Marlin Guide Gun 45-70

I've heard alot about the 45-70 lever actions being inaccurate and my grandfather has told me he used to go hunting with a guy in alaska who guided people and he used this gun just in case a bear came out of a bush and tried to maul him or something of the sort and that at more than twenty or thirty yards it's not very accurate, so a scope is probably not neccesary
 
have never had a problem with a 45/70 being inaccurate between lever, break, or falling block - and that's using a cast lead 485 grain spitzer or a 560 grain postell.
depending on the rifling, some of them do not like the 405 grain and lighter bullets, some don't like anything over 405 grain -- that just depends on the rifle. (and how much fouling there is in the barrel)
 
malago0 said:
I've heard alot about the 45-70 lever actions being inaccurate and my grandfather has told me he used to go hunting with a guy in alaska who guided people and he used this gun just in case a bear came out of a bush and tried to maul him or something of the sort and that at more than twenty or thirty yards it's not very accurate, so a scope is probably not neccesary
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That guide couldn’t shoot, never cleaned his gun or was full of excrement.

Shoot a lot of lead bullets through and gun without cleaning and accuracy will degrade. It essentially removes rifling from the equation makes the gun a smooth bore (not quite to that point but you catch my drift).

Some of the older Marlins were Micro-groove rifling, which isn’t preferred, especially for shooting lead. The newer ones are all Ballard rifling, which is cut much deeper and 6 grooves. Any quality firearm can shoot accurately within its intended use. An 18.5” .45-70 was never intended to be a 400 yard rifle being shot for groups.
 
I have a 1894 .357 in stainless and I use a Skinner sight. It's simple, accurate and dead reliable. Looks very nice as well - mine is stainless to match my carbine.
 
malago0 said:
I've heard alot about the 45-70 lever actions being inaccurate and my grandfather has told me he used to go hunting with a guy in alaska who guided people and he used this gun just in case a bear came out of a bush and tried to maul him or something of the sort and that at more than twenty or thirty yards it's not very accurate, so a scope is probably not neccesary
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my 45-70 is accurate.. sometimes the shooter isnt :) here are couple targets from right after I got my 1895 SBL and was sighting in my scope, I have gotten quite a bit better since then.

the 100 yard string was when i busted my forehead open with the scope so I was a bit distracted, didn't stop me from shooting though lol. :D

mLSoS.jpg


Lnotk.jpg


wvNLq.jpg
 
gah... sorry for the giganto pics if I had time id resize them but I have to go fix a printer for a client of mine. I will fix that later
 
I personally couldn't imagine putting a scope on my .45-70

1. if it's not a scout scope, you will almost certainly catch a case of scope eye at some point.

2. The .45-70 isn't a long range rifle. If you can't hit a target with the iron sights, you need more time at the range, not a scope. Anything your shooting at with it should be inside 200 yards.
 
adaman04 said:
Jake I've been on an AR habit as of late that I really need to ween down. They're fun guns but man, even on a budget build I end up with more in them than I intend. Rifles are da debil, buy a gun and spend as much in optics. That's how I justify handgun purchases. "Hey I don't have to put optics on it." :D

It sure isn’t whiz-bang tactical, but something about a bullet in the 350-500 gr. range just says “go away”. :D
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Oh I feel ya. I have put a lot of $ in MY AR but I'm pretty much done with it. My next few rifle purchases wont be nearly as tricked out as that one. Looking at Marlins and a WASR AK. Nothing more than XS iron sights and or a scope and sling on the future marlin, and I plan on the AK being a straight beater, probly truck gun that will be strictly stock.
 
Those groups from the buffalo bore rounds look horrible? Mine shoots those into tiny little groups at 100yds. Looking at your other groups it is obvious that you can shoot so maybe your barrel was getting too dirty at that point? Granted that group would still make a kill shot but much past 100yds could cause a miss of the vitals.

I have tried the Leverevolution bullets and am pleased with their accuracy. For me they are no more accurate than my hand loading so I roll my own for the extra weight gain in bullet grains as well as a little cheaper.
 
well I asked him and he said it was the winchester and not the marlin so i guess i was wrong
 
I'm partial to Burris. Have one on a CVA Electra, and it has worked well. Mine is a 2X-7X. If I were to buy another, I'd probably look at possible a non-variable. I find that with the ballistic reticle, while you CAN calibrate it to both ends of the spectrum (2-7), it is just more difficult, and then you have to know TWO different sets of numbers.
 
SemperParatus said:
I personally couldn't imagine putting a scope on my .45-70

1. if it's not a scout scope, you will almost certainly catch a case of scope eye at some point.

2. The .45-70 isn't a long range rifle. If you can't hit a target with the iron sights, you need more time at the range, not a scope. Anything your shooting at with it should be inside 200 yards.
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^^^^ THIS! Agreed, iron sights inside 200yds are the way to go.

To add to it, anything over 200 yds with it, and you dont have the right platform. Should be a more accurate system, such as a bolt action or ar15. I dont know, maybe a falling block would do, but thats a lot of gun to pack and its only single shot. Guns like knives all have limitations, you just have to pick whats going to work for you and go forward.
 
Personally for what a 45-70 guide is truly used for and distances i would do a set of ghost ring irons and an eotech. Do something simple like a model 512 and you are set. I would personally stay awy from leatherwood. Very much a leupold guy. Trying to save a buck on glass will just cost more in the future in time and money. Do it right the first time. Also check out gggaz.com they have really good package deals on e eotech that will get you a quick release mount for a few bucks.
 
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flashback,,, i went with XS ghosts and a Burris scout scope, have been pleased, also still considering the eotech.
Thanks...
 
Go with the leupold or burris.
Or better yet XS sights ghost ring sights and save the money for ammo.
Jim brockman does a great job on these guns. (gunsmith)
 
Just sold mine recently, (a bit too heavy for anything in New Zealand!), but a 2 1/2x Leupold on PRW rings and a Weaver one piece base added up to a very fast and accurate set-up. Built for a trip to Alaska that did not happen. I would not be worried about modifying an eyebrow with any rifle if the scope has enough eye relief. Never had much use for scout scopes in poor light either but the wee Leupold rocked.
 
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