Marlin 45/70 Guide Gun

[jh45gun]

My Rolling Block was a nice rifle but just too darn heavy and long so I traded it for a new Marlin Guide Gun in 45/70. Little bit more fire power and with it tipping the scales at 7 pounds a heck of a lot lighter and with an 18.5 inch barrel a lot more handier. Works for me I been wanting one of these for a while and figured if I could trade even up I would pull the trigger on a trade.

[phc45-70]

I did the same thing, except I traded for a 1895 cowboy. It'll hold 9 rounds and is still lighter than the rolling block.

[jh45gun]

Yea I figure the lever gun will get a lot more use. Last I looked there were no Wild Buffalo in WI. LOL

[stubshaft]

Out of my 3 Marlin 45/70's the GG is the one that sees the most "action".

[Centaur 1]

Stubshaft, all I can say is "awesome". I just love short barreled, large bore, straight stocked, peep sight weilding Marlin lever guns. I prefer shooting a pistol grip stock, but the straight stock looks so traditional. Since there are no bears or moose in Florida I don't think that I need a 45/70, but if one came along I'd probably just load it light for our small southern deer. I've been dying to make my own "guide gun" from some pawn shop reject in .35 Remington when I find one.

jh45gun, it's been almost 6 hours, where are the pics?????????

[jh45gun]

Myself I always preferred the straight stock but then I like Winchesters too so I suppose that is why. I am stoked I am really going to enjoy this gun. I started out with a NEF handi rifle in 45/70 then built my Roller. and got rid of the NEF. When I built the Roller I made a mistake instead of the full length full octagon barrel I should have had the gunsmith cut down the barrel to a sporting configuration half octagon half round and a lot shorter than 32 inches. The Roller was just too heavy to hunt with and too cumbersome with the longer barrel. It was a joy to shoot though not much recoil due to the weight of that long heavy barrel. If the gun would have been easier to carry I may have kept it but now I got a guide gun and I think I am going to like it very much.

[jh45gun]

Stubshaft who makes that peep sight?

[jh45gun]

Digital Camera is on the fritz but it looks like this one;

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Images/photo_1895G.jpg

[stubshaft]

It is the Ashley Sight. I got it from brownells years ago and it is "Stubshaft proof". They are easy to adjust and lock into place. The front sight has a vertical line that really helps in low light situations.

There's a place called Skinner Sights that makes a similar model at a lower price.

[jh45gun]

OK thanks Not sure if I want to put a peep on it or a low powered scope. I do like peep sights though. I have one on my Winchester 94 with a fiber optic front sight and that works great.

[pdawg_shooter]

My 1895g has the old Lymann 66 peep on it. This is the handiest rifle I have. NO, YOU CANT BORROW IT!

[jh45gun]

For now I suspect I will put on an Old Weaver One and a Half by Four and a Half Variable. Cannot afford a good peep sight at this time and the scope bases for these are only about 6 to 7 bucks. I prefer peep sights on lever guns but who knows a scope that low in power on the one and a half setting should be fast and easy to use.

[NickSS]

For a packing around gun that you can use for everything from rabbits to Rino's a guide gun is hard to beat. Mine is an older one with a ported barrel. The porting is loud but it cuts down on recoil a lot. I wear electronic ear muffs when I am hunting with it. I can actually hear better in the woods and when the rifle goes off my head does not ring for hours afterward.

[JesterGrin_1]

Wait a minute Nick you can hear your Marlin 45-70 go off when hunting lol. I do not think I have ever heard any rifle or handgun go off while hunting or even felt it lol. The only thing I would notice with my Marlin GG in 45-70 is the 1 foot barrel rise lol.

[Whit Spurzon]

The Guide Gun is about as perfect as it gets for hunting, especially in the steep thick stuff Elk seem to head to when the shooting starts. The 45-70 with cast bullets is "devastating" on game. Never had to do any tracking.

I really couldn't imagine anything better but found out a few years ago Marlin put out an 1895 LTD III
http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/1895ltdiiiprofile.jpg
It has the great looks of the Cowboy and the handiness of the Guide Gun. I had to have one and it took a ransom to get it into my safe.

The only downside is my eyes are not what they used to be so using the factory opens is challenging, mighty good shooter though.

[jh45gun]

Nice looking rifle. My eyes are not what they used to be either and while I like a peep with the fiber optic front sight set up I do have a Weaver .1.5x4.5 just sitting here so I think for now I am going to mount that on my guide gun. I have talked to others that use a 1x4 scope on their guns and like that combo.

[kingstrider]

I'm starting to regret trading my 1895GS now. I'm thinking its replacement might be a Cowboy model though, I love the octagon barrel!

[DLCTEX]

Jester, if you are shooting a ported Guide Gun and don't notice the report without hearing protection, then you are already deaf. It hurts! The one I shoot actually belongs to my son, but I shoot it more than he does.:grin:
I cast both the 420 RD and the 350 RD, and push both with SR-4759. The 350 is a more pleasant load for me.

[JesterGrin_1]

Mine is not ported maybe there lies the sound change lol.

My load has been the Ranch Dog 350Gr with 52.OGr of H-322 and a Fed LRP in a Rem Case. But I just may back this load down a bit lol. :)

[6pt-sika]

I "had" a pair of the 1895G's !
One ported and the other not . Used both to kill deer . The ported one with jacketed bullets and the unported one with the Ranch Dog 460-425GC bullet . And of course that big chunk of lead flattened deer right there !

I have since sent the two 1895G's , a pair of 1895CB's , a 1895XLR and a 1895 (circa 2008) . They all went down the road to folks who wanted them more . My only 1895's now are a 1972 vintage 1895 and a 1978 vintage 1895 both of these have hard rubber/plastic curved buttplates . In the 1978 rifle I shoot the Ranch Dog 460-350GC and in the 1972 rifle I am shooting the Ranch Dog 460-425GC .
Maybe down the road I'll add a couple more of the older Marlin 1895's that were made from 1972 to 1979 but at the moment I'm stocked as far as 45-70's go !

[6pt-sika]

I cast both the 420 RD and the 350 RD, and push both with SR-4759. The 350 is a more pleasant load for me.



I've killed deer with both these bullets using XMP5744 . Killed a deer a few years back with a 1895CB shooting the Gould 330 grain HP and SR4759 . But have since had better results with XMP5744 , H322 , H335 and Varget . Also used IMR4198 some a few years back .

I just got 4 pounds of H4198 for trials in my 444's and 45-70's . So fairly soon I can add that to my list of powders !

[6pt-sika]

Nice looking rifle. My eyes are not what they used to be either and while I like a peep with the fiber optic front sight set up I do have a Weaver .1.5x4.5 just sitting here so I think for now I am going to mount that on my guide gun. I have talked to others that use a 1x4 scope on their guns and like that combo.

I have a pretty good pile of older Marlin's in 444 and 45-70 . And I have them all scoped with old Weaver K2.5's , K3's , K4's , a couple low power old variable Redfields , nice old Bushnell low power variable and a Marlin 4x .

All of these guns are set up with variouse cast bullets and all sighted in to shoot dead on at 75 yards . Normally they're all used in areas where a 90 yard shot is most likely tops .

[jh45gun]

I have a pretty good pile of older Marlin's in 444 and 45-70 . And I have them all scoped with old Weaver K2.5's , K3's , K4's , a couple low power old variable Redfields , nice old Bushnell low power variable and a Marlin 4x .

All of these guns are set up with variouse cast bullets and all sighted in to shoot dead on at 75 yards . Normally they're all used in areas where a 90 yard shot is most likely tops .

Good to know! Only cast bullet mold I have now is the Lee HB .459. But I may get a lighter bullet in the 300 to 350 class sooner or later. Got any info on trajectory on some of your pet loads?

[6pt-sika]

Good to know! Only cast bullet mold I have now is the Lee HB .459. But I may get a lighter bullet in the 300 to 350 class sooner or later. Got any info on trajectory on some of your pet loads?

I used the 1895CB with the Gould 330 grain HP PB bullet and 31.5 grains of SR4759 and primed with a CCI200 primer .

With the Ranch Dog 460-350GC in my old 1978 vintage 1895 I used 34 grains of XMP5744 and a CCI200 primer .

In the unported 1895G I used the Ranch Dog 460-425GC with 32 grains of XMP5744 and a CCI200 primer .

I have some 460-425 grain loads worked up with H322 but I don't have them with me right now !

[45r]

Short barrel guns are getting more popular now it seems.I got my RC 35 rem getting cut to 16 and 1/4 inchs.I just bought a texan with a 18 inch barrel and it feels great,a lot like my 357CB.I got a sporter 45-70 highwall with a 24 inch barrel and it feels pretty good and the pac pad sure helps with the recoil.I was going to get a GBL but the texan was too good to pass up.I like it a lot.Maybe I'll find a 45-70 later someday.I bet you will like your Marlin,I like my Marlins and a 45-70 is the next one I want.My favorite 45-70 boolit so far is the saeco 350GC.

[XWrench3]

i have a guide gun also, killed my first deer with it (not the first deer i have ever shot) this fall. dropped it like it was hit by a tank. of course, these bullets aren all that much samller than a tanks LOL! i debated long and hard between the guide gun, and cowboy. in the end, what made the difference was the price. i found a really good price on this guide gun. still, i find myself longing for the cowboy model. i really like long barrels for some reason. but honestly, i believe this guide gun will do anything that the cowboy ever will, with less weight. of course, it kicks a little harder, but that is what they make "limbsavers" for.

[jh45gun]

I like the shorter barrel. Especially after dealing with my Roller with a 32 inch barrel that I traded off to get this guide gun. LOL

[WHITETAIL]

I know you will like the Marlin,I do.
I first bought a used standard Marlin
45-70.
And fell in love with the 45-70 cal.
Then after about a year I tradedit in
for a new in the box Cowboy.
And have killed 3 deer sofar with it.
GO Cowboys![smilie=w:

[Frank]

Jestergrin said
My load has been the Ranch Dog 350Gr with 52.OGr of H-322 and a Fed LRP in a Rem Case. But I just may back this load down a bit lol.

That was a good load, Jester. 52 grns was spot on. 8-)

[JesterGrin_1]

Frank Thank You but it is a bit of a THUMPER out of the Guide Gun lol. :) But it still hits where you point it.

[DLCTEX]

Jester: give 27 gr. 4759 a try with that 320 RD, it saves on powder and your shoulder.

[Huntsman]

Congrats on your new Marlin. I bought my 1st 1895 after years of debating and arguing with myself lol. Its an older (80`s I think) model with smooth wood and no cross bolt safety. She is a beaut. I can`t decide if I want to put a scope or peep sight on her. I`m now saving up to buy a Marlin Cowboy...I sure like that octagonal barrel, smooth straight grip Yes Sir!!!
Enjoy your lever!!

[JesterGrin_1]

DLTEX I do not have any 4759 lol. All I have is IMR-4350 IMR-3031 and H-322 and would like to stick with those powders since I have them on the shelf. :).

But Thank You

[softpoint]

DLTEX I do not have any 4759 lol. All I have is IMR-4350 IMR-3031 and H-322 and would like to stick with those powders since I have them on the shelf. :).

But Thank You

That 3031 works well at lower throttle, too. :drinks:

[jh45gun]

Congrats on your new Marlin. I bought my 1st 1895 after years of debating and arguing with myself lol. Its an older (80`s I think) model with smooth wood and no cross bolt safety. She is a beaut. I can`t decide if I want to put a scope or peep sight on her. I`m now saving up to buy a Marlin Cowboy...I sure like that octagonal barrel, smooth straight grip Yes Sir!!!
Enjoy your lever!!

Thanks