Which Marlin 45-70

[jmsj]

Hello all,
I find myself wanting a Marlin 1895 in 45-70. The guns intended use will be for black bears in thick brush and short range. I would imagine 100 yds about the maximum range, most likely much shorter. I have seen the "Guide Guns" and there short barrels look like they would be handy in the brush. Some are ported and some are not. For those that have experience w/ these, is the porting desireable or not? Is there much performance lost w/ the shorter barrels?
Do some of you prefer the standard 22" barrel and if you do why?
Your advise would be appreciated. Thanks, jmsj

[thx997303]

The guide gun sounds like the perfect gun for you.

The porting on those I have heard does nothing. I have one with no porting.

I get 1750 fps with 46 gr H322 and a 350 gr ranch dog boolit so I wouldn't worry about velocity loss.

Stainless or blued is your choice. Stainless oughta resist rust well, but I've never had a problem with rust in a blued rifle.

[BABore]

I noticed absolutely no difference in muzzle climb or recoil at any load level in my 450 Marlin which is more or less a twin to the 45-70. Had both barrels at one time. The only thing the porting will give you is the "Gee Whiz" factor and reduced hearing. The Guide Gun would be a fine choice for your hunting conditions.

[jh45gun]

Get a guide gun with no porting you will love it.

[BoolitBill]

I have one that is ported and I think there is no benefit to it. I cannot feel any difference in recoil but there is a lot of muzzle blast and people on eithe side of me at the range have made comments that my gun sure is loud! If I had to do it over again I would choose a Guide Gun without the porting.

[missionary5155]

Greetings
IF you are going a 22" spend the extra bucks and get a presafety model. And you may want to highly consider a Ballard Rifled model. Thery are very cast boolit friendly.
I have hunted with short barrels up to 28" 45-70 and I see no big diffence in actual hunting situations. I have no problem hauling my 26" 1886 about all day. I really enjoy the the 22" 1886 or my 22" Marlin 1898. I have 2 marlin 1881 with 28" barrels and they get a bit heavy if all I do is walk & walk & walk.. but I have a habit of sitting a spell off and on and the rifle is no problem.
There just is so little weight difference in 4" of barrel it just does not matter. In all my years hunting I have only once smacked a tree with a barrel laying down on a deer and that was my .58 muzzleloader Zouave 32" barrel. I laughed so hard I just walked on home.
So anyway... get what you like the looks of. That 4" of barrel loss will cost a bit of "Available" velocity but there just is no critter that gets hit with a .460 lead slug that will ever know the difference.

[EDK]

Probably the Guide Gun.

I had one of the first 22 inch MARLINS in the early '70s...it was stolen from me in a burglary. I got into M1As about that time and had a RUGER #1 and #3, so the 1895 didn't get replaced.

I bought a pistol gripped MARLIN LTD with 26 octagon barrel and liked it, but then acquired an 1895 Cowboy with straight grip and octagon barrel...I like it better. Because of the way it balances in my hands, I have no problems carrying it in the woods.

I have looked for a reasonably priced used Guide Gun to try out, but haven't found what I wanted yet...when I had money in my pocket! but will probably acquire one. (But I wouldn't get a ported one on a dare!) Put a carrying sling and a LYMAN receiver sight on it and be well equipped to handle anything d*** near anywhere you go.

:Fire::castmine::redneck:

[zuke]

A decent looking one at a good price! :Fire:

[280Ackley]

I agree with BABore and the others who said no porting. I have a 45-70 guide gun and have had a 450 Marlin as well. Both were ported. The porting adds a lot to the noise level, without any other noticeable benefits.

[No_1]

I have one of the short barrel guide guns which has ports. I can say the short barrel loses nothing to accuracy at 100 yrds but the ports are in your face LOUD.

R.

[softpoint]

I have a LTDIII, a Cowboy, a stainless guide a standard 22", and an older standard model that has been shortened to 17". I'd as soon have the 22" standard as any, Longer sight radius, pistol grip, a little more weight out front for offhand shooting. Less muzzle blast. You can usually get a standard model for less money, too. You can take the money you saved and put a decent pad on it, and maybe a reciever sight if you want one.
JMO, I like 'em all, but if I was shopping for my first one, Id look at a standard 22" model. :cbpour:

[excess650]

I prefer the straight grip Marlins to the PG variety, and Like my 22" 45-70. I have a 24" 336CB 30-30 and prefer the way it handles compared to my 20" 336 35 Remington with PG stocks. I also have 18-1/2" 1894Cs, and like them as well, so I guess its the straight grip and 24" or less barrel that work for me.

[jmsj]

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate the responses. When I get ready to buy one, I'll avoid the ported models.

[DLCTEX]

The ports on the guide gun will blacken anything you put on the front sight to increase visibility in poor light and you don't shoot it without at least some ear plugs. Sometimes I wish shooting lead would plug the ports, but contrary to rumors circulated by ignorant people, it doesn't.

[Doc Highwall]

The only thing that you will gain with the ported barrel is more noise. I bought a pre cross-bolt safety back when they were first coming out with the dammed thing as I knew I did not want it and cut the barrel down to 16.5".

[JesterGrin_1]

I hate Marlins lol. Top Marlin 1894 .357Mag Middle Marlin 1894SS in .44 Mag and Bottom Marlin 1895GS in 45-70
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/SHAKERATTLEROLL/IMAG0002-1.jpg

This is a target I shot with my Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 with the 350Gr Ranch Dog at 100 yards bottom two sighters and top three for group.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v453/SHAKERATTLEROLL/IMAG0005.jpg

I would give you my load but it kills on both ends lol. You can ask THX997303. So I would try the load he gave.

[6pt-sika]

My first Marlin was an 1895M which is the 18 3/4" Guide Gun in 450 Marlin . My second was a Marlin 1895CB which is a 26" barrel .

Over the last nine years I have owned almost every variation of Marlin 450 and 45-70 they made as a standard run item as well as a couple of the 1972 to 1979 rifle .

At one point I owned 8 rifles made by Marlin and chambered for the 45-70 and at the same time all 3 models of the 450 Marlin caliber that they've produced to date .

And now of all those the only ones I still own are a pair of the 45-70's that were maded in the 1972 to 1979 period . One of mine is a 1972 rifle and the other is a 1978 rifle .

Not sure what brought me to these , but they are what I have finally arrived at as far as a big bore 45 cal lever is cincerned .

And don't take that as a negative comment on the 450 as I think it's a wonderfull cartridge as well !

[jlchucker]

Years ago I bought a pre-safety 22 incher and it's been my only 45-70 all these years. I bought it just in time, since immediately after they came out with the push-button safety. It's microgroove, and I've shot a lot of boolits through it. It's plenty accurate. I wouldn't want a guide gun, especially one with ports. Those ported barrels BARK, even with ear protection. If I had it to do over, I'd get the same rifle that I already have--except I would hope that in a perfect world the barrel would be ballard like everything else that I have.

[Whit Spurzon]

I've had the ported and unported guide Gun. Both are too loud to shoot without earplugs.
To be honest, at middle level Levergun level loads, I honestly can't tell the difference. I wouldn't go looking for ported but I wouldn't turn it down either.

I was pretty certain a Guide Gun was about as perfect a hunting carbine as was ever made then I found out about the LTD III. GREAT looks of the Cowboy, all the handiness of the Guide Gun, plus it holds one more round...

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/1895ltdiiiprofile.jpg

http://www.myhostedpics.com/images/Pathfinder/four4570.jpg

[jtaylor1960]

I have a 1895 SS 22" barrel and love it.With a peep sight and my cast bullets it will shoot well under one inch at 50yds.