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Posted: 1/3/2006 2:39:53 PM EDT
I traded my excellent marlin 30-30 in on a marlin 45-70 back during the big 45-70 hype a few years ago.
I didn't like the heavy recoil of the high speed 45-70 loads. In case you didn't know, a 405 grain 45-70 loaded to the original black powder load of 1300 fps kicks like a 30-06, and the kick of the hot loaded 1800+ fps loads is like twice that, it is actually painful to shoot more than a few rounds. So anyway I sold the 45-70. Now I would sort of like another marlin lever gun. I'm thinking 44 magnum would be a nice load for focking around with since I reload. I wonder if the recoil would be bad, and how is the accuracy? I'm not a particular sissy about recoil but I don't think that a light rifle like a lever gun should kick your ass with heavy recoil. What would you say to that 44 mag idea, my fine friends? Any better cartridge I should consider? |
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I have the .45-70 guide gun myself......I like it.
I had a .357 (it was stolen) I really liked it and kinda want another one. So, I vote for the .357 |
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I shot a 44 mag loaded with 44 special cowboy loads and I couldn't wipe the smile off my face for days. Fast and accurate. The 357/38 model might be something to look at. (I'm always thinking about how much reloading I'll be doing) HTH
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I have the .35, and it's nice, but a .44Mag could be a nice compliment to a .44Mag revolver.
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I'd say .357 because I love my .357 caliber and I've always wanted a lever action to compliment my revolver.
Then again, .357 seems a bit on the weak side for a rifle but .44 is a bit much on the pistol end. Aww F it, get a 30.30 again. |
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.30-30 is a good choice... options on reloads from 125 to 170gr, and now there is the Hornady Lever Evolution ammo (saw one user review... factory loads sucked for him... reloads might show much more promise).
Otherwise, 44Mag would be nice... you can load 44spl spec or use 44spl ammo in it. Would make a great brush gun. I have a .357/.38 lever rifle and it's handy as hell. You can get some very respectable loads out of a .357... 158gr bullets getting up to 1800-1900fps. |
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I love my 45-70, but I'm into pain. lol..
I'd go with a .44 Mag, and the corresponding pistol. |
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If I remember correctly the 30-30 rifles are most accurate with 170 grain bullets. |
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My loving wife got me a Marlin .44 for my 44th birthday this year! (I picked it out..)
It's from the mid-70's, and looked like it had hardly been shot when I got it. I love to shoot this gun, so do my boys (11 and 13) and everyone else who has tried it. It's really accurate to 50 yards, I haven't tried it much beyond that. "Kick" is hardly noticeable with 210 grain loads. My "full-power" 240 grain loads are a little snappy, but nothing to keep you from pumping them out one after another. It's really cool to hear the big boom when it fires, then the "thwack" when the big bullet hits the backstop. It's even better on gallon jugs full of water. Mine has a Williams peep sight on it, which I really like. As my eyes deteriorate I have more and more trouble with irons, but these peeps work well. I'm going to put a scope on it just to check group sizes at longer ranges, but I plan to generally keep it iron sighted. I'll probably hunt deer with it next year. I wouldn't hesitate to use it for defense. For just fun plinking, I only rate my AR-15 higher. Edit to add: I can get groups that I cover with my hand at 50 yards. For me with iron sights, that's pretty good. The gun kicks more than my AR, but less than my 7mm-08. Definitely less than my buddy's 30-30. My younger boy is a bit recoil shy, but he loves the .44. The lever is still a little stiff, but I think it just needs to be broken in a little. Also, .44 specials jam it up. I suspect that the early guns aren't meant to take them. |
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Whats wrong with the 45-70?
Get a 44 mag shoot 44spec. in it If you can't handle the cal. don't buy the gun...duh |
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I love my Marlin .357/38. It is fast, accurate and handy.
I want a one in 44 mag. I would like to get it in blue with a 16-18 inch barrel. One in 30-30 is as American as you can get. |
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If I had to pick only one, I'd get a .357 model. That way I could shoot .357 / .38 special and have compatibility with a wheel gun.
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What do you plan on using the rifle for? There are many good choices. I would like one in 30-30 like I had many years ago but sold during a time of weakness.
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+1 Youhad it right the first time before you admit to making a mistake. |
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+1 to American Patriot1776's comments.
I love my .357/.38 too. Goes well with my wheel gun. My goal for 2006 is to embrace the power of "AND" by picking up a .44. |
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Hands down the .44 magnum. I reload and make some loads for my wife that are fun for her to shoot. Or I can load it up to full magnum specs and it makes an excellent deer cartridge.
The .357 is a little underpowered for deer if you had any interest in that area. Bob |
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The 45-70 is Ok, but a little too hard kicking for a fun type gun. 45-70 is definitely not the wonder cartridge all the gun rags were saying it was a few years ago. i'd rather have a 30-06 any day and save half the recoil for 4 times the range. I used to enjoy plinking and so forth with my 30-30 but the 45-70 would jerk the snot out of your nose. nobody really enjoyed shooting mine for more than a few shots. |
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I'm thinking of one of these.
www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/xlr/336.aspx Here's the Hornady ammo www.hornady.com/story.php?s=198 Marlin and Hornady have jacked up the ol' 30-30. I've always like hunting with a lever action. |
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If you're into reloading I'd pick either the .357 or .44 mag due to straight walled brass being so much easier to reload than bottlenecked cases.
Given that I'd go with .44 Mag, though .357 would probably be a little cheaper to reload. |
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Match your lever action to your pistol I will be looking for a levergun in 44 soon. |
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Why you expecting Indians. If it is intended for all-around hunting why hobble the rifle with a pistol cartridge that limits it potential uses. For specific tasks .44 is fine but not general use... if plinking is the primary use .357 is a lot cheaper than .44 even when reloading. Of course you could get one of each. |
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I have an 1894S 44 Mag. It shoots great. For just messing around I shoot Blazer through it. The Blazer load is probably between 44 Spec and UMC 44 Mag.
I have a 240g XTP load I use for deer and hog hunting. It's pretty stout. |
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Ahhhhh, just go for it. I have a Marlin Guide Gun in a .450 Marlin. I really like it. I have only shot one deer with it, and the bullet went in and out and through two trees and kept going. As a friend of mine put it, "this was not made for your shooting pleasure!" It is still fun to shoot....once or twice.
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I dont know. I like the 45-70. I dont own one, but have family that does, and a friend. I have been shooting them since I was probably 16. i dont see a problem with recoil. Then again I dont think the moison Nagant is bad either, and some guys here seem to think it is the kickingest SOB ever. I still think the worst Ive shot is 760 carbine 30-06, but I havent shot that for probably 5 or 6 years, back when I was a little guy and weighed 40 pounds less
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I'd like to have 3:
.44 Magnum .357 Magnum ..and a Winchester 94 in .30-30 HH |
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I have the 1894 cowboy compition in 45 colt. Shoots great with lead loads(10 rounds in a pattern about the size of your hand at 50 yards) but it hates jacketed bullets(patterns in a 10 inch circle at 50 yards). I was told it had to do with the rifling. I took a nice doe last season with a handloaded 250 grain load at 50 yards, it knocked her head over tea kittle. Short rifle makes a good truck gun BTW.
I would like to get another one but I would go for the regular 1894 in 44 magnum. The rifling is set up for jacketed bullets. Look at the model 1894 and test fire one if you can get the chance. Marlin seems to have better quality right now over winchester. |
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Are they still avilable? |
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Guys, can you get a lever gun in .45 Long Colt? Would be nice to have a revolver chambered in that cartridge as well.
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I have a .38/.357 1894C, and that gun is just plain fun to shoot. I plan to pick up a .44 Magnum version this year, and maybe a .41 Mag. The stock fits like it was custom made for me.
So far it shoots great, but I haven't tried it with no wind and the scope to see how well it can really shoot. I've got a box of handloads waiting. |
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I've got the 44. It doesn't really kick much. I still suck with the factory sights
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As always it comes to what kind of shooting you intend to do.
If you are just blasting and cheep ammo is the key the 38/357 is the way to go. If you need some more power the .44 is a good deal and ammo price is decent if you handload. I have a 44 cowboy model that has the longer heavy octogon barrel. It is quite accurate with a peep sight mounted (even with my not so good 52 year old eyes). It has power to hunt the likes of deer and boars if that is your bag . The shorter lighter standard model would be more handy to carry around but would smack you harder than the cowboy model but still less than the 30-30. I have shot the guide gun and don't have much use for it but have been keeping my eyes out for the full size lever gun in 45/70. The answer is that you can't do everything with one gun/caliber. To me a scope on a lever gun doesn't cut it,I would rather have a peep but go with what you want. This type of choice is one of the reasons I so enjoy belonging to my gunclub. I could make a couple of calls and have all of the above guns lined up on the bench to try side by side. |
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No unfortunately not , at least at the moment . That seems to be the way marlin does things . As far as I can tell they produced it twice . 1996 and 2002 . Hopefully they will bring it back again . I bought mine LNIB locally and I have seen others for sale since then . In fact I just did a quick search and there is a limited edition Stainless with gray/black lam stocks on it for sale on Gunbroker right now . It looks just like the one echo459 posted above , but its " Pricey " |
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Hummmm I shot a 45-70 with the little 300 gr loads and thought it was almost a joke, hardly any recoil...never tried the 405 loads.
For just giggles, get the 357/38. No recoil to speak of and with 158-180 gr loads it'll do for deer. |
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