small town life
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I only have 1895's. I won the 1st 45-70 in a 4H raffle.
Best 45-70 lever gun?
- Thread starter silicosys4
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CraigC
Sixgun Nut
The best is the 1886. The 1886 is stronger by far and the most robust. It locks up like a bank vault. #1 I'd say the Browning 1886 repro. Modern steels but without the silly tang safety.
#2 The later Winchesters. Only second because of the tang safety/rebounding hammer but it's not really a deal breaker. They are made in different variations that some might find more useful. I like the Extra Light.
#3 The current production Pedersoli 1886's.
#4 The Marlin 1895. Good guns but not as strong as the 1886. Its only advantage is they're usually more affordable and easy to mount an optic on. Oddly, it's the only one I own. Not sure they have an affordably advantage any more.
#2 The later Winchesters. Only second because of the tang safety/rebounding hammer but it's not really a deal breaker. They are made in different variations that some might find more useful. I like the Extra Light.
#3 The current production Pedersoli 1886's.
#4 The Marlin 1895. Good guns but not as strong as the 1886. Its only advantage is they're usually more affordable and easy to mount an optic on. Oddly, it's the only one I own. Not sure they have an affordably advantage any more.
Frulk
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Oddly enough, as a lever gun fan first and foremost I don't own any 45-70's. Shot a fair number of them over the years...That could change overnight of Ruger reintroduces the cowboy version that Marlin used to produce. I missed the train on those when it ran regularly but if it ever pulls up on the platform again I'll be on it.
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
For me it's the Marlin 1895 LTD's 1- 4 or the "Thin" forearm Cowboy series "26in" barrels. Otherwise, the forearms look and feel fat.
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Steve51
Member
I really have no idea which is the best .45-70. The only one I have ever shot is the one I own. It is a Henry Big Boy Steel and it has a recoil pad. When I bought it, Remington was making the Marlins and most reviews were not good.
I am very satisfied with the Henry and the loading gate is not a deal breaker for me. I do know one thing after shooting some stout loads through this rifle. I do not want a scope on it and do not want one with a brass butt plate. For me, a recoil pad is a must.
Don't know which one is best. I'm happy with my Henry and am not looking to buy another .45-70.
I am very satisfied with the Henry and the loading gate is not a deal breaker for me. I do know one thing after shooting some stout loads through this rifle. I do not want a scope on it and do not want one with a brass butt plate. For me, a recoil pad is a must.
Don't know which one is best. I'm happy with my Henry and am not looking to buy another .45-70.
If Ruger/Marlin reintroduced the 1895 CB I'd have to think long and hard about not doing something silly like buying one. My JM 1895G would get jealous...
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Ditto! I have been resisting the urge to buy a Ruglin for sometime now.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
My only 45-70 is a Remlin Guide Gun.
It's OK and was not very expensive. I hope it isn't the best 45-70 lever gun available
It's OK and was not very expensive. I hope it isn't the best 45-70 lever gun available
Standard 1895 works just fine. Shortened the stock and installed a grind to fit pad. Lightly compressed benchmark and 300 grain hornady is more than enough for big deer and my shoulder. Kicks too much to just shoot for the fun of it. 300 grain cast and a light 1300 fps is a hoot
Coyote3855
Member
When I was a kid back before dirt, the local gun shop had Winchester 1886 in .45-90 on the wall. I've wanted an 1886 ever since. I have a Marlin 1893 in .38-55 made in 1904. That and a JM 336 .30-30 does it for centerfire lever guns. But I would be sorely tempted if the right 1886 came my way.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I was shocked the first time I handled one. It just looked like it would be a 12lb boat anchor but it handled like a fine shotgun. Don't know why I never bought one.
someguy2800
Member
Make Mine a Marlin
I bought a new Remlin gg during those transition years... I load the hornady 350s fp ... It has been a fun gun to load for and i never had any problems.... i feel its more or less a marlin, so i gotta say marlin..... I do like the comfort of the 45/70 when hikeing in big sky country.
Fine Figure of a Man
Member
"LimbSaver" recoil pad, Trapdoor loads and cast bullets make mine pleasant to shoot.
I won't subject myself to the unnecessary abuse of hotter loads.
Could be I'm not tough enough to take it, or maybe I'm smart enough to know the damage is cumulative?
jmorris
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Yeah, my buddy makes fun of me all the time, “You know, for a guy that likes shooting 50 BMG’s so much, you sure have a lot of .22’s.”. Guess it comes from my Father who once told me, “Don’t mess up my good welding gloves, picking up that hot steel plate, your skin will grow back.”
PistoleroWadcutterGANG
Member
Yep never judges a book by its cover.
troy fairweather
Member
a original can, may not hold up to the ruger/Siamese loads to long tho.
Well you had to learn somehow. When I tried the lyman marlin loads from my bench the fore stock jumped out of my hand and the scope knocked my hat off. That was the end of that experementing. 300 grain gas check from a lyman mold at 1300 fps and 300 gr hornady hp at 1900 is enough for anything on this farm."LimbSaver" recoil pad, Trapdoor loads and cast bullets make mine pleasant to shoot.
I won't subject myself to the unnecessary abuse of hotter loads.
Could be I'm not tough enough to take it, or maybe I'm smart enough to know the damage is cumulative?
OS/N
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- Nov 2, 2023
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There was a guy picking his new Ruger Marlin 45-70 up at a LGS a few months ago when I had a firearm coming in. He let me take a look at it - it was a pretty sharp looking rifle.
I'm more of a 30-30 guy myself but I think those are also back in production now - the 336. I never was crazy about the micro groove they used to have but the ones with regular rifling are okay especially for casters. If I see a new 336 at a local shop, I may grab one of those up if the timing is right. I can't see the irons on my 94 anymore so...
I'm more of a 30-30 guy myself but I think those are also back in production now - the 336. I never was crazy about the micro groove they used to have but the ones with regular rifling are okay especially for casters. If I see a new 336 at a local shop, I may grab one of those up if the timing is right. I can't see the irons on my 94 anymore so...
Shanghai McCoy
Member
I had one for a while and it was a nice shooter and the long octagon barrel looked nice.
You only need to hold one once. That long tapered barrel. My 1895 is very nice but not THAT nice
Riomouse911
Member
I love the looks of the JMB designed Winchester lever guns, they just sing to me when I look at them.
But the 1895 Marlin is a great gun, IMHO, with a bit more versatility due to the solid top design.
I bought my 1899G back in the 1990’s when they came with the factory porting. It has a Lyman peep rear sight and has been a great rifle for sending 400 grain bullets down range.
A couple of years ago in a pawn shop, I spotted a used but spotless 1895CB with the 26” octagon barrel. (If it fired more than 10 shots I will be surprised.) I added a Williams peep to this rifle, and it has also been a fun gun to shoot.
I did add recoil pads to both, the CB plastic buttplate wasn’t much fun and the rock-hard G pad was no better. Recoil isn’t as sharp as it was, which is fine by me. (A crescent buttplate on an 1886 would be zero fun for me!)
Both are great guns, you really can’t go wrong with either one. If you plan on scoping, red dotting or even using a receiver mounted peep, go with an 1895. If traditional looks mean more, an 1886. Both will sling big lead bullets very well!
Stay safe.
But the 1895 Marlin is a great gun, IMHO, with a bit more versatility due to the solid top design.
I bought my 1899G back in the 1990’s when they came with the factory porting. It has a Lyman peep rear sight and has been a great rifle for sending 400 grain bullets down range.
A couple of years ago in a pawn shop, I spotted a used but spotless 1895CB with the 26” octagon barrel. (If it fired more than 10 shots I will be surprised.) I added a Williams peep to this rifle, and it has also been a fun gun to shoot.
I did add recoil pads to both, the CB plastic buttplate wasn’t much fun and the rock-hard G pad was no better. Recoil isn’t as sharp as it was, which is fine by me. (A crescent buttplate on an 1886 would be zero fun for me!)
Both are great guns, you really can’t go wrong with either one. If you plan on scoping, red dotting or even using a receiver mounted peep, go with an 1895. If traditional looks mean more, an 1886. Both will sling big lead bullets very well!
Stay safe.
