Which 45-70 lever action?

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I made a choice between a Marlin and a Pedersoli 1886 and chose the Pedersoli over the 'others'. Never regretted my selection, reliable, and accurate.

[pietro]

.

FWIW, I've had more than a half-dozen .45-70 rifles over the years, in 16", 22", 24" & 32" barrels; and found that the 22" barreled version worked best for me in terms of accuracy & handling while hunting.

IMO, anyone looking to buy a firearm in a certain chambering would be best advised to go to a funshow and handle as many of the various guns they can find, prior to buying.

YMMV

.

[Bigslug]

Marlin 1895 in the 22", pistol-grip style stock configuration: they are WAY easier to work on than the Winchesters; you can put optics on them; you can upgrade the ejector and two-part firing pins to beefier and one-piece; there are "delete" filler blocks if you get a newer one with the cross-bolt safety, and Ranger Point is making medium-loop levers if you have big hands that don't fit what it came with.

The Guide Guns come with the straight-wrist stocks which really start to suck when you get above anemic "cowboy" loads.

[FergusonTO35]

New, Henry all the way unless you can find a new Ruglin. The Italian 1886's seem to do really well too. Current Winchester/Miroku would be at the bottom of my list due to constant light strike problems that they won't fix. Used, JM Marlin or original design Winchester/Browning.

[Uncle Grinch]

I’ve got a Marlin 1895 CB which has the Ballard rifling in a long octagon barrel and it carrys and balances in my hand very well. All I’ve ever shot is cast, mostly Ranch Dog design Boolits. I love it…

[pietro]

Current Winchester/Miroku would be at the bottom of my list due to constant light strike problems that they won't fix.

FWIW, the easy fix for those light strikes is to (very) slightly shorten the lower fork of the rebounding hammer's strut.

The lower fork, although withing tolerances, can run a tad too long in some rifles, limiting the hammer to a shorter hammer stroke/travel.

I've done it successfully on three different Winchester/Miroku leverguns.


.

[ohiochuck]

An original Winchester 1886 or a Pedersoli or a much newer Marlin or Winchester.
I agree, being able to handle as many makes as possible would help make a good choice.
Bad Ass Wallace' s Pedersoli really looks nice.
Good lucking make the choice
I prefer no safety on the tang.

[hpbear101]

I'm quite partial to 1886's and consider them to be the rifleman's rifle.
As far as a truly effective hunting and shooting rifle I would go for a Marlin guide gun with a lower power scope.
I would like to come up with a Marlin guide gun for a dedicated hunting rifle.

Tom

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Together with a choice of rifle should also consider what cast boolit it will be fed. A Marlin 'Cowboy' lacks the length of action to properly seat a boolit 500gn as the action is just too short. My Pedersoli will feed 500gn boolits when crimped in the normal position.

The three boolits that I use are a 250gn (plinker for grand kids) a 420gn Hensley & Gibbs (0.460")and a 500gn Lyman.

[FergusonTO35]

FWIW, the easy fix for those light strikes is to (very) slightly shorten the lower fork of the rebounding hammer's strut.

The lower fork, although withing tolerances, can run a tad too long in some rifles, limiting the hammer to a shorter hammer stroke/travel.

I've done it successfully on three different Winchester/Miroku leverguns.


.

True, however a rifle that goes for well over a grand shouldn't require homebrew solutions to function correctly. Some of them still have light strike issues even after all the common modifications are done. Winchester has to be aware of this and still won't change the design.

[pietro]

Winchester has to be aware of this and still won't change the design.

Lawyers, lawyers, lawyers, ad nauseum...


FWIW, I've been "smoothing" new factory rifles I bought, since the mid-60's - it never ends.

[Duckiller]

I have a Marlin 1895 that is probably pre Remington. Have only shot cast thru it. Because I lived in California I couldn't hunt with cast. In Oregon and in my 80s I don't carry heavy guns. Initially got two Lee molds to see how I liked the gun. 330 and 405 grain. Loaded with minimal charges of Trail Boss they are both fun to shoot. My Marlin is a Cowboy with a 26" bsrrel. I have lighter shorter guns that I hunt with but this is a fun gun to shoot.

[square butte]

I like the Browning made 86's - I have one of the 24 inch rifle versions, cut down to 20 inch with a magazine that has been cut down to half magazine ( button mag. configuration ). It is a joy to carry and use. Dennis Olson in Plains, Mt did the work for me

[Jeff Michel]

I have a Henry All-Weather, Ruger/Marlin Trapper, Marlin CB, Marlin GS,Rem/Marlin SBL. All have about the same recoil impulse except the CB and the GS, those get a bit strenuous with heavy loads. If he's wanting new, I might suggest the New Marlin Trapper or the Henry, very handy and both dote on 457122HP and 3031.

[45-70marlin]

I have had a few Marlin 45-70s and enjoyed them. A good read is Paul Matthews book, 40 years with the 45-70. He talks about a few of them.

[huntinlever]

I have had a few Marlin 45-70s and enjoyed them. A good read is Paul Matthews book, 40 years with the 45-70. He talks about a few of them.

That's an excellent book. Back when I was torturing myself about scoping my gg, right off the bat, page x, first photo, a No 3 with a Weaver scope, then again on pg. 60. says on page x: "...best brush hunting rig the author has ever used...."

[missionary5155]

No one owns a 1886 "Light Weight" ?
We do.. Sure it a nice 22" barreled corn cruncher crusher to tote around. Bought it NOS (jap) from a LGS in central ILL-nois for under $500 out da-door as no one wanted a rifle they could not hunt with. Ha ha ! This year (20 years later) it is legal as long as I remove the mag spring and follower. Black tape over tube end will make the green suit man happy also.
Round ball for bunnies, ground hogs and such up to whatever the ol' 45-70 will get it done. But I do like the caliber 50 1886 (or 71) a bit better.

[dankathytc]

I have had a Marlin 1895cb for 5-6 years. It is the “dreaded” Remlin. Despite all the internet criticism, it is a fine rifle. Fit and finish is very good. Runs beautifully, and, with its 26” Octsgonal barrel, it is very accurate. It IS very heavy. I also have a Henry All Weather .45-70 with an 18.5”barrel. This one can be side or tube fed. It is actually the more accurate of the two.I can get sub 1” groups off the bench with this one regularly. If hunting is in your plans, the Henry is a good choice with its 18.5” barrel. Lots of good stuff out there about Ruger Marlins, possibly the best 45-70’s ever. I haven’t had the opportunity to use one of these. They are a little pricey due to very high demand.

[Rapier]

I believe the choice should be a top or side eject for a center scope mount. I prefer the Marlin due to that feature. In my experiance with cast, most any 45-70 can be made to shoot and function, you are a handloader, so you can figure it all out, so no unsolved mystery.

Since I have two 45-70 in 98 Mausers, I prefer them, due to their versatility. Loads from the trap door to the 458 Win Mag. The 40 year book is a good read.

[FergusonTO35]

This year (20 years later) it is legal as long as I remove the mag spring and follower. Black tape over tube end will make the green suit man happy also.

Did your fish and wildlife department tell you that? Ours can be pretty vindictive about even minor violations, I would get that in writing if possible.