RE: 45.70
I think it's kinda funny that Larry338 would say that "from experience" the .45-70 isn't fun to shoot on the bench...especially since his name implies he shoots .338. I've shot a lot of .45-70, and have never had even a handloaded hot round kick hard enough to even compare with a light loaded .338, even with a stout loaded .30-06. They bark like hell, so they may seem to kick, but it's a big hole in a short barrel, it's all bark, no reall bite...on this end at least.
BUY THE GUN!!!! Those marlins are awesome, I have had a few in .45-70, and more in .44 mag, only advice is to either buy premium or roll your own, cuz factory loads are wimped to keep those really old trapdoor rifles from blowing up.
Screw the 10 ring, keep them in the zero!!!