45-70 Government! Invented 1873. I bought a Marlin 1895 Guide Gun in 45-70 for my upcoming hog hunt. 

 

Hornady 325grain FTX with ballistic tip (see 45ACP and 357Magnum for comparison). What a monster in a 7 1/2 lb rifle! And brass and bullets ain't cheap. Great round that will take down any animal in North America. Maybe Africa too. 

 

 

 

 

 

At 1st glance it looks like a straight walled case -- Can the brass be made from anything else?

 

What velocities are we talking here?

very nice but why not 6.8 for hogs?

 

 

At 1st glance it looks like a straight walled case -- Can the brass be made from anything else?

 

What velocities are we talking here?

It is ever so slightly tapered. Still need to lube cases.To the best of my knowledge you can't make this brass from any other cartridge. At best it would be from some more obscure cowboy cartridge. At least you can use bullets intended for the 458 SOCOM. See the bottom of the link below for good ballistics info on 45-70 in a modern gun (it is much different for Springfield TrapDoor) and case dimensions. I am pushing a 325 grain FTX bullet around 2000fps.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.45-70+U.S+Government.html

 

 

very nice but why not 6.8 for hogs?

 

Wanted something classic. And I sold my AR's so it wasn't just a matter of slapping on an upper onto an existing gun. 

Lunker, have you found a 1895GBL? I have been looking for one for quite some time with no luck.

 

Any word on if marlin has fixed the QC issues of the recent past?

Lunker, have you found a 1895GBL? I have been looking for one for quite some time with no luck.

 

Any word on if marlin has fixed the QC issues of the recent past?

I got a great deal on mine at buds. They have since gone up a bunch in price and are around $540. Contact Tony at TJ Sporting. He was able to get them. The only reason I went with Buds is because I thought their price was a mistake since it was under $500.

 

It seems like they Marlins (aka Remlins) are getting better. I stripped mine and made sure the receiver had no cracks near the mag tube. See this thread

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70-govt/115763-attn-1895-owners-please-read.html

 

Good news all around! Thank you brother.

 

Were you able to inspect it for any of the common issues (canted front sight barrel, bad rear sight cut, cracked stock/gaps were stock meets the receiver, etc...) before buying it, or did you have to order it?

 

Thanks again.

This thread (from 2010) from the same forum has a lot of the issues I was talking about illustrated:

 

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/45-70-govt/45137-long-wait-get-ultimate-disappointment-my-new-1895sbl.html

I was shooting some plinking loads in my 1895 Marlin yesterday.  300 grain lead bullet on top of 15 or 16 grains (I'll have to check my notes for exact figure) of Trailboss powder.  Shows the versatility of the cartridge; Mild plinker up to full bore, dislocate your shoulder big game round.  Good luck on your hunt.

 

Edit to add:  If you reload, the Leverevolution brass is shorter than any other brass.  It can still be used, just make sure overall length is good.  You probably won't be able to crimp the shorter brass, so you might have to shoot one round at a time.

She's a beast Lunker.... Watch out Hogs!...im jealous BTW..my 336C needs a big brother.. Enjoy!

I was shooting some plinking loads in my 1895 Marlin yesterday. 300 grain lead bullet on top of 15 or 16 grains (I'll have to check my notes for exact figure) of Trailboss powder. Shows the versatility of the cartridge; Mild plinker up to full bore, dislocate your shoulder big game round. Good luck on your hunt.

 

Edit to add: If you reload, the Leverevolution brass is shorter than any other brass. It can still be used, just make sure overall length is good. You probably won't be able to crimp the shorter brass, so you might have to shoot one round at a time.

Thanks for the heads up on the Hornady Leverevolution brass. Didn't know that. I do have lots of trail boss laying around. I'll have to try that.

I like Trailboss for a great deal of low recoil loads.  I've used it in 30/30  and 44 mag.  I can only imagine how nice it will be in 45/70

Does anyone locally stock 45-70 ammo?

Sweet! Nice selection there.

 

A lot of your pistol powders will work in your big bore for reduced loads. I've used a few of them off this website, which I found on the MarlinOwners forum.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

 

 

So far I had mid power load recipe using 2400, and now Trail Boss. I will have to check out more. Maybe I can use that Hornady brass since a crimp isn't too important for cowboy loads.

It is ever so slightly tapered. Still need to lube cases.To the best of my knowledge you can't make this brass from any other cartridge. At best it would be from some more obscure cowboy cartridge. At least you can use bullets intended for the 458 SOCOM. See the bottom of the link below for good ballistics info on 45-70 in a modern gun (it is much different for Springfield TrapDoor) and case dimensions. I am pushing a 325 grain FTX bullet around 2000fps.

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.45-70+U.S+Government.html

 

 

 

Wanted something classic. And I sold my AR's so it wasn't just a matter of slapping on an upper onto an existing gun. 

gotcha.....looks great....

 

if you want, I'm planning a trip to 4 amigos ranch in Texas.  3 days they provide food, lodging and hogs for $500 with a buy one get one free so you go with a buddy and it's $250.  You just have to get airfare.  A steal..........

 

5 of us are going

gotcha.....looks great....

 

if you want, I'm planning a trip to 4 amigos ranch in Texas. 3 days they provide food, lodging and hogs for $500 with a buy one get one free so you go with a buddy and it's $250. You just have to get airfare. A steal..........

 

5 of us are going

That is a great deal. With a newborn though, there is no chance for me. The only reason I am going in January is that it was a Christmas present from my wife.

 

Thanks for the invite though.

 

 

if you want, I'm planning a trip to 4 amigos ranch in Texas.  3 days they provide food, lodging and hogs for $500 with a buy one get one free so you go with a buddy and it's $250.  You just have to get airfare.  A steal..........

 

5 of us are going

 

This sounds interesting...   Is this a shoot all day type thing, or is there some type of limit -- When are you guys going?

Does anyone locally stock 45-70 ammo?

 

Don't knw. Got mine from Sportsmans Guide.

check that....599 now

 

hogs now are buy one and get one free so it's $300 per person for 2 hogs.  Each additional hog is $50.  they will feed you, bring you out, lodge you and cut the meat up for you....great deal

 

 

we are planning a spring trip and got our prices locked in with a deposit

 

http://www.4amigosranch.com/

There is a good forum on the Beartooth Bullets site along with lots of load data for lever guns and big bore straight-walled cartridges. 

There is a good forum on the Beartooth Bullets site along with lots of load data for lever guns and big bore straight-walled cartridges.

 

Don't ever call 45-70 a straight-walled cartridge on some of these Lever forums. The overwhelming response is akin to saying clip when you meant magazine on other gun forums.

I never knew. 

Sweet! Nice selection there.

 

A lot of your pistol powders will work in your big bore for reduced loads. I've used a few of them off this website, which I found on the MarlinOwners forum.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

A lot of people use Unique in .45-70, but I read enough people who were cautioning that the max powder charge took up very little space in the cartridge.  It's very easy to get a double charge of powder.  The Bullseye is a very large donut shaped powder that would be very obvious if it was over charged.  

 

Recoil was mild, could have shot them all day long.

Don't ever call 45-70 a straight-walled cartridge on some of these Lever forums. The overwhelming response is akin to saying clip when you meant magazine on other gun forums.

I never knew. 

 

If you need any brass before the Hog Hunt, just let me know.  I'll probably be going to Dixon's beforehand.  They sell Magtech brass and Remington too, but Magtech is available in all sorts of calibers, including .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, etc.  Available by the box or singles too!

 

Dave

Don't ever call 45-70 a straight-walled cartridge on some of these Lever forums. The overwhelming response is akin to saying clip when you meant magazine on other gun forums.

I never knew. 

 

They all have a slight taper to them to aid extraction, with a slightly defined neck, but they could be referred to as straight-walled cases. Actually, a valid description would be "nearly straight walled." That would suit the "magazine" fellows.

 

These certainly aren't bottleneck cartridges.

If you need any brass before the Hog Hunt, just let me know. I'll probably be going to Dixon's beforehand. They sell Magtech brass and Remington too, but Magtech is available in all sorts of calibers, including .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, etc. Available by the box or singles too!

 

Dave

Dave,

I will definitely take you up on your generous offer. I could use 200 pieces of 45-70 brass. Thanks.

Chris

Chris,

 

Make your shopping list up and I'll let you know when I'm going.  They sell primers too (so no hazmat to ship since I'm picking-up for you) as well as SOME popular smokeless powder AND heads used for the big brass.  So you figure-out what you need and then call it in to Gregg or his Wife.  They're a small Mom and Pop without online ordering or a fancy web site listing everything they have.  Open 6 days a week and closed on Wednesdays.  They'll take a cc over the phone and will hold it for my arrival.  It's just THAT easy....

 

Have a Merry Christmas!

 

Dave