Got a question.....

jeff gordon · 11-24-2003, 05:53 PM

Hey,
I was looking on Marlin' s website and they have a gun chambered in a caliber called 45/70 Gov' t. How hard does it kick? Do you think that a 12 year old boy could handle it? How does it compare to the .444? Is it a good caliber for deer? Is there a lot of ammunition for it? Thanks in advance

jeff gordon · 11-24-2003, 05:57 PM

Also, what about the .450 marlin caliber?

Smitty_nc1 · 11-24-2003, 07:01 PM

For a 12 year old boy, the 45/70, 444, and 450 are all gonna kick like a mule. Something a little lighter would be best, like a 243 or 223 or 25/06. You don' t want him to be scared of pulling the trigger. Thats what causes alot of misses. If your bent on a lever action, go with a 44 mag or maybe a 35 or 30-30.

jeff gordon · 11-24-2003, 07:18 PM

I have shot a .444 loaded with about 220 grains.

lobi · 11-24-2003, 07:23 PM

Those are all monsters and will give a 12 yr old a major case of the flinch.

Follow the advice of the 30-30, 35, or 44 mag. Also you might try a shotgun. I shoot a rifled bbl, scoped 12 that is mighty accurate at 100 yds. A 20ga will do the trick too.

kyhuntsman · 11-24-2003, 10:18 PM

The 45/70, 444, and 450 are all too big for a 12 yr old boy.

I would suggest a .243, 25.06, .260, 6mm, 7mm.08 for the young man. All of them are excellent deer calibers and won' t lead to bad habits, such as flinching.

Matt

frizzellr · 11-25-2003, 06:58 AM

If you have shot a 444 Mar with 220 grain loads then you might be able to handle a 45-70 Govt using light loads. I have some cowboy loads that are really pleasant to shoot. The only way you will ever know is to try it. Don' t buy into that you are too small stuff. Alot of recoil is in your head. If you think a gun will hurt you then it will.

bigbuck270 · 11-25-2003, 08:27 AM

Chuck Hawks has a web site that tells recoil. Check it out. I think the 45-70 is too much for a 12 year old. You do not want to establish bad habbits(flinches). Check out the site.

frizzellr · 11-25-2003, 08:30 AM

Guys, consider that there are some big 12 year olds out there and some have been shooting for a few years all ready. With proper technique and lighter loads the 45-70 Govt is not much more than a 12 guage shotgun.

Aught Six · 11-25-2003, 09:30 AM

Here' s the link to Chuck Hawk' s Guns & Shooting Online site. I have spent so many hours poring over his articles and charts. Good stuff!

Btw, look on the ' Tables, Charts and Lists' page for the recoil charts.