I've got bit by the levergun bug pretty hard the last couple of months and have two new guns to get Zero'd and ready to shoot this summer.

Gun #1- Marlin 1894 CST with XS Ghost ring sights and Silencerco Octane 9Hd. I have a mix 158gr JSP 357 magnum and 148gr, 158gr 38 spcl ammo for this gun but will reload for it eventually when I get some time. This gun will be used for mercilessly banging steel poppers and gongs 50 yards and in and as as truck/camping gun.  

Gun #2- Marlin 1895 45-70 Guide Gun with an Aimpoint T-1 on it. I have a mix of 405 gr cowboy loads, winchester 300 gr HPs and Armscor 300 gr HPs. I will start reloading for this gun as well soon and plan to use it for deer, elk and hogs at 100 yards or less.  

I realize that different bullet weights etc are all going to shoot differently but what distances are you guys zeroing your guns at? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

5/4 Update

Using the JMB page I've got the 1895 roughly zero'd at 100 for 405 gr cowboy loads yesterday and had a blast shooting gongs at 25-50 yards. The 300 grain hollow points shot -2" at 25 yards so I'll most likely just re zero it quickly if I was going to hunt with those.

Unfortunately my BNIB CST refused to fire any of the 5 different ammo types I tried and I could see very faint primer strikes on a few rounds. Looks like it is going back to Marlin. Bummer.  

I have my Guide Gun zeroed for 100 yards…

Nice 45-70! What load do you prefer?

Go to JMB Ballistics and use the maximum point blank range feature to figure out how you want it zeroed.  That way you use science rather than opinion.  Or the simple answer is 100 yards.

Maximum point blank range

JBM Ballistics

I use mine for hog hunting and I have found that the 300 grain Remington JHP works pretty well. If I was going for elk, I would probably go for something in the 405 or 500 grain area…

I wanted a dedicated deer-legal rifle for my state which allows only straight-walled cartridges, so this is the 45-70 Marlin I have:

https://www.impactguns.com/Lever-Action-Rifles/Marlin-1895-45-70-Govt-18-SS-Barrel-Laminate-Stock-Scout-Rail-Large-Loop-XS-Sights-026495018238-70478/

The factory ammo it likes best is Remington's 405gn load. I haven't yet found the time to reload for it, but I've got 1500 coated .405gn hard cast bullets set aside to play with when I do.

Currently with the Remmy load, it's zero-ed it to hit about 1" high @ 100-yd with a Weaver 4x scout scope mounted in low rings on the forward rail.