marlin guide gun

[jdb]

I have been considering a marlin guide gun or custom rifle similar to a guide gun anyone have any experience?

[MountainWalk]

my good pal just bought one a few months ago.. i love it,, its pretty dang accurate.. but it doesnt do as well with cast bullets..sights are great, my only gripe is that the lever is a little too small for my hands. but you can fix that i suppose.

[FOsteology]

They're a blast to shoot and work extremely well in thick cover.

I had this one built specifically for hunting boars here in Texas. No longer have the scout scope as I found it wasn't needed and slowed me down a bit.

[MountainWalk]

one more thing.. while i love the 45-70, if you dont handload, the 450 wouldnt be a bad move.. that and spend the extra 75-80 bucks and get the ghost ring sights..im not sure if it has the micro groove rifling or not.. but his just wouldnt shoot cast bullets all that well

[Ray]

jdb, if you get one of those I want to try it out. That one there Fosteology is really nice. Maybe next year.

[jdb]

sounds good Ray I hope to have it by august. JB

[Bigshooter]

one more thing.. while i love the 45-70, if you dont handload, the 450 wouldnt be a bad move.. that and spend the extra 75-80 bucks and get the ghost ring sights..im not sure if it has the micro groove rifling or not.. but his just wouldnt shoot cast bullets all that well

I agree if you don't handload get the 450 and not the 45-70.

I have a buddy with the guide gun and he loves it.  I have a 1895ss and I love it.  Both are in 45-70.  With mine I can shoot 1 inch groups or less at 100 yards (3 shots / 3 power scope) with a 525gr cast bullet at about 1300fps.

[MikeWalking]

I carried an 1895gs for a few years in Alaska. Loved it, shot Cast bullets well, thankfully cuz it's all I packed. (Buffalo Bore 430gr w/gas check) All the Marlin big bores have Ballard rifling and should shoot cast bullets well. I could hit a saucer size plate at 100-125 yards all day with mine. I currently rely on my 1895LTD III  45-70 for company.

There is a great variety of loads for 45-70 from tame 300gr to the Holy S*** stuff from Buffalo Bore and Garrett. Stuff that matches a .458 Winmag up close..or Buffalo's 325gr Speer JHP at 2350fps (22in barell).

I'd strongly recommend the Happy Trigger kit from Wild West Guns in Anchorage, Cabelas carries them $85-90, I put mine in with little trouble along with the Ghost ring sights, Bear Proof ejector Heavy mag spring and anodized follower.

After one jam where the round got stuck half way out the mag (before the new mag spring) I took it apart and polished away the tool marks on the carrier, bad ones. I hand polished all moving surfaces and after that I had the Hot knife-Butter type action.