in 350 and 405 grains. Starline brass, WLR primers and a case full of H322 is all I use.

What the heck do you use a 45-70 on in Florida. I would use it on gators, snakes and sharks, they scare crap out of me.

Newer ones do.



Edited to add: Boy that sure is a big picture.

Before I ended up here I lived in northern Florida for 13 years. Never shot a gator, but they work just fine on deer. 😁

Congrats on your 45-70!

I've currently got mine set up with XS ghost ring sights.


A friend of mine from the UK enjoying some American style freedom,

I don't hunt in Florida, except for the errant hog or varmint that strays into the neighborhood. I do hunt lots of hogs and deer up at the lease in Georgia, but I am planning an eventual escape when I retire either to our place in PA and we are looking at property near Cour D' Alene. Lot of options for this neat rifle, but in the end, I guess I'm just another rifle nut.

C'mon out West...you'll be comfortably armed.

PA has got some good-sized bears, too.

Had a mountain lion/cougar/puma prowling my campsite in the Goat Rocks Wilderness in Washington last week. It was snarling and pissed off about something.

Had my SBL loaded with some 380gr Lehigh WFN in the tent and a .480Ruger SBH.......went back to sleep.

I've used mine on deer, black bear, and pig.

I've changed loads and sighting systems on this rifle more so than any other rifle I've owned. Low power fixed and variables, Williams FP, reflex sights, heavy hardcast, real heavy hardcast, and light jacketed bullets, all styles and weights that I tried were run at trapdoor pressure to max Marlin loads.

I've narrowed my preferences to either the Williams FP or a 1-4X20 variable. Loads I've come to like and trust are a 436 grain LBT at 1679 fps, and the Speer Unicor (Plinker) at 1900 fps. If forced to choose one setup, I'd go 1-4 variable and the cast bullet load, it'll shoot through anything on this side of the ocean.

Here it is with a Vortex Venom, a setup I felt ideally suited to close-in pig hunting.



Deer hunting with a 2.5X Ultralight, a damn good setup for this type of hunting though I've come to prefer the FOV and eyebox of a 1-4 VX-2.



Right now it has the Williams FP on it. That system has some compromises, but the rifle is relatively light in the hands with that setup, the tradeoff for the time you gain with a scope.

436gr. You've got the "biggies for the piggies"!

Liking the furniture.

My biggest are 420s at 1700fps for undocumented Canadian bears within a mile or two of the Washington/B.C border.

I tried some 536s at 1550 fps. Somewhere out there is a bullet still plowing through crap. God those things penetrate!

I think the trajectory of the 436s gave it an advantage in all-around usefulness.

I did try some CastPerformance 420s, they shot pretty good. I am not quite on board with their "dry" lube. Afraid it will lead the bore.

Thanks for the compliment on the furniture. That's a set of plain Brockman's Rifles stocks, very good design that favors scopes and really makes a difference in felt recoil.

I'm suspecting you had full penetration with those 420s at that speed.

nice rig!

MontanaMarine, those XSs really clean up the lines of the rifle compared to a Williams FP. I have given them much consideration, and I must say they do preserve the looks of your rifle.

Though completely functional, the FP on my rifle kinda reminds me of a wart on a pretty girl. Not so with the XS.

The XS are a clean look.

When I installed them, the front sight was taller, and I had to run the rear sight up a good ways to get zero'd. It looked kind of odd. So I carefully filed down the front sight and hit it with one of those bluing touch-up pens. Got the rear sight almost at the bottom. Left a little bit of 'down' in case it might be needed for another load.

The big ghost ring is fast, and it's not bad for accuracy, 3" or so at 100 yards. I set it up to be more of a defensive gun for bears etc, so I wanted it fairly light and quick to aim. Great setup for that.

I did shoot it initially with a Leupold 1.5-5x20, on a Warne 20 moa rail. Very nice setup as well.

The Warne rail is steel, and adds some weight. The reason I chose it, was that it would allow me to mount the scope far enough forward, to keep the hammer easily accessible. With the generous eye-relief of that scope, it worked well.

Want to add a GBL and 1895G to the collection.

C'mon Ruger!

Springtime?

Good looking rifle, and everything has a purpose

Woody (FlyBoyFlem) cast some 425gr bullets and this is the first group using 37gr of IMR4198 @1740 fps. 100 yds w a Leupold (the horror) 4X. I welcome any other loads you guys might have.

Nice. I sold my first year Guide Gun to Roger here after I bought my Browning M71 Carbine.

Slicked up cowboy 45-70 with Wild West trigger and action job.

DF

I sorta liked this look, but eyeballs said so with glass.

DF

I had a gunsmith add holes on the side of my 45-70 and mounted steel Lyman aperture sight on it.

Mr Farmer, those are two beautiful rifles.

Thanks. Projects of the past. Keepers both.

DF

I put a 2.5 leupold on mine

The 45/70 is not fussy to load for and works well with a range of powders. When I first started off I used Elmer Keith’s load of 53gr of 3031 behind a 400gr Speer. I later switched to cast and had to reduce the load to 49gr as the cast pill took up more space. Both loads were very accurate. When IMR powders were no longer imported I switched to Reloader 7. This is a top powder for a lot of straight wall levergun calibres. It’s dense and fills the case well. I did a run of loads from 1600 to over 2000fps and the thing I liked about R-7 loads is they were accurate across a range of velocities. Behind a 415gr cast HP I settled on 45gr of R-7 as a good balance between velocity and recoil. Accuracy was slightly better than 3031.

Great post! thanks. I use RL-7 with my 375 Winchester with great success. Might have to try ir with my cast 425 grainers.

Jorge, I have found the 425 grain weight to be very versatile in the .45-70. You can get enough velocity to *somewhat* flatten the trajectory, and the ones I've used, made by CastPerformance and Beartooth Bullets, have excellent penetration. That weight is also very accurate in my rifle.

If I were limited to one weight in the .45-70, 425 grains would be it.

Thanks for that, Vic. Woody (FlyBoyFlem) makes the 425s for me and as you can see by my target and the 1700 plus velocity, I have a good load!

You're good for anything on this continent!

Have one in a Guide Gun and find it scary accurate.

Jorge, don't know if you're interested in a mild plinking load, but if so Unique is your friend. Shot this from my 1978 vintage straight stocked Marlin with a Weaver 2.5X. This group was a fluke, but not overly so. This mouse fart load stays at or below 1.5" consistently and you can shoot it all day long without developing a flinch.






My hunting load uses a gas checked, powder coated 405 gr RCBS FP bullet cast very soft. Weight with my alloy is about 415 gr. The charge is 2400 powder and chronos around 1600 fps. Accuracy stays in the 1.5 - 1.75" range.

You're gonna love the 45-70!

Excellent, thanks!

Hey fellas. New guy here but it is only right that my first post here be in the big bore lever gun forum as they are my favorites. To the OP there are several brands making peep sights that fit the top existing holes on rifle. Some brands mentioned already were Williams and XS sights. I have personally used both of those on my 1895’s. Other high quality peeps are made by skinner sights and Ranger Point Precision. Next purchase for my sbl will be skinner rear peep and a winged rear peep for my 336.

Welcome!!!

jorge1, 42.0 grains of RL 7 certainly works with my 430 grain bullets ( pretty close to 425) as evidenced by my photo of the first page! I’m content to leave well enough alone! Lots of folks have had good results with RL 7. Try it, you will like it! memtb

I never expected the accuracy I've seen from the 45-70 Marlin rifles. Really surprised me that a relatively inexpensive big bore lever action could heave 350 - 425 grain bullets so nicely.

Only game I've ever taken with mine was a mule deer doe at about 70 yards. The 405 gr Remington, handloaded to about 1650 fps went through both shoulder blades and broke her spine as well. Dang. She dropped right there.

It's a comforting rifle to have along on camping/fishing trips in bear country. Yes indeed. I think you're going to enjoy that Marlin Jorge!

Guy

Inexpensive? I can tell you didn't buy yours in the last 6 months

im putting a vari xIII 1.5-5x20 with a german 4 reticle on it.

Nice stick Jorge, and the rest of you Gents too, last week an old Buddy pulled three short barreled Marlin lever rifles from his safe, iirc the were 444, 450 and 45-70, they all looked the same, never seen factory rifles with such short barrels, i asked him what he was going to do with them.

Sell them to you if you want them, said we may need to talk, dont know what i'd do with them, they were very nice handy looking little rifles, almost makes me want to get a rail and that spare 1.5-5 Leupold up on the safe and put one to work.

The 1895 Marlins are real stopping rifles.

Early one morning I stepped out of our hunting cabin and shot a bear in my pajamas.

Why he was wearing my pajamas, I dunno.

Had the same feeling a number of years ago when I shot a moose in my bathrobe.

How DOES that happen?

I shot my Guide gun today with a load I think I'm gonna like for thickass woods hunting for deer.

355 grain cast at 1355 fps, using AA5744. Kicked less than the .308 Howa LW I was also zeroing with a load using a 155 Scenar.

That's a change, and it still shows evidence of being lethal, at least at one end. Shot it a few times, no bruised shoulder and no headache.

I may move up to 405 grain bullets which would pretty much emulate the original BP loading.

There's something about the .45-70 I just like.

The standard 405 gr 45-70 load is awesome, and is highly addictive and will do anything you need very handily. Go heavier and the recoil starts to get unpleasant fast

Yea, I've tried a 540 grainer at 1550 fps, and my "standard" load is a 436 grain bullet at 1679 fps, and also tried a 300 grain HP at 2200 fps, all are obnoxious in the recoil department, 10 or so rounds and that's it.

I could shoot the 355/1355 load all day.

I bet it'll still fully penetrate an animal bigger than a whitetail.

Yup

My guide gun is set up with factory sights, warne 1 piece base, leupold qrw rings and a leupold vx3 1.5-5 with no4 reticle. I load 405 laser cast over 38gr of 3031. Cloverleafs 3 at 100.

Bullet weight and velocity give recoil. I shoot the Speer 300 grain over a full charge of Re7 in my 1895XLR.
I have an original 1879 Springfield carbine that was re-lined by Bob Hoyt and the 405 jsp at 1240 fps is way milder to shoot but trajectory drops of quickly compared to the full power loads in the Marlin.

Phoneman
Any idea of the velocity you are getting with 38 grains of 3031?

Ive never chronoed them but according to book should be 1250-1300 or so

Good morning everyone. Am new to the Marlin 1895 GBL and would like to know when it was made. Could someone please kelp. Serial # MR62232F

Find the two letter stamp or the two letter code on the box.

Look up manufacturer dates in search engines.

Great thread! I went to the range today and shot my new Henry 45-70, forgot how much Fun they were! My 1st rifle out of high school was a Marlin 45-70, killed alot of deer with it. Went the Shiloh & sharps Black route, for About 10 years, then a 1886 light weight 45-70, loved that rifle! I shot the Rem. 405s out of it, killed a 400lb black bear and a buffalo with it. Shot thru both of them. Got dies and brass ready to reload, have a bunch of cast bullets, but will have to go thru them. I have 3031, trail boss and Unique powder, just have to figure out a load.

For deer hunting, what do you really need with a .45-70?

The 1876 Winchester .45-60 factory load was 60 grains of black powder and a 300 grain soft cast round nose bullet at 1315 FPS, which hunters back then used on elk, moose, and black bear. This in a 26" barrel rifle.

The Ideal (Lyman) 330 grain soft cast round nose hollow point at around 1275 FPS was also popular. Considering the velocity and bullet and appearance it's sort of emulates a giant version of the .22LR.

In a .45-70 you could use about 28 grains of AA5744 with a soft cast 350 grain round nose flat point bullet to get around 1250 FPS for deer hunting. AA5744 is not position sensitive, so velocity is pretty constant.

Low recoil and all that you need for deer within 100 yards or so.

Like the song says:

"That was yesterday, and yesterday's gone."

The side-mounted Williams receiver sight was replaced with a top-mounted version when Marlin curiously decided not to drill their receivers for the side-mounted sights anymore.

The new one looks and functions much the same.

While I’ve yet to hunt with my 45-70, as I only started loading for it last September.....I’m very impressed with the performance from my Marlin Guide Gun.

I’m running my 430 grain, “homegrown” powder coated, cast bullets @ 1790 fps. Should be good for anything that I’ll encounter and getting just over 1”, 5 shot groups @ 100 yards.

The recoil isn’t bad, probably the Pachmyar recoil pad helps a great deal. It’s easier to shoot from the bench, than my wife’s .338 WM.

And in my attempt to dispel the belief that it is “too much gun” for smallish, big game, I fervently believe that, there is no such thing.....at least from a typical, shoulder-fired, firearm! memtb

My 1895 wears one of two scopes. I have a Leupold FX-II 2.5X Ultralight in Warne QD rings which is very light and unobtrusive. A more unconventional scope, and one I like better, is a Burris MTAC 1-4. The illuminated dot with a circle around it is fast. The optics are fantastic, and the scope is built like a tank, without being as heavy as one. It has the Burris posi-lock on it and it has very failed to stay zeroed. I had this scope laying around and said, why not? I'm glad I did. It has worked out on my .45-70 very well.



And as you can see, it's not any more obtrusive than the Burris E1 2-7X36 on my .30-30 336.

Marlin XLR 24" Bbl. Ballard deep grove rifling. Have been casting & powder coating a Saeco 350gr GC & a Lyman 330gr PBHP bullets. The PC works like a jacket & provides amazing accuracy with not the slightest sign of lead. Bore stays clean just like shooting jacketed bullets. Leupold 2x7 with Warne quick detach rings for instant use of open sights.

Forgive my ignorance, just getting ready to load some for my new-to-me GG in 45-70. What's the 'standard' load? I have some 5744 powder and some Oregon Trail 405 gr cast bullets was going to load up first.

Every time I think about selling my guide gun I run across threads like this that make me second gues myself

I like everything about this picture!

Vic in Va
How much 5744 are you stuffing under that 355 grainer?

28.5 grains. It's a world of difference from 436s running near 1700 fps.

I don't need my 45-70's 405 gr load (moving along ~1500-1600 fps) for deer. I hunt with it for deer because I never know when the 300-400 lb+ feral hog is going to show up, needing dispatching.

Deer aren't armor-clad nor bullet proof. However, in many places, they range alongside some serious predators and scavengers you don't want low-percentage shots with.

I have an 1895 45-70 with a 22" micro groove barrel, and a Remlin 1894 20" .44 magnum. I love them both! I have a Williams receiver sight on the 1895, and a Skinner sight on the 1894.

Ron

Ya can never have too many 45-70s!

I owned one of the Marlin LTD-IV M1895 (predecessor to the Cowboy model) but when I read that Remington Arms had purchased Marlin I went out and bought this standard configuration M1895. I have a plinking load that uses a 405 hard cast with 30 grains of XMP5744 and a hunting load that uses the Speer 400 grain jacketed bullet and IMR3031. Both loads are more accurate in this Marlin than many of my bolt guns are. The scope is a Leupold 1-4 VX-II I bought off the Fire classifieds when I bought the rifle.