I want a 45-70

[daengmei]

But not sure which one. I'm mostly a shooter and probably won't ever use this for dangerous hunting. Which one ya'll like and why? Henry or Marlin?

[Jedman]

Both good, Both about the same price new. Depends which suit your needs and looks cooler .
New Henry's are short and compact but some don't like the look. New Marlins come in more combinations but quality might not be as good ? Older used Marlins are a option also.

Jedman

[Anschutz]

I've got a Remlin Guide Gun. So far I haven't shot up what came with it but when I bought it, it came with a box of Winchester 405gr lead loads and a box of 300gr JHP. The 405s are light and kick like a 410 single shot and the 300s... well they have a bit more wallop. Probably in the 30-06 range maybe a little more. Another neat thing is that if you are out hunting big game where there may be small game available, just stick some 410 shotshells in your pocket and you can single load them. Just hold down on the claw in the bolt when ejecting and you're golden.

[Electric88]

I do not have a 45-70, but have considered getting one a couple times. I have looked at the Marlin very closely, and would more than likely get it if/when the time comes. Just have a hard time justifying it :-?

[gtgeorge]

I recently faced the same delema and chose the Marlin Guide gun and I am very happy. I chose it reluctantly due to the stories of quality decline and can say mine turned out great. I despise the crossbolt safety but may remove it one day. I looked hard at the Henry but decided not to go with loading from the front. Those were my choices since I wanted a lever. BTW, I tried for almost a year for an early JM Marlin but they kept going higher than I was willing to pay.

Good luck on whicever you choose as I am sure they all make a nice addition. So happy I got my first.

[Artful]

for bench shooting I would look at weight and go with the heaviest - Having tried Ruger #3 I now have a Marlin 1895, If I ever run into a Siamese Mauser for cheap I'll make another 45-70 with Heavy Barrel.

[06ackley]

I have the Henry and I really enjoy the rifle.It is very accurate and smooth.I know a lot of guys really don't like how it loads but it is a non issue to me.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Have all sorts of 45-70's and my favorite is a jap 1886 light weight. My smallish hands wrap around it fine and it will carry all day (no sling) with ease . My Marlin is not as easy to carry being a taller action. But other than that a longer fingered person would have little trouble one handing it all day. I use receiver sights so there is no scope to hinder carry.
The Ruger single shots also are fine to carry. A Trapdoor carbine is another fine one to carry but your limited as to the power factor be a weak action. But seeing as the Trapdoor continues to harvest near every known critter on this side of the world with the right loads it is fine. The 1885 single shot is another fine to carry rifle all day. The H&R and those other "break opens" are light and thin and much more affordable.
Now the Marlin 1881, the Winchester 1886 with a 26 inch octagon barrel and the Marlin Cowboy octagon barrel are more heavier and better suited for sitting and resting hunting at least to me. I weigh 148 pounds so those bigger chunks of steel do not go for long walks in my hands. Two hours and up and down the paths and I am well reminded why I bought that 1886 light weight to start with.
I have never seen the Henry so I can not comment.
Mike in Peru

[plainsman456]

marlin for me.

[bigbore52]

This thread came out of the blue as just came home with the new Pedersoli 1886 Sporting Rifle in 45/70 - based on the Browning style...

Here's why, ....did my homework for ages before settling on this one.....Now I've used many a different 45/70 rifle over the journey and some were undoubtedly better than others as with price too - I would have rated the Marlin slightly ahead in my personal preferences on the cheaper end of things but I thought the Marlin's production quality has deteriorated markedly from past years, the earlier models were by far the better in my opinion but I did find that the micro grooving could be a limiting factor in the different uses I wanted. As with most rifles, they had their load preferences but that was pretty restrictive in terms of what the 45/70 cartridge can do...it's a versatile round but is sadly limited in some actions and rifles to allow it's true potential....

Why I chose this one (and certainly wasn't the cheapest!) was the larger capacity magazine for hunting and the stronger Browning action which should allow a greater variety of loads to be used in it....it seems light to carry, comes to the rise well and fits my shape :)...it will be easier to carry loaded in the field with the balance just right for me and I can't fault the workmanship on it so far.

Will be used for hunting and target shooting in various disciplines and as such I will be using a variety of loads and weights in it, and hopefully it will meet my expectations - aside from that it damnwell looks good too :)

[dlbarr]

I want a 45-70

.... Henry or Marlin?

I know that feeling.....lost several months of sleep before I bought my first one. A Handi Rifle.

Lost more sleep until I got my second one....1895 Marlin. These are both great guns!

Never considered the Henry, even though I'm certain it's a very fine weapon also. I KNOW the Marlin is worth having and recommend it. To be clear, mine is a JM Marlin with ballard rifling, not micro groove.

[NSB]

Winchester/Miroku in both 1886 kever and 1885 High Wall. Both tack drivers and work flawlessly.

[osteodoc08]

I'd recommend a Marlin in either the rifle format or Guide Gun. If cost is no object, an 1886 copy by Turnbull.

[tdoyka]

i have a handi-rifle for mine, but if i had to do it all again i would choose a marlin with jm stamped on the barrel.

[StrawHat]

missionary5155 pretty well summed it up. Get the one that fits your hand the best. The Marlin weighs about the same as the 1886 Light Weight. Not sure where the Henry fits into the scheme.

My choice, in 45-70, used to be the Trapdoor. Now, well, since I have used the 50-70, I find the small bore 45-70 to be the lesser used cartridge.

Kevin

[Scharfschuetze]

I probably shoot more 45/70 rounds out of Trapdoors than anything else. The original military Trapdoors take some time to sort out sometimes, but the H&R replicas are generally very easy to load for and usually pretty darn accurate for such light rifles. I often get the Trapdoors to shoot into about 2 to 2 1/2 MOA for 10 shot groups which is almost as good as my Marlin 1895.

As you are pining for a lever action 45/70, I have to say that I've had great success and fun with a Marlin Model 1895 in 45/70. It's proven to be both accurate and reliable. I can't comment on the other choices such as the Henry as I have no experience with one.

My Marlin in 45/70 along with an 1894 in .357 calibre

[jrap]

I only have an 1884 right now but I'd probably go with marlin guide gun. It's a beautiful looking firearm and is well made

[smokeywolf]

You're obviously going for a lever gun here. If a honest to goodness Winchester will make too big of a dent in your budget, I'd be looking real seriously at the Miroku-made Model '86 Jap-chester.

[Maximumbob54]

Another less costly options is the Rossi Rio Grande.

[sailsguy]

Marlin. Prefer JM, but understand the current ones now are getting better.

[Bullfrog]

Marlin for me. I took mine to a local smith and had it fitted with a new trigger to take the "slap" outta it. I own several Marlin's and have owned 5 in 45-70. I have found them to be comfortable to me and very accurate.

[NavyVet1959]

I have a Marlin and a Thompson Encore. The Encore has a very light trigger. I originally wanted a H&R Buffalo Classic (32" barrel), but never came across one locally.

[EDK]

MARLIN. I've had a 22 inch straight grip and a LTD-II pistol grip 24 inch. (Also RUGER #1 custom 30 inch octagon and a #3.) Currently a 26 inch Cowboy and a Guide Gun. Only complaint on Guide Gun is the short magazine. Currently looking at the 18.5 inch CowboyA REMLIN.

[white eagle]

had that itch a while ago
ended up with a Marlin GG and a Ruger #1

[Anschutz]

I wish I could find a #1. They are a very fine looking rifle.

[dh2]

I have the Marlin in 45/70 and a Handi rifle in 444 Marlin . I can not say a bad thing about either of them , they both put the boolit where you point it. But I do like to go back to MO for deer season , Doe's are unlimited kill a single shot rifle just does not fit with this style of hunting.

[NavyVet1959]

From an engineering standpoint, I like the ol' Rolling Block action -- simple and elegant.

[dlbarr]

From an engineering standpoint, I like the ol' Rolling Block action -- simple and elegant.

I gotta agree with you on that.

Don't know if I ever will, but would love to own a Remington RB.

[Duckiller]

I like my Marlin cowboy with a 26" barrel. Added a good recoil pad for heavier hunting loads. Light Trail boss loads are fun .

[stubbicatt]

I realize this is the lever gun forum, and you have already arrived at a couple candidates, but had you considered perhaps a single shot? I guess there's several single shots, trapdoor, rolling block, Sharps, Winchester. If you don't already have one of these, you really owe it to yourself to get one. There's something really special about a single shot, with my favorite being the Winchester.

[Lead Fred]

I ahve three, and I bought them in this order:

Handi Rifle, $225 at a gun show, has a full length fore stock, which was only sold one year, 1986.
Marlin 1895 GG, With the 430gr Ranch Dogs, It will kill anything that walks on the planet.
H&R Buffalo Classic, Had to have me a long barreled single shot, and wasnt waiting years for one to be made.

[Nicholas]

I shoot a Marlin 1895 made in 92 which I stumbled on to at a gunshow for a great price. It gives fine hunting accuracy scoped with a 2.5x scope. I also have a Ruger # 1 in walnut/blued steel that I really like. The Marlin wins out for field use, though. Gave my son a GG that is handy. I, too, would like to have a RB in 45-70, but can't justify the cost and won't trade or sell what I have. Then, too, I do not have to worry about ammo mix up with my current battery as I load in the 1895 pressure range.

[daengmei]

Lots of great info, thanks. Now it will take longer to make a decision.:coffee:

[Bazoo]

I have never fired either a henry or marlin in 45/70. I like the look of the marlin 1895 cowboy however, and would like to find one when i have the money. One thing i consider, is that marlin spare parts are available, where as henry will most likely require you to return your firearm.

[sailsguy]

Isn't the Henry in 45/70 relatively new? I thought they just started making it within the last few years. I haven't handled one. Anyone know a track record on them?

[rush1886]

Marlin for me. I took mine to a local smith and had it fitted with a new trigger to take the "slap" outta it. I own several Marlin's and have owned 5 in 45-70. I have found them to be comfortable to me and very accurate.

Wild West Guns, in Alaska, produces a single piece trigger, which can be installed in a Marlin 1895, in 30 mins or less. Sold by all the majors, Midway, Brownells, etc. Possibly direct, don't know.

Wild West does recommend gunsmith installation. If you're able to disassemble the Marlin, for cleaning, to the point of removing the bolt, the trigger can be self installed as a step in reassembling the action. 30 min job, or less.

And my 2 bits-- Marlin 1895, preferably mid 70's or early 80's manufactured.

[snapshot]

Been shooting 45-70's for close to 40 years now, Ruger, Marlin, Springfield, even a couple of ole Simese Mausers, and they're all great weapons no complaints with any of them, but not one has compared to my 1886 Winchester best big bore rifle I have ever owned.

[daengmei]

So critique me...Local shop has a consignment Marlin 1895, ser# 0208xxxx and a plastic fat50 style ammo box full of Remington boxed ammo for $550 rifle /$675 w/ammo. I put it on layaway. Looked real nice and well taken care of. No scratches or worn bluing. I liked the way it shouldered.

[snowwolfe]

I own a Henry and a Winchester 1886 extra lite. Both are great rifles with the Winchester (Miroku) costing a good deal more, but worth it in my opinion.
Had two of the JM marlins in 45-70 about 10 years ago and they were both garbage. Neither would feed or eject properly. I do plan on buying a "Remlin" at some point but only after I hold it in my hands for an inspection and run some dummy rounds through the action.

[plainsman456]

Sounds like a fair price to me.

[Irascible]

I own a Browning 1885 (Japanese) and a Marlin Cowboy. The Browning is a darling to shoot. The Marlin is a joy to carry. If you get the picture, the Marlin kicks HARD. The Browning does not. Since I carry the Marlin a lot more than I shoot it, I installed a 1" Pachmyr soft recoil pad, and put up with the beating. If you are going to shoot a lot buy a heavy gun.

[EDG]

The 45-70 with the long heavy 500 grain bullet is NOT a repeating rifle cartridge. Think of the single shot version as the 45-70 long rifle.
If you use anything much heavier than a 405 it must be deeply seated. Think of the .22 Long.
If you want light plinking rounds with 300 grain bullets think of the 22 short.

There is not much you can do with a 45-70 to get a flat trajectory even with high pressure loads. It seems to work best with heavier bullets at 1300 FPS.