45-70!

 

Going to hunt or just punch targets? If hunting, what game? I've got multiple 45/70's and only a handgun in 45 colt. Wanting a Marlin 45 colt myself....... Tell us what you want to do with the rifle...

1895gunner

 

Depends on what you're going to do with it. Just targets, I'd go with the .45LC. Deer out to 100yds... .45LC again. Bigger critters or longer range .... .45-70.

 

I got hog fever lately... Only thing that worries me how loud the 45-70's are, but love how the feel. 45's are a big difference in noise level ? I never shot one to be honest, so 45's are new to me.

 

45Colt can be shot all day long and have tons of fun. 45-70 depending on load, can be hard on the shoulder. Everyone will have different opinions, but for me the 45-70 is for serious hunting or long range fun. The 45Colt is fun at the rifle range, and can hunt well if your OK with keeping within 100 yards or so. With hard cast the 45Colt will penetrate and will work nice on Deer, Bear or Hog. I have both and at 52 years old the 45-70 in a 1886 or 1895 will beat me up at the bench. I can handle 8-10 from the 1886 and 20 -30 from the 1895. Just my thoughts on it.

David
D-hansen

 

Isn't the 1886 heavier than the 1895's ?

 

I'd have to question that on the two I have, as the Winchester 1886 is shorter at 21" and round barrel, vs. the Marlin 1895 is octagonal and 26" CB model. The receiver may be heavier on the 1886, but I think in over all weight they are very similar. I will have to weigh them and see.

David
D-hansen

 

The shape of the butt stock and metal plate are what get me. Hunting its fine, but it is brutal at the bench.

David
D-hansen

 

I'm leaning towards the 45-70 also, i was just trying to find someone beside my wife to talk me out of it, lol

 

this forum is wall to wall - enablers....the answer is always - buy it - or buy em both...

 

I'd recommend stout (RUGER) loads in the 1894, I've been shooting the "Cowboy" loads in mine that we shoot out of the 1873 Colt (Uberti) and they don't have enough pressure to seal in the chamber, it spits in my face every shot!

 

Buy which ever comes your way first, both are excellent rifles. Hard to find a good 45LC Marlin and they are pricey to say the least. 45-70's will be easier to find.
JB

 

While you'll eventually get both (because you have marlintosis disease) get the 45-70 first...just too much fun. Then get the 45 colt because your wife said you couldn't.:biggrin:

 

You can kill hogs with either one.

 

Unless your buying the gun solely for cowboy action or target shooting, the 45-70 is the way to go. You can hunt any big game in North America with a 45-70. If you go with a 45LC, your limited in both game and very limited in range.

 

Get the 45-70. You can load it down for fun and load it up when hunting. Easier to find and more affordable rifles.

 

Hey 959,

Both calibers are reloader's dreams. Both respond well to cast bullets.

1,000 cast bullet reloads in the 45 LC, will run you about $150.00, in components.

1,000 cast bullet reloads in the 45/70 will run you about $250.00, in components.

The light load in 45 LC, is a 250/255 gr cast bullet at 750 fps.

The light load in 45/70 is a 350/405 gr cast bullet at 1150 fps. (mine prefers the 405, others have good success with the 350)

Heavy load in 45 LC is a 250 gr XTP, or cast bullet at 1100 fps

Regular load in 45/70 is a 350 gr JSP at 1800 fps.

Stout load in 45/70 is a 425 gr cast bullet at 1600 fps.

Factory ammo for the 45/70 is $2.00/each. (no idea what factory 45 LC is these days)

Hope this helps. (oh, and to do my duty as an "enabler", buy one of each!) LOL

Pics of whichever you buy. (lots of guys have joined MO, saying that they could/would not reload, many of them have since started to reload. You do not save any money, you get to shoot a whole lot more)

Later, Mark

 

Mark. Your heavy colt load sounds kinda wimpy to me. These from john linebaugh are more interesting. Game changer interesting.

THE .45 COLT. 7" TEST BBL.



BULLET POWDER GRAINS VELOCITY CUP
260 GR. LEAD SWC H-110 27 1459 FPS 30,600
260 GR. LEAD SWC H-4227 26 1377 FPS 30,600
260 GR. LEAD SWC # 2400 20.5 1294 FPS 29,800
260 GR. LEAD SWC HS-6 16 1259 FPS 30,800
260 GR. LEAD SWC UNIQUE 12 1199 FPS 30,000
310 GR LEAD SWC H-l10 23 1330 FPS 30,000
310 GR LEAD SWC H-4227 23 1176 FPS 29,400
310 GR LEAD SWC # 2400 19 1172 FPS 29,400
310 GR LEAD SWC HS-6 14 1119 FPS 30,400
310 GR LEAD SWC UNIQUE 11 998 FPS 29,200

 

45-70 is the most versatile cartridge there is. It can be hot for big game at relatively long range, or mild for the range. My shoulder likes mild, but it's nice to know that I can load hot if I need to. I'd go with the 45-70, if for no other reason than it's fun, not punishing, and impressive to the other guys at the range. By the way, I'm an ancient 65 and go through 100 rounds a shooting session, so it can't be too bad.

 

'I'm in my Prime" Doc Holliday Tombstone
Agree with this post.
I thought posted not a reloader but may have misunderstood. In 45-70 Mild cowboy loads (apparently Cowboys were somewhat easy to kill back in the day. , mild green box 300 grain HP. Up only a bit is the soft on shoulder 405 grain greenbox I and many others will personally testify as a great moose and caribou load to Buffalo Bore Hard Cast front to back end bear load and breaking spine and pelvis on the far side. BB is a strong push in a properly set up pistol grip Marlin, in the straight stock there is more kick into shoulder. The Colt has more rounds in the tube, and factory trapper length handier. The 45-70 can be made handy by a decent smith. Ammo - can find 45-70 just about anywhere there is a store in Alaska but 45 Colt is often a special gun store thing. It I were going smaller than 45-70 I would go 30-30 or 44 magnum in Alaska for the ammo range of loads and available ammo. Vote - in general 45-70.

New shooter friend, first day with 45-70 votes 45-70 alsh she enjoyed the BB bear loads after asking to shoot them. Kinda scary really.

 

Unless you plan on getting a revolver to complement the rifle in .45LC, I'd go .45-70 first and then get the .45LC

 

Ok, now do you guys even consider shooting without muffs when hunting in that caliber or will that be the last thing i hear, a 45-70 blast ? You really can't hunt hogs with muffs on... I used my AR without hearing protection and had no problem.... The 30-30 doesn't seem too bad either. But obviously far from comparing apples to apples.

 

I wear Streamlight Sonic Defenders whenever I am shooting or hunting. You can leave the inserts unplugged and hear normal conversation, but they protect you against the loud blasts.

 

You mean surefire, right ?

 

Ooopss...yeah, I mean Surefire.

I confuse the two since all of my flashlights are Streamlight.

 

If you don't reload, shame on you.

In .45-70 the Remington 405gr softpoint load kicks like a 20ga with field loads and apparently will slay anything in the lower 48. I only bought one box before my set of .45-70 dies arrived. There are some sources of 405gr cast "cowboy" loads that would work for practice or even game at close range. Remington and Winchester both produce 300gr hollow point loads with some oomph! Then there are some boutique loads that are marketed as being stout enough for pachyderms but priced for Arab sheikhs.

In .45 Colt there are the cowboy loads, the self defense loads and then the boutique loads that may be iffy functioning through your levergun.

I've got two Guide Guns and I'll be adding a .45 Colt rifle sometime in the future. But starting out as a non-reloader I'd advise the .45-70.

HTH

 

If you don't reload, shame on you.

HTH

Rick has a point, both rifles are going to be expensive if you don't reload for them. Even feeding one rifle gets pricey with factory loads. Point being, if you don't reload now, you'll eventually have to with these rifles. But you'll be on your way to having the most enjoyable time you can imagine with hand loads!

 

45 Colt will be more versatile and cheaper to shoot.

DD

 

Maybe, but I just got done watching Quigley Down Under - I'm sticking with the .45-70.

 

Wait, Marlin makes/made a .45LC??? I've never seen one!!! Uh oh.
But, not to throw a monkey in the wrench so to speak, but if you are considering a .45LC, you might want to consider a 44mag. another great cartridge if you reload, but less expesive than both of the others if you shoot factory loads. I 44mag will kill deer and hog at the 100yard mark. I was pricing ammo today, Remington Greenbox 45-70 is about $50 for 20. The 45LC was running $30-$45(winch whitebox at the lowend and cowboy rounds at the top end) for 50 and 44mag was running aound $34/50 remington green box and $25 for blazer. If finding ammo is an issue, 44 is the easiest to find than either 45-70 or 45LC.
Good luck though, all are great calibers, it would be a win-win for you whatever you decide.

 

I own both. For hogs I would take the 45-70 and either a 300gr bullet or the soft shooting 405 Remington factory. I reload so I can make a very nice powder puff 300gr HP load that is fun to shoot.

 

The 45-70 factory loads are pretty mild compared to reloads that can be assembled for the Marlins, Winchesters and the Ruger. If you reload, you can load the 45-70 down to a very mild load but you cannot load the 45 LC to anywhere near the 45-70. My signature line gives my thoughts.....

 

The OP lives in Florida, does not reload and wants to hunt hogs. He is asking which one to buy first. So in the end he'll have both, not a battle over which cartridge is better. I think the 45Colt is a great match for what the OP is looking for. The 45-70 is over kill for the application. The 45-70 will be more expensive to shoot. And maybe by the time he gets his 45-70 he will be reloading. Just an opinion and what I'd do if it were me.

David
D-hansen