Sell me on a 45-70

[Nick87]

Looking for advice on a 45-70 lever gun, I've always wanted one no idea why. I know very little about lever guns. This one will get used for hunting so nothing too fancy. I'm wanting a Marlin or a Winchester but I don't know which ones to look for. This isn't something I'm buying today or even this year necessarily I just want to know what to look for for when I find the right deal. So what to look? for jm stamp etc? Nothing in stainless either while I love stainless it just doesn't do it for me in a lever gun. Any models known for better quality or any that are known for problems?

 

[Keep on]

The Marlins are great guns, I'd go JM stamped pre safety if buying a Marlin, just personal preference. I can't stand a safety on a lever gun.
My personal preference would be if going 45-70, go Winchester 1886.

 

[Addicting]

You know who you need to ask.

Paging @p_ham

 

[SCliving Outdoors]

I don't have a lever 45/70 but I do have a CVA Scout V2 that I did a bunch of work on. Its awesome. Freaking awesome woods gun/caliber. I love it.

Buy one and enjoy it.

 

[noharleyyet]

 

[David58]

Marlins are beefy, great for 45-70. I like rifles, not carbines, so the Marlin with the full length rifle barrel would be my choice.

David
NM

 

[NDGuy]

New gun=Yes

/thread

 

[BrentD]

The Marlins are great guns, I'd go JM stamped pre safety if buying a Marlin, just personal preference. I can't stand a safety on a lever gun.
My personal preference would be if going 45-70, go Winchester 1886.

I just wrote a long treatise on the advantages of a Marlin over the Winchester, but it disappeared. The short synopsis is Winchester (incl. Browning/Miroku) = good, Marlin, esp. original 1895 = more betterer.

Why a .45-70?

One thing that is great about lever guns is that they are fun to shoot - a lot. A whole bunch. Like 100s of times, not 10s of times. And .45-70s are a bit more punishing and expensive for that. If you are only going to shoot deer and antelope and tin cans, I'd recommend considering something like a .38-40 or .44-40 Marlin 1894. They are like .22s but with big diameter thumpers that will make you giggle every time you pull the trigger (which is MUCH easier to tune in a Marlin than a Winchester).

 

[Dave N]

I wanted one, too. Took a while but a buddy offered me one of 2 he had. Marlin 1895 Cowboy, JM stamped and unfired. They just seem to need the longer barrel to look like a rifle.

 

[Nick87]

I just wrote a long treatise on the advantages of a Marlin over the Winchester, but it disappeared. The short synopsis is Winchester (incl. Browning/Miroku) = good, Marlin, esp. original 1895 = more betterer.

Why a .45-70?

One thing that is great about lever guns is that they are fun to shoot - a lot. A whole bunch. Like 100s of times, not 10s of times. And .45-70s are a bit more punishing and expensive for that. If you are only going to shoot deer and antelope and tin cans, I'd recommend considering something like a .38-40 or .44-40 Marlin 1894. They are like .22s but with big diameter thumpers that will make you giggle every time you pull the trigger (which is MUCH easier to tune in a Marlin than a Winchester).

Always wanted one and that's what it's gonna be. Good possibility if I ever am able to take my bucket list Yukon moose hunt that's what I'd take along.

 

[Nick87]

I wanted one, too. Took a while but a buddy offered me one of 2 he had. Marlin 1895 Cowboy, JM stamped and unfired. They just seem to need the longer barrel to look like a rifle.

I prefer the carbines personally but appreciate either one.

 

[BrentD]

Always wanted one and that's what it's gonna be. Good possibility if I ever am able to take my bucket list Yukon moose hunt that's what I'd take along.

Now you are talking! Perfect reason for a .45-70. I bought one for the job but it was a basket and bubba gun that took a couple years to get right. So I end up taking a Marlin Ballard .45-70 to the Yukon for moose instead.

Get a rifle, not a carbine. Just my personal opinion. Better sight radius, more weight, better balance, better club if you need one .

This is my often posted 1895 .45-70. It's killed only a doe antelope for me, so far, and made one trip to AK for bears - unsuccessful.

 

[Nick87]

Another thing to decide...staright or pistol style grip... I like them both.

 

[BrentD]

Another thing to decide...staright or pistol style grip... I like them both.

If you like both, then search for a good vintage rifle and take whichever you find first. I like both as well.

 

[Nick87]

Marlin 1895 guide gun is the model I've always liked the most from an aesthetic stand point.

 

[FairWeather]

Hard to call a Sharps in 45-70 a bad choice.

 

[noharleyyet]

Now you are talking! Perfect reason for a .45-70. I bought one for the job but it was a basket and bubba gun that took a couple years to get right. So I end up taking a Marlin Ballard .45-70 to the Yukon for moose instead.

Get a rifle, not a carbine. Just my personal opinion. Better sight radius, more weight, better balance, better club if you need one .

This is my often posted 1895 .45-70. It's killed only a doe antelope for me, so far, and made one trip to AK for bears - unsuccessful.

I love fencepost pics of fine shootin' irons Brent.

 

[MtnElk]

Now you are talking! Perfect reason for a .45-70. I bought one for the job but it was a basket and bubba gun that took a couple years to get right. So I end up taking a Marlin Ballard .45-70 to the Yukon for moose instead.

Get a rifle, not a carbine. Just my personal opinion. Better sight radius, more weight, better balance, better club if you need one .

This is my often posted 1895 .45-70. It's killed only a doe antelope for me, so far, and made one trip to AK for bears - unsuccessful.

you need to stop posting that gun... I drool like Pavlov's dogs every time you do.

 

[44hunter45]

The Marlins are great guns, I'd go JM stamped pre safety if buying a Marlin, just personal preference. I can't stand a safety on a lever gun.
My personal preference would be if going 45-70, go Winchester 1886.

Ditto the safety thing.
New production Winchester 1886's have a tang safety right where I would put my Lyman peep sight.
The Euro clones still have the rebound hammer.

 

[buckbull]

I don't have a lever 45/70 but I do have a CVA Scout V2 that I did a bunch of work on. Its awesome. Freaking awesome woods gun/caliber. I love it.

Buy one and enjoy it.

View attachment 311855

Is that a stock and forend from boyds? Thought about doing the same thing to my scout v2.