Impulse Buy Marlin 1895 GG 45/70

[chas08]

Like I said, I've had the itch for a new gun. Something I've never owned before. So today a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun in 45/70 followed me home. I'd like to hear the pros and cons. I've shot the caliber before. The gun belonged to an aquaintance who was into CAS. But I've never shot hunting loads. What should I expect? something similar to hot 12 ga. rounds in recoil? I'm thinking of putting a leupold 2.5X scope on it and dedicating it to hog hunting. I'd like some input.

 

[Balrog]

Nice gun. It hurts to shoot a lot though. How far away are the hogs you are shooting? I would not scope it if less than 100 yards. I think scopes on lever actions are super-cheesey.

 

[kanook]

It should work on hogs with no problem. Mine isn't the Guide Gun. Let me know how you like it with the porting

 

[Asherdan]

I'd expect a quick handling easy-point rifle with a little bit of a bark, especially if ported. Rem factory 300g clock 1580 fps out of mine and has well less than 12 guage recoil, the Rem factory 405g should run ~1150 fps and be a soft shooter.

I've run Weaver 2.5x and 1-3x on mine and find your scope choice just about dead on for the rifle.

Do you reload?

If not a good all-around factory offering is the Federal 300g load using the Speer Unicore bullet.

Have fun with it!

 

[Rob96]

the Rem factory 405g should run ~1150 fps and be a soft shooter.

Unless you hand load that bullet to around 1800fps. I have a 1895GG in 45/70 and simply love the rifle. This year is going to be my first deer season with. Hopefully i will have a good report.

 

[PO2Hammer]

A friend has the full size version and handloads 300 grain bullets @ 1,300 fps, very easy to handle, very impressive gun.

 

[Badlander]

I did not buy my 45-70 to shoot light loads I like the hotter rounds. but that is the beauty of it you can have it mild or wild.

 

[chas08]

Thanks for the responses guys. As to the scope, my 53 year old eyes just don't see iron sights as well as they once did. The hogs in question will be killed at about 100-125 yds. And usually right at dark. I bought the non-ported model. I'm not fond of the extra noise that porting generates and I've never been recoil shy. (I hunt Geese with a 10 ga.) I don't reload anymore. I lost all my equipment to the Guadalupe river in '98. But I do have a few Buds that do, I'm sure all I would have to do is buy the dies. I bought some Hornady Leverevolution 325 gr to start with and see how it goes from there. Once again all input is greatly appreciated.

 

[edrice]

chas08,

I bought one on impulse too after telling myself that I didn't need one for four years. I had gone out to Rahaugaa's in southern California where twice a year all the manufacturers bring their wares and for the price of a few rounds of ammo you can shoot anything you want. Remington, Browning, Marlin, Winchester, all the major manufacturers are there with load of guns. I had been wanting to shoot the guide gun for some time so at the next event I loaded myself in the car and drove out there and plunked my money down for some 300 grainers and shot at some clays perched on a wooden rail. That rifle just loved me and would hit anything I wanted. It was just beautiful the way it pushed my shoulder back and ended up pointed at a cloud. And the center of the clay was missing. So I told myself that I had absolutely no need for one of these and went home and never got over it for the next four years. It was a blued model but I never could get the stainless one out of my mind.

Sooooo... a few weeks ago I was loitering in a gunshop and there was the stainless GG on the rack where it had been conspicuously absent for quite some time. They have been scarce for a while and an interview with the guy behind the counter said that was the only one they had and didn't know when they would get another, and since I had bought three previous guns from that guy behind the counter, he said he's make me a deal. And he did. A good one.

So I still have no need of one, but it is mine. I still haven't been able to get out to the range with it yet, but it is mine. I don't have the 45-70 dies yet, but it is mine.

MINE, I tell you!

BTW, while on this subject, I see Hornady is coming out with a new 45-70 load, and while it is a bit low on sectional density, it's bound to be a flatter shooting 250 grain screamer.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productNumber=115442

This looks like it going the new Superperformance ammo that attains 100-200 fps faster rates than equivalent ammo, *even* with s-h-o-r-t-e-r barrels...
http://www.americanrifleman.org/Video.aspx?vid=1988
http://www.americanrifleman.org/ArticlePage.aspx?cid=24&id=1981

I'll probably load up 350 and 405 grainers nyself, but this new ammo development should open up new doors...

Ed

edit: I had to edit that 1st link. The original one was a youtube video.

 

[Brazos]

The GG is an awsome gun everyone should have. So buy one!

 

[TexasRifleman]

Must be something about that rifle. I bought one the exact same way. It was just sitting there and I had to have it.

I put a Leupold scout scope with XS systems mounting rails on it. Took 2 deer with it the last 2 seasons. Nice rifles. The 45-70 recoil isn't that bad to me, but I'm not loading anywhere close to max loads. Mine are fairly soft shooters. I took the front sight completely off, may do some co witness thing someday, probably won't do anything.

Don't laugh at my hunting house sheets, they were on sale......

 

[geologist]

With factory 45-70 ammo it is a pussycat to shoot. A gentle shove. With gas checked 400 gr hardcasts at 1800+ fps it's a different matter.

 

[Badlander]

You asked for pros and cons. There are no cons.
Enjoy your new rifle.

 

[wvshootist]

You have acquired an excellent carbine. The 1895G only came ported the first year of manufacture. Mine is not ported

Factory loadings for the 45-70 are really mild unless you get into Garret Hammerheads or Buffalo Bore. If you reload you can have the best of both.

 

[eldon519]

Mine is probably my favorite rifle. Fantastic weapon. I've got one of the stainless ported ones which you don't see too many of. I am not a fan of porting in general, but on a relatively low pressure round like the .45-70, it isn't irritating at all. Wouldn't have it any other way in fact. A fantastic caliber for reloaders as well.

 

[Maj Dad]

300 g hp/fp

I have loaded the Hordady/Sierra 300 g HP & FP for my 1895 since I bought it in 1973 at the Ft Benning PX. I used 53 g of 3031 timidly per one of the manuals, then brazenly up'ed it to 56 thinking I was on the verge of catastrophic failure. All the way, it grouped (and still does) into 1" at 100 yds with a Weaver K3W, the reason I have never changed. Now, I see Hodgdon lists the data below ( url http://www.hodgdon.com/ ) I really need a chronograph; I have blasted deer and never lost one with my old load but wonder if I dare tread on this threshold...???

300G SIE HP .458" IMR 3031 2.525" 58.0 1971 21,900 CUP 64.0C 2196 29,500 CUP

(P.S. 405g slugs at top velocities are not uncomfortable with my hard, curved buttplate; they are excruciatingly painful...)

 

[chas08]

All these positive comments make me even more anxious to get it out and put it on paper. That probably won't happen till next weekend. And as I previously stated, thanks for all the input.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

I'm thinking of putting a leupold 2.5X scope on it and dedicating it to hog hunting.

I think that'd probably be its highest and best use.

I'd like some input.

I can think of FAR worse impulse purchases!

 

[shooterer]

Yes, I steal things for the "greater good"

Texasrifleman,
Funny you should mention the sheets, I hijacked your picture a few months back and posted it on www.scoutrifle.org as an example of my rifle (sorry)

I have been waiting for someone to comment on the pretty sheet pattern.

Jim

 

[Publius1688]

A good while back I went into my local Dick's to buy targets and RemOil, and came out with a .45-70 guide gun. Got to be something about the ol' Marlin that just grabs a certain kind of guy.
Love the heck out of it. Can't think of a 'con'. Shoot it a bunch!

 

[PT1911]

I want one of those guns SO BAD.... I DONT EVEN KNOW WHY!!!!!

 

[dodge]

PT1911, Once you shoot one you'll know why you need one. My load using the Hornady 350 gr FN at 1800 fps isn't all that bad more like a 12 gauge. Just last weekend I was shooting it and the first group out of the gun was two rounds touching each other. I didn't shoot anymore rounds as I some other people that wanted shoot it and didn't have a lot of rounds with me. One of the other shooters did the same thing. I have sat at a bench and shot 20 rounds without any problem. A couple of friends have shot it and then they went out and bought the same gun. I have a William's WGRS peep sight on it as I don't like the look of a scope on a lever gun.

 

[chas08]

I want one of those guns SO BAD.... I DONT EVEN KNOW WHY!!!!!

As I said, I'd had the itch for something new for a while. I was instantly drawn to it the minute I saw it. Once they put it in my hand, it was over. I'm not overly fond of scopes on lever guns either, but my aging eyes dictate otherwise. I ended up puting a Burris Timberline 2x7 scope with the Balisticplex reticle on it. I figure the extra aiming points may be valuable with such an arching trajectory. It will probably be set on 2X and used on hogs under 125yds 98% of the time.

 

[wadeestes]

I've had a 1895 GS (stainless) for several years. It had a ported barrel. I had Marlin replace the barrel last year because the old one wouldn't group any ammo of any kind in any way, and leaded horribly no matter what I did reloading-wise.

They didn't have ported stainless any more and asked if I'd take one w/o porting. I said "yes." I don't notice any difference between the two.

I ran polishing bullets through it and this week shot my best 3-shot group ever... 1/2" at 100 yards! I was stoked! I used a Remington 405 g soft point under Re7 w/ Starline brass and WLP primers. I have a scope because I'm an accuracy freak an like to test loads with one.

I'm now very happy with this rifle and plan to use it this week for hog hunting.

Have fun!

 

[chas08]

I shot in the 45/70 guide gun today. The word that comes immediately to mind is "WOW". I posted on a Timberline scope thread here, how well the Ballisticplex reticle worked out to 200 yds. so I won't go over that again. I was using Hornady Leverevolution 325 gr. ammo. It grouped appx 1" moa at 100 yds from center to center. (a 50 cent piece size three shot group) At 200 yds the group opened up some but could easily be covered with the open end of a small styrofoam cup with considerable room to spare. I'm sorry more accurate measurements weren't possible, because the range doesn't allow target retrieval. I'm pleased and with any luck at all Saturday I'll be killing a hog with it.