45-70 Lever Gun

[scrumbag]

I had the NRA commemorative Rifle , the model that was basically a Model 64 . It was probably the most accurate Winchester 30/30 I've owned . Somebody wanted it more than me though and traded me a Remington 81 in 35 Rem for it ............... which I traded for something else .

AB

Gun whore

 

[angusb1]

Buy this mold first: The Lyman #457-122. It is a 330 HP which means casting will be a little tedious. It is superbly accurate from every 45-70 I've used it in (single shot, lever and bolt guns) and will hammer large deer flat with moderate loads. ~Muir

Thanks @Muir , when I looked it up in the catalog the bullet number is 457122 and the mould number is LY2650122. Not easy to find in the UK but I'm sure someone will have stock.

 

[Swedish]

I do not recommend this. It can lead to light strikes. It is treating the symptom and not the cause. The cause is lawyer proof sear engagement and the correct cure is stoning the sears. The Marlin is one of the easiest to do.

Interesting, the sears didn't look too bad on mine but I'll re-visit them based on your remarks. I've certainly not suffered any light strikes and the rifle gets used quite a bit at the range. After cleaning up the internals the difference was night and day. I have toyed with the idea of the WWG trigger kit too as the 'floppy' trigger is a little irritating.

 

[Muir]

Never seen one, can you dig it out and photograph it pleeeese

 

[Smellydog]

Interesting, the sears didn't look too bad on mine but I'll re-visit them based on your remarks. I've certainly not suffered any light strikes and the rifle gets used quite a bit at the range. After cleaning up the internals the difference was night and day. I have toyed with the idea of the WWG trigger kit too as the 'floppy' trigger is a little irritating.

I'm glad your not having issues.
Yeah sometimes if you very gently pull the trigger but observe the hammer you can sometimes see the hammer go backwards a tiny amount. In other words the trigger finger is actually compressing the hammer spring. Hence why some feel the trigger has improved when a lighter hammer spring is fitted.
My new Winchester 94 was just the same as all the others including a Marlin 336.
The sears are acting as hooks and not flat surfaces.
It took 30minutes on my current Winchester with fine stones. It is now indiscernible to see the hammer get forced rearward via the trigger. The trigger breaks cleanly all on standard springs ( except the first stage spring on the Winchester 94ae which has no bearing on a Marlin set up).

 

[Smellydog]

View attachment 285734

Thank you Muir, that is awesome. Does it have a ladder rear sight? 24" barrel?

 

[Muir]

Ladder yes. 24" probably. Bought it and racked it.
JUst looked. 26" barrel
~Muir

 

[reiver]

Interesting, the sears didn't look too bad on mine but I'll re-visit them based on your remarks. I've certainly not suffered any light strikes and the rifle gets used quite a bit at the range. After cleaning up the internals the difference was night and day. I have toyed with the idea of the WWG trigger kit too as the 'floppy' trigger is a little irritating.

I tried the wolf spring in my 444 and got a few light strikes so put the old hammer spring back in . I think they work ok with pistol primers and ammo but certainly not as well with cci 200 large rifle primers that are that but harder .In rifle calibres

 

[Swedish]

I tried the wolf spring in my 444 and got a few light strikes so put the old hammer spring back in . I think they work ok with pistol primers and ammo but certainly not as well with cci 200 large rifle primers that are that but harder .In rifle calibres

I can't argue with what @Smellydog says, it makes perfect sense. My 1895 is chambered in 45-70 but I probably just got lucky. I am keen to investigate further though so when I have time I'll report back!

 

[alberta boy]

Gun whore

You can't own them all at once , but you can own all of them at least once ............... and I'm not a whore ,,,,,,,,,,, just a little slutty is all .

AB

 

[scrumbag]

You can't own them all at once , but you can own all of them at least once ............... and I'm not a whore ,,,,,,,,,,, just a little slutty is all .

AB

“How many drinks it take, honey?”

 

[1895Gunner]

I've picked up these four 45-70's this year to add to my JM Marlin levers. Three new Ruger-built Marlin 1895's and a Henry All-Weather Picatinny Rail. All very nice rifles. You can't go wrong with a 45-70, in fact that has been my favorite cartridge for over fifty years. I'd rate these new Marlins as good as, and in many cases better rifles than the earlier JM's. The Henry is my first and it has been out hunting in bad weather with me this winter, great rifle too.

 

[angusb1]

Just found this article which confirms that the 45-70 is a good choice for shooting in dense woodland because it is less affected by hitting twigs than most other chamberings The Best Brush Busting Bullets Put to the Test

 

[angusb1]

I've picked up these four 45-70's this year to add to my JM Marlin levers. Three new Ruger-built Marlin 1895's and a Henry All-Weather Picatinny Rail. All very nice rifles. You can't go wrong with a 45-70, in fact that has been my favorite cartridge for over fifty years. I'd rate these new Marlins as good as, and in many cases better rifles than the earlier JM's. The Henry is my first and it has been out hunting in bad weather with me this winter, great rifle too.

View attachment 286104

Very nice! How do you find they shoot with the muzzle brakes? Much of a difference to the recoil?

 

[1895Gunner]

Very nice! How do you find they shoot with the muzzle brakes? Much of a difference to the recoil?

I find that the muzzle brake reduces muzzle jump and the recoil as well. I bought one to try on the new SBL and then liked the results so much I went and bought two more for the Trapper and the Guide Gun!

 

[Tim1989]

I've got a new ruger made sbl 45-70 order should be here any week now , I've started loading for it already, going to put a leupold scope on it I think

 

[stubear]

I have a marlin 1895GBL in .45-70 with a Leupold 1.5-4x2 boar plex scope on it. It’ll flatten anything inside 100y easy, brilliant rifle.

 

[Tim1989]

I have a marlin 1895GBL in .45-70 with a Leupold 1.5-4x2 boar plex scope on it. It’ll flatten anything inside 100y easy, brilliant rifle.

what ammo do you use ?

 

[thegreg]

Often get a 444 turn up too
Sometimes a Winchester 94 in 444 will turn up but I think they only came in plastic stocked versions apart from the timberwolf (iirc).

Technically a Ruger #1 is kind of a levergun.

I’ve got a walnut stocked one, called the Timber Carbine. Scarce chambering in the 94. There aren’t many about in the US, let alone here. From the bit of research I did they were a sort of equally unsuccessful follow on to the 94 “Big Bore”.

I’m trying to decide whether I prefer it to my 1886 in .45-70. What I can confirm is the .444 in the 94 action is harsh to shoot. Big powerful cartridge in a rifle that weighs 6lbs isn’t a great combination. Good fun though..for a few shots.

Cheers
Greg

 

[Smellydog]

I’ve got a walnut stocked one, called the Timber Carbine. Scarce chambering in the 94. There aren’t many about in the US, let alone here. From the bit of research I did they were a sort of equally unsuccessful follow on to the 94 “Big Bore”.

I’m trying to decide whether I prefer it to my 1886 in .45-70. What I can confirm is the .444 in the 94 action is harsh to shoot. Big powerful cartridge in a rifle that weighs 6lbs isn’t a great combination. Good fun though..for a few shots.

Cheers
Greg

Cool.
It will be a trade off, weight verses recoil.
Is it satisfactory accuracy wise?

I once had a chance to buy a 94 BB in 307 when I was younger. I declined and regretted my decision ever since!
Thanks.