45-70 Hunting

[DJ_Mack]

How many of you guys hunt with 45-70?  I am looking at a marlin lever action.  Would any of you hunt a grizzly with one? Or what is the largest game you would take with one?

Interested in hearing what your responses are.

[HighlandLofts]

It would probably work on a grizzly, but I'd feel more comfortable with a 7mm mag, 300mag, 338mag or any other sizable magnum rifle.

[DJ_Mack]

Anyone deer hunt with one?

[jdb]

Properly loaded they will take any game on the planet. pretty popular in alaska.

[kselkhunter]

The 45-70 can be loaded down for deer and up for griz up to 500grain bullets.   

[Firedogg]

 The heavy 405grn hard cast lead loads have been known to bust a front shoulder and exit out the pelvis of a large bear.

[jrebel]

I've shot deer and o e bear with mine and it was very effective.  I was using 325 gr leverevolution factor ammo.  I have seen one drop a buffalo in it's tracks. 

[syoungs]

Im loading a 350g Hornady fp over a stout load of h4198, very handy bear gun, hits hard and is a blast to shoot, recoil is pretty harsh, but not as bad as some say imho.

With deer it's also very effective, and wastes no meat, you can eat right up to the hole.

If I we're going after grizz or moose, I may choose a different caliber, but the 45-70 would get it done.

[Bob33]

Not that I would, but lots of people carry a 44 Magnum handgun for bears shooting essentially the same bullets but with half the energy.

[JimmyHoffa]

.45-70 is a really good gun for animals, just has an undesirable trajectory.

[b23]

.45-70 is a really good gun for animals, just has an undesirable trajectory.

This is very true, they have the trajectory of a brick but on the positive side, kept within their range, they hit like a brick as well.

[JDHasty]

Im loading a 350g Hornady fp over a stout load of h4198, very handy bear gun, hits hard and is a blast to shoot, recoil is pretty harsh, but not as bad as some say imho.

With deer it's also very effective, and wastes no meat, you can eat right up to the hole.

If I we're going after grizz or moose, I may choose a different caliber, but the 45-70 would get it done.

I used the 350 Hornady and 4198 for years /a Marlin 1895SS and it will definitely go through a large black bear the long way, break everything it touches, and exit.  Ditto what you say about deer.  I suspect that it would be as good as anything against big bear.  The gun is very handy too.   

[JDHasty]

The 45-70 can be loaded down for deer and up for griz up to 500grain bullets.

You run into OAL problems w/the 500 grain bullets in the Marlin.  If you put another cannelure on the bullet and seat it deeper it would probably take up too much powder to make  it a good performer too. 

[BigGoonTuna]

could always use a lee factory crimp die and seat the bullets where you want?

i love the flexibility of the .45-70.  it can do everything from mouse fart plinking loads to some really nasty bear medicine.

[kselkhunter]

Buffalo Bore sells a factory loaded 500grain ammo intended for the Marlin 1895.  I imagine that would make a nice size hole in a bear.  But you're right, they must use less powder as the velocity and energy are much lower I'd expect from a 45-70.

I'd go for the 300gr Barnes TSX if shooting the 45-70 at a bear though.  ~3500 ft-lbs of muzzle energy.
 

[bearpaw]

For close range hunting the 45/70 is serious medicine for anything!

[LDennis24]

A buddy of mine bought a .444 Marlin one year and decided we should take it up North for shooting through the brush. Well I ended up shooting a big whitetail buck with it and it worked great going through the alders across the creek bottom but it ruined too much meat. It was a sweet load though.

[ndcasla]

I've been hunting with a Ruger #3 in 45-70 for years. Took a pig with factory 405 ammo, nailed the pig to the ground. I like  the 425 gr and 525 gr Beartooth Bullets. Not a lot of fun to shoot but they hit very hard.
For fun I sometimes load the Hornady 200gr 40cal Sabot round they make for Muzzle loaders. It's pretty fast, I haven't taken anything with them yet.

[idaho guy]

 I have shot quite a few bears with my marlin 45-70 out of trees and they drop like a rock. I also shot a few lions with it which was was overkill its a great gun with a ton of knock down power at close range.  I use the factory leverolution ammo also. 325 grains I think is what I have   

[mikeybuck]

I've killed 3 bull elk with mine.

[ebusa]

I have two 1895 Marlin (JM) GG's in 45-70. One scoped, one with XS Ghost Ring sights.

I try to take one with me every deer season, very fun to tote around!  Haven't shot anything with one yet tho. Using Hornady 325 FTX rounds..

This year, I'm gonna take my 1895 GS with XS Sights.  Where I hunt the bucks get close if you hide real good, lol.

[b23]

I have two 1895 Marlin (JM) GG's in 45-70. One scoped, one with XS Ghost Ring sights.

I try to take one with me every deer season, very fun to tote around!  Haven't shot anything with one yet tho. Using Hornady 325 FTX rounds..

This year, I'm gonna take my 1895 GS with XS Sights.  Where I hunt the bucks get close if you hide real good, lol.

Couple of nice looking big bore lever guns you got there.

Do you notice any real difference in recoil between the ported and non ported one?  Is the ported one much louder than the non?  I've always wondered if that little bit of porting really does much except maybe make it louder.  Bet it looks cool blowing flames out those little ports when it's shot in low light.

[boneaddict]

Gorgeous guns.   

Close range. LOOKOUT!

[JoeE]

I have two 1895 Marlin (JM) GG's in 45-70. One scoped, one with XS Ghost Ring sights.

I try to take one with me every deer season, very fun to tote around!  Haven't shot anything with one yet tho. Using Hornady 325 FTX rounds..

This year, I'm gonna take my 1895 GS with XS Sights.  Where I hunt the bucks get close if you hide real good, lol.

My next gun purchase is going to be an 1895 guide gun but I'm torn between blued or stainless. Looks like you solved that problem by getting both!

[birddogdad]

I have several of the stainless XLR's, with and without scope, father, 2 sons ect. home loads 500gr cast alloy loads. love them. Watch to steer clear of the microgroved years if you are loading your own.

[DJ_Mack]

I have two 1895 Marlin (JM) GG's in 45-70. One scoped, one with XS Ghost Ring sights.

I try to take one with me every deer season, very fun to tote around!  Haven't shot anything with one yet tho. Using Hornady 325 FTX rounds..

This year, I'm gonna take my 1895 GS with XS Sights.  Where I hunt the bucks get close if you hide real good, lol.

My next gun purchase is going to be an 1895 guide gun but I'm torn between blued or stainless. Looks like you solved that problem by getting both!

I feel the same way. When sportsmans warehouse opened in Everett this month they ran a special deal on the stainless big loop but I didn't have the funds to pull the trigger. Definitely need to get one.


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[ebusa]

I have two 1895 Marlin (JM) GG's in 45-70. One scoped, one with XS Ghost Ring sights.

I try to take one with me every deer season, very fun to tote around!  Haven't shot anything with one yet tho. Using Hornady 325 FTX rounds..

This year, I'm gonna take my 1895 GS with XS Sights.  Where I hunt the bucks get close if you hide real good, lol.

Couple of nice looking big bore lever guns you got there.

Do you notice any real difference in recoil between the ported and non ported one?  Is the ported one much louder than the non?  I've always wondered if that little bit of porting really does much except maybe make it louder.  Bet it looks cool blowing flames out those little ports when it's shot in low light.

Thanks!

To be honest, the ports really only help with reducing muzzle rise than felt recoil. That's my opinion though of having several GG's ported and non-ported.  The kick is stout with both, and I like it 

I also realized that I could not have just ONE GG. After going back and forth all the time wanting one scoped or irons sights, blued or stainless, ported or non-ported, I knew I would NEED to have both in each configuration, lol.

The JM proofed guns are really starting to hold their value, and usually some real good ones at decent prices pop up on Gun Broker from time to time. 

I got my blued 1895 ported on Gun Broker, and stumbled on my 1895 GS at DJ's in Bothell a few years ago...got lucky on that one, she's mint! Right spot, right time, kinda like hunting   

[Fl0und3rz]

Since we all love pics...here's my 1895GS Guide Gun

Skinner rear Peep Sight, with Fiber Optic Fire Sight up front...

The 325 gr. LR should be sufficient for elk. 

Attached is a picture of my 1895 GS for you Marlin 45-70 fans.  It has a WWG big loop lever and trigger and the sights are the XS ghost ring and post.

[ebusa]

[/quote]

Hi Fl0und3rz,

How do you like the WWG Stainless Big Loop? I've had them in blued before on previous GG's and they are very nice.   

However, I never had one in stainless... How does the finish of the WWG Bigloop match the stainless on your GS?

Seems to match good in your picture, do you have any additional pictures? Look more matte to me that brushed...

[Skyvalhunter]

The Proverbial "X"

[Fl0und3rz]

I like it.  It makes it much more comfortable to carry and cycle. I had to stone this one a bit to get the cartridge elevator to reliably feed.  Best upgrade was the WWG trigger, though.

[ebusa]

I like it.  It makes it much more comfortable to carry and cycle. I had to stone this one a bit to get the3 cartridge elevator to reliably feed.  Best upgrade was the WWG trigger, though.

Thanks for the reply...I agree with you on the WWG happy trigger, I installed one in both of my GG's. They are awesome!