would like opinions on a rifle in 45-70

[.45colt]

Marlins are hard to beat, the are a do it all type rifle. not as strong as the '86 but Few people can stand up to top loads very long. Henry makes a fine gun but I cant get by the tube loading. I have both the Marlin 1895 and the Pedersoli 86/71. love the Pedersoli but it is heavy to carry compared to the Marlin. Pedersoli is coming out with a lite version soon. Good Luck. http://www.davide-pedersoli.com/sche...ter-light.html

[OverMax]

Better to buy a long barrel Marlin than a short barreled Guide gun for the wanting 300 yard accuracy from a 45-70. If your intentions are to scope a Guide Rifle you best consider a scope having lo~ng eye relief verses a traditional scope ringed up 1/2" away from your eyebrow type..
When it comes to lever rifles especially the large bore Big Game busters. From my experiences. They are best shot with the barrel sights provided by their manufactures. As far as big bore levers? Not many. The one's comment already are the only'est one's I know of.

BTW: Its a Sacrilege to scope any lever rifle in many of our books.

[Wayne Smith]

That is a feeling I know well, hopefully if I take care of myself and continue to try to become more healthy everyday ill live long enough to make enough money to buy some of the things on my want list, ill be 30 this year, I quit smoking, I quit going to bars and drinking, I quit buying stuff I don't really have a need for, and I started budgeting more. so my plans are in effect but it takes time, unfortunately.

Then the money is easy. Just take the money spent on cigarettes and booze and set it aside - within a couple months you will probably have enough for a rifle.

[wrench man]

Have the Marlin 1895 and Pedersoli 86/71 too, if I were going to shoot 300yrds I'd put a tang sight on the 86/71 and be happy!

[Cold Trigger Finger]

If I was going to run a 45/70 Hot , I would want an 86.
When I had my Guide Gun I lost In Great in it when running 480 gr cast gas checked . Top book loads would buck the action open every shot. Same loads in an 86 were fine. However, for normal to warm loads , the Marlin is good. I got to handle one of the Marlin 26"barreled CBS. I Really liked it. Nice thing about the 8" longer barrel , if a guys looking for max velocity. However, I quit trying to make a 45/70 into a 458. So I traded off the GG.
But if you like a 45/70 as a 45/70 and you want to hunt at 300 . The CB would be a pretty good way to go. Put a 1-4 Vortex Crossfire ll on a rail so you can utilize the 4" eye relief and have fun.

[Lloyd Smale]

86 all the way if you can afford one. Not all of us can though. That said a guide gun is hard to beat.

[Lloyd Smale]

86 all the way if you can afford one. Not all of us can though. That said a guide gun is hard to beat especially if your going to hunt with it and might want to mount a scope. .

[Ballistics in Scotland]

I had thought there was some strength differences in the action between an 1886 and the later models. I will have to go read some more, and having the ability to run some sort of glass would be ideal, I don't think I could see the target at 300 with irons, let alone hit it.

I think this is true, but it isn't really significant in terms of the kind that stops a receiver tearing in two, because the nineteenth century 1886 doesn't either. What I do like is that some of the modern ones, perhaps not all, have eliminated the large 86 ejector, which occupies quite a bit of the bolt face, all the way to the firing-pin hole. The head of that ejector can break off - not, I think, very dangerous as long as you are using modern solid-head cases, but it is something you don't want to happen.

The .45-70 in loads suitable for the 86 can indeed be accurate at 300 yards or far beyond. It is 270 or 330 that you think is 300, that gets to be tricky. There is a lot to be said for a single shot, which allows you to use a really heavy bullet with a nose unsuitable for a tube magazine. Of course there is more point to a repeater than just getting to do more hitting, or missing or something. You get a fast and reliable second shot in the sandiest or leafiest conditions, or when your fingers are mittened or frozen. The 86 is capable of accommodating the .45-90 length cartridges, and should be better than the Marlin in this regard. It is possible that with some of the clones, some modification or substitution of internal parts might be required to use a really long cartridge OAL.

I'd prefer a long barrel for long range. There may be some slight benefit in velocity, and rather more in precision from a longer sight base. But what matters most to me is that you can get perfect focus on the front sight, which is the place where focus matters most, and still have reasonable focus on the target.