my buddy got a 45-70 with the short barrel he likes it alot. another guy he knows got the 45-70 target with the long barrel. they are the new england models. have any of you guys used the target model and is there any advantage to the longer barrel with factory ammo. i know it's alot more weight.

Longer barrel, more velocity. After 18" I bet you can get up to 40fps per an inch in some instances.

I have both the 22 inch handi Rifle and the Buffalo Classic 32 inch. (I think) with Factory loads I don't notice much difference in accuracy. However I have to admit that I have not chronographed them side by side with the same loads. I will check that out though and report back. So far I have shot about 90 percent Cast bullets with Black Powder in the Buffalo Classic.

The shooting weather is getting better in North dakota now. I saw two ND girls today without Parkas and stocking hatson.

Had a 45-70 and got rid of it. Only place I'd use it isinwoods setting at shortrange. Rainbow Trajectory limits it as a short range roundunless you are areal experienced shooter and like extrapolating rainbow trajectories while hunting. At short ranges I see no advantage to the 45-70 over a 44 mag in a lever action and many disadvantages like weight and cost and recoiletc. The 45-70 has seen its day, time to let it die the death it deserves.
See below and then ask yourself if you really want a rifle cartridge that makes a 44 mag look good at 150yds?

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/comparative_ballistics_results.aspx?data=RH44MGA*R 4570G

Goodness man, you have lost your mind. My 45-70 pushes a 300gr partition out at 2100fps. And it is the top 10 rifle dies sold every year.

I agree bigcountry. The .45-70 will be here another 100+ years. I love my guide gun. This little rifle has accounted for 3 blackies with 3 shots. Its light and fast. And as for its advantages over a 44 mag, the 44 is no where close to handloaded 45-70s in a modern rifle like the Marlin or Ruger. True, it aint flat shooting, but if I'm going to be shooting over 100 - 150 yds, I will be using something else. But under 100 yds, whatever I'm shooting at, I have a pretty good feeling its going to go down hard like a fat lady on ice.
Back to the original post - I prefer the short barrel just for the handiness.

You dog you! [:'(]Did you at least snap a picture to share? hehehe

I think when deciding on barrel length velocity really won't be much of a factor unless you plan on shooting 200 + yards, and I doubt there is much difference in accuracy between the two.

Its a sure sign of spring. Soon they won't have to wear long handles under the cut offs.

I will go out and chronograph both of them with a factory loads.

NYO. Its true you have to hand load the 45-70. Thats just because ALL FACTORY AMMO, except the high performance loads, have to be kept to Trapdoor springfield strength level. That is only 18000 cup. However the Marlin loads go up to 28000 and could probably push 40000 because its the same rifle that the 444 Marlin is capable of. Loads for the Ruger and Brownings can top that and fall just a little below the 458 Win Mag. The 45-70 Marlin can and Has taken every species of big game on this planet. And have no trouble in the process. It been done many times. As long as you are checking webb sites, check out the Garret ammunition site.

Other wise, yor are correct that the 44 Mag in a Handgun or even better, in a rifle, is no slouch either. When you start pushing 300+ grain bullets around, its serous medicine.

I am willing to bet that as long as people hunt with firearms, the 45-70 will hold its own. For those who wish to learn of its capabilities will realize its to good to die. Its also a big big bore that the average hunter can afford to buy.

James, maybe this is a question better suited for the reloading forum. Those blackpowder loads...I like that idea very much. As a person torn between buying a .44 or 45-70 rifle this summer (both will be handloaded) I read ever word in this forum with interest, but none of it was new info. I know it was originally a bp cartridge, but don't know jack about loading bp ammo. I assume you can use the same cases, but what about primers? And what kind of BP? All these new BP alternatives can get confusing. (not to mention ff, fff...etc) Have you chronographed these loads, what vel. are you getting. I'd guess 70gr is a good starting point?

Oh, almost forgot, BP loads aren't a problem for modern leverguns...just messy, right?

Thanks for any tips. The idea of using blackpowder may tip the scales in favor of the 45-70 for me. (I know the .44 could also, but I imagine its case capacity would restrain it to rather anemic levels.)

Actually I have done some pretty extensive investigation and the 45-70 in a 1895 marlin built after 1972 should be able to handle pressuresup to 43,500psi with good margin according to Brian Pearce of Handloader mag Aug 2003. So I didn't believe him, so I called Nosler and they confirmed the same that thier data goes up to 35K or more. So I didn't believe them either, so I talked to buffalo ball and garrett folks to confirm that. Oh well, guess its true.