Help on my next purchase

[Dogg]

As one of my earlier post noted I am new to lever guns but think they may be a good idea when the bureucrats come to confiscate the semi autos and bolt 'sniper rifles'.
So far I have a 20" marlin 1984 .44 mag, and a .357 hartford 92, one will be for my wife the 20" 1984, the hartford will probably be a house gun and fun shooter and car gun on trips, now I need my gun which of these should I go for? :killingpc :groner:
a. 24" 1984 cowboy .44
b. 26" marlin 45/70 cowboy
c. 24" hartford .45LC

I definetly want a longer barrel. I already have dies and brass etc in .44 which would save money and be easier to work up loads

Don't have anything in 45LC or 45/70
But from what I have read the .45s are generally more accurate. And If I ever start hunting again may be more versitile.
Suggestion!
Something else I should look at?
All suggestions will be considered and appreciated.

[docone31]

I would go for the 45/70, in 26".
A fantastic cartridge, lots of lattitude with molds, and a good long barrel to aim with.

[Jon K]

Choose b. 26" Marlin Cowboy 45-70

1.Easy to work up loads
2.Will digest anything you put in it
3.Will do anything you may want to do with it(mild- wild)

Simply put.........a Versatile Classic.

Jon

[Muddy Creek Sam]

Dogg,

Take a look at the 73's in 44-40. Love Mine. Also Just got me a Winchester 94 Legendary Frontiersman in 38-55 Is a great Caliber.

Sam :D

[leadeye]

444 is a great cartridge and you are already molding bullets that can be used.

[EDK]

I have MARLIN Cowboy rifles.... 20 and 24 inch 357s and 44s....26 inch 45/70....24 inch 30/30....and I like them all in their particular niches.

You need to define what your gun is going to be used for. A defensive gun should be chambered for a pistol cartridge and possibly a shorter length barrel. Factory ammo for 357 or 44 is readily available...AND CHEAP compared to 30/30 or 45/70! 45 Colt requires reloading to achieve its potential PLUS factory ammo and brass is less available. I prefer the 44, but the 357 is a better choice for most people. If you don't have a reloading outfit for your 357, GET ONE NOW!

Reloading eases the cost factor a lot, but the rifle calibers are still expensive. I reload for all the above calibers and the 45/70 gets even less range time than my treasured SHILOH SHARPS 50/90. I've had several 45/70 MARLINS since they came out in the early '70s. My last brass purchases were 200 once fired for the 45/70 and 500 for the 30/30.

:cbpour::redneck::Fire:

[2ndAmendmentNut]

As one of my earlier post noted I am new to lever guns but think they may be a good idea when the bureucrats come to confiscate the semi autos and bolt 'sniper rifles'.

Look man if the bureucrats come to get them they won’t be leaving the lever actions behind.

As for you question, I personally would take a 45/70, more versatile than a 30-06. All though take a good look at the 30-30s and the 308 Marlin Express.

[Lloyd Smale]

yup, nice gun. I prefere shorter barrels and had my cowboy cut to 18 inch and case hardened by clements and custom wood put on it. Its my favorite lever gun.
Choose b. 26" Marlin Cowboy 45-70

1.Easy to work up loads
2.Will digest anything you put in it
3.Will do anything you may want to do with it(mild- wild)

Simply put.........a Versatile Classic.

Jon

[45r]

The 45-70 CB is the one that will be more usefull out of the 3.

[Dogg]

First I would like to thank everyone for the input, I am really drifting toward a 45/70 but have put the money down yet.

A little loading ifo would be helpful so if you would....
I have a 450gr flat nose, 500gr gaschek flat nose and 500 gr round nose lee mold for my 458 win mag would these be good or useful boolits for the 45/70? Anyone have a good light and or stiff loads for the 45/70 using these molds?
Looking for brass also, can't find any around this area of the woods, anyone have some once fired brass for sale or trade? I have a bunch of different things like new 7mm rem brass, once fired .41 brass, bunch of jacketed bullets that I don't use or need since I don't really have that much to hunt around here, not like when I lived in Montana. God I miss the Big Sky Country.

[muleequestrian]

Hard to choose just ONE. I don't have a Marlin CB in .45-70, but I do have a stainless guide gun in .45 - 70. With a scout scope on it with an AO sight mount. Wouldn't trade it for anything. I also have a 95 Winchester in .30-06, a '73 Uberti in .45 Colt, a Marlin 94 in .44 magnum, and a Legacy model in .30-30. I use them for differnt things depending on what I'm hunting or plinking.

IF I had to choose just one from your list, I'd go with the CB long barrel in .45-70. You can't go wrong with one. 9 shot mag tube, and if you're a reloader you can load it down or stoke it up hot for nearly any situation.

[pdawg_shooter]

First I would like to thank everyone for the input, I am really drifting toward a 45/70 but have put the money down yet.

A little loading ifo would be helpful so if you would....
I have a 450gr flat nose, 500gr gaschek flat nose and 500 gr round nose lee mold for my 458 win mag would these be good or useful boolits for the 45/70? Anyone have a good light and or stiff loads for the 45/70 using these molds?
Looking for brass also, can't find any around this area of the woods, anyone have some once fired brass for sale or trade? I have a bunch of different things like new 7mm rem brass, once fired .41 brass, bunch of jacketed bullets that I don't use or need since I don't really have that much to hunt around here, not like when I lived in Montana. God I miss the Big Sky Country.

This is from an earlier post of mine.

1895g Load for everything
After five years of trying I have finally found THE load for my Marlin 1895g. Does everything I want done and is still shootable. I started with new Remington brass, annealed the first ¾ inch using the melted lead method, belled with a Lee expander and primed with CCI 200. The powder charge is 52gr AA 2495. I started with 48 and worked up with no signs of pressure. This is a compressed load, even using a 16 inch drop tube. The magic bullet is cast in a Lyman 451114 mould. The alloy is 17 parts pure lead, 2 ½ parts linotype, and ½ part tin. The bullet drops from the mould .451 and is ready for patching. I make my patches from 16lb green bar computer paper, cut 2.750 long on a 60* angle 1.500 high. I dip in water and wrap twice around the bullet. They are left to dry overnight, then lubed with LLA. The next day the tails are clipped and the bullet is run through a .459 Lee sizing die. I seat them to an OCL of 2.580. These shoot clover leaf groups at 25 yards and into 1.75 at 100. This is with a Lyman 66 rear sight and factory front sight. Not bad for 55 year old eyes. Bullet performance on game is all one could ask for. I’ll not quit experimenting, but how does one improve on perfection?

I still havent found a better load!

[405]

Get the Marlin in 45-70 and a couple of RCBS molds-- the FN-300 Gas Check and the FN-405 Gas Check. Then never look back. Also Grafs shows Starline 45-70 brass for about 50.00 per 100... in stock.