opinions please

[BigAl52]

Henry all Weather 45-70. Good looking gun IMHO and as good as anything coming out of Japan. Henry customer service second to no one and a lifetime warranty. What more could you ask for. The new Marlins are no where near what the JM Marlins were. I own both. Henry is where I would look.

[osteodoc08]

Be forewarned that the all weather Henry’s are NOT stainless. Good guns, but I wouldn’t put them ahead of my marlins. My Henry big boy 41 has such a rough finish I can literally file my nails on it like an emery board. The receiver scope mount screws are also a little on the light duty side and will strip before you get to 25 inch pounds..........that’s been my experience anyhow.

[sandog]

You mean a rough finish like this ?:

I saw that on the Henry website about a month ago. It appears their muzzles are finished with 80 grit sandpaper and they don't crown the barrel. I looked yesterday and couldn't find the picture, maybe they finally figured out it wasn't the best picture they could have come up with ?

Big Al, I would have to disagree with you. I also own new Marlins and older JM Marlins.
The new ones, a 2014 CBA .45/70, and a 2017 .44 Magnum, are just as accurate, smooth, good trigger, and tight metal to wood fit as my JM's.
The only differences are the new ones have that stupid bar code stamp on the receiver, and the new ones have a better polish and deeper bluing than my JM's.
A 1988 Cowboy Limited in .45 I bought a couple months ago, was barely fired, if at all, and had a rougher action than my new ones.
Maybe I just got lucky, and maybe you just got bad ones ?

If you think a Henry is a good looking gun, and as good as anything coming out of Japan (Miroku) well, we have a considerable difference of opinion.

[Texas by God]

That one leaning up against the grinding wheel gets my vote.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

[BigAl52]

Thats ok Sandog. I have nothing against the Japan built Winchesters. But if one goes bad try for repair. If one of the new Marlins goes bad try for repair. Been there done that. I have a Remington built Marlin that should have never left the factory. Wouldnt even cycle 357. I had to send it to a gunsmith to get it to where it would run 357. Seems to me I also remember one of the members here sending his 45-70 in to Remington several time for the same reason and ending up with money back because they could not fix his issue. I might also add Sandog those Miroku guns are quite a bit more money than most of the other guns.

Osteodoc08......... Yes I know that the Henry All Weathers are not stainless. Al

[Gunlaker]

If you ever want to use a scope then I'd recommend an older Marlin. I'd heard about the newer ones getting better so I had a look at an 1894 Cowboy the other day. The wood was fit so poorly I could actually see daylight through the gap where the buttstock met the receiver.

The ( used ) Browning 1886 saddle ring carbines are very nice, but the sights aren't the greatest.

Chris.

[tdoor4570]

I have 2 45-70's 1895G 18 1/2 bbl 1895 22" bbl but my fav for dark timber hunting and general shooting Is the 444P in 444 marlin hard hitting and very accurate, right at 1" at 100 with my 265 gr load, and 1.5 at 100 with my 240gr cast.

[osteodoc08]

You mean a rough finish like this ?:

I saw that on the Henry website about a month ago. It appears their muzzles are finished with 80 grit sandpaper and they don't crown the barrel. I looked yesterday and couldn't find the picture, maybe they finally figured out it wasn't the best picture they could have come up with ?

Big Al, I would have to disagree with you. I also own new Marlins and older JM Marlins.
The new ones, a 2014 CBA .45/70, and a 2017 .44 Magnum, are just as accurate, smooth, good trigger, and tight metal to wood fit as my JM's.
The only differences are the new ones have that stupid bar code stamp on the receiver, and the new ones have a better polish and deeper bluing than my JM's.
A 1988 Cowboy Limited in .45 I bought a couple months ago, was barely fired, if at all, and had a rougher action than my new ones.
Maybe I just got lucky, and maybe you just got bad ones ?

If you think a Henry is a good looking gun, and as good as anything coming out of Japan (Miroku) well, we have a considerable difference of opinion.

Hopefully that’ll show up as far as the roughness/unpolished barrel with the flash.

[murf205]

I own a 1895 CB and the safety doesn't bother me at all. In fact, you might find that it is a feature you would like to use when unloading the rifle just for safety's sake. Very true that you can scope the Marlin if you so desire but if you had rather not clutter the clean lines the Skinner (peep) sight works like a charm and looks good to boot.
I have a friend with a Browning BLR in 450 Marlin that is a very accurate rifle and comfortable to shoot as well. It has the smoothest action on a new rifle I ever shot. The 450 is basically just a 45/70 with a belt. Decisions , decisions.

[Petander]

SBL is my third Marlin 1895, I have a history of tens if thousands rounds through them,lots of heavy loads +2000 fps.

With less comb,SBL tames the recoil better than my previous ones - they had recoil pads,too.

There's nothing "worse than the old ones",none that I've noticed. If there was,I wouldn't have the SBL anymore.

I agree with this article.

http://www.shootingtimes.com/editori..._200903/100133

[sandog]

Big Al, I will agree with you on Marlin's Customer Service dept. There are instances where when the guns get back to the customer, the issue they were sent it for is still there. They say it's fixed but they didn't even do anything to the rifle.

I don't think anyone would have to worry about having a Miroku gun repaired, I've never heard of one having an issue.
Miroku doesn't ship out guns with problems, period. Other manufacturers could only wish they could do so well.

Feeding issues, crooked sights, etc. are real issues that the manufacturer should fix.
Minor things like a sharp loading gate, I'll take care of myself.
I don't think any gun is perfect as it comes from the factory, I usually change sights or grips to my liking, or do a trigger job.
Sometimes a firearm is really nice in every way, but just has a heavier trigger pull to satisfy the lawyers.

Yes, the Miroku's cost more. But a early '70's Colt New Frontier .22 revolver will cost you more than a Heritage .22.
A 670 horsepower BMW M5 is going to cost you more than a Ford Fiesta.
If you want more quality, you have to pay more money.

[sharps4590]

I've had both the Marlin's and the Winchester '86, the originals, not the repop's. I'd take either one again with a preference for the Winchester simply because I like it better. If I was back in that market I'd be looking at the reproductions most likely.....maybe....I dunno....I have a hard time not having the real McCoy so I could just as well end up with an original '86....if I didn't already have one in 40-82.

[georgerkahn]

I have had the Winchester, Uberti Winchester 1866 clone, and, the Marlin Guide Gun. The Marlin remains in the very front in my wee safe. It's ease of cleaning with readily-removed lever for receiver to muzzle bore cleaning; it's angle-ejection which permits a scope mount straight above barrel; its relatively light weight; and, perhaps best of all being its repeatable accuracy all give it "my vote".
geo

[725]

Have experience with Henry & Marlin. Other than that production period when the company got sold every other weekend, the marlins are good. I like the Henry's, too. They seem heavy, but when shooting the .45-70, that's a good thing. Henry has the best company support I've seen, and parts are more available. I would never get (or even get near) a magna-ported version. Those things will cripple your hearing -- forever.

[georgerkahn]

I ever so agree with 725 re loudness!!! My Marlin, a 1895CB Classic .45-70 Government, S/n 95,207,xxx (Octagon Barrel rifle); is of recent manufacture, having been made in 2005, and is just heavy enough to counter recoil. The Winnie .45-70 I had sported a rather short barrel with porting -- and, even with ear plugs under muffs, my ears would ring. So loud it was I noticed an uncontrollable (for me) "flinch" during firing -- a primary reason for my moving to the Marlin.
geo

[dverna]

Even if you are not planning to put a scope on now, as you get older and eyes fade, it may be something you will want to add. Consider that in your deliberations.

If you have not shot a .45/70 with near full power handloads loads, try one before you decide. Like others have stated, the .35 Rem or .38/55 will do everything you want for hunting purposes and be easier on recoil. PA bears can get big so I understand why you may lean to the .45/70.

[NSB]

Sandog's evaluation is about as perfect a response as you'll ever get. I own/owned a number of 45-70's, and it's probably either my favorite or second favorite cartridge. I own a Miroku/Win 1886 and it's about as nice a gun as I've ever owned, and I've owned a lot of guns. The newer Marlins are pretty nice when I look at and shoot those owned by my friends. If you're not hung up on a lever gun (nothing wrong with it if you are) take a look at the Miroku/Win 1885 single shot. My most accurate 45-70 to date is my 1885. It will do an honest 1moa at 100 yards for five shots. My 1886 will do an honest sub 1.7moa for five shots at 100 yards. I'm talking on a regular basis, not a one time thing. FWIW, the 45-70 is absolutely least fussy cartridge to load for I've ever owned. It likes a lot of different powders, but prefers bullets 400g and up for best accuracy. Loaded to Trapdoor levels it's pretty easy to shoot and it still shoots through deer from end to end with ease. I'm still waiting to recover my first bullet out of quite a few deer I've shot with these guns. Maybe next year....

[robg]

Bought a marlin sbl. Last year great gun and all the tweaks you need.

[Seeker]

Thanks for all the replies, I've been watching this. 45-70 is the caliber I want. I have a Henry in .45 Colt and it's my favorite shooter. I cast my own and want a 45-70 real bad. Looks as though it's Henry or Marlin, still not sure yet.

[smkummer]

I really like my 1895 sporter (22” barrel, pistol grip and 2/3 magazine). I mainly shoot trapdoor velocity loads (350gr,/1300 FPS). My 1951 336 35 Remington SC ( same configuration with pistol grip, 2/3 tube and 20 or 22” barrel) simply does it all though with less recoil and flatter shooting. A 35 caliber 200 grain bullet puts a good smack on anything it hits as well.