My .45/70 is a Ruger No. 1S and it is light and handy. I think that's important for a gun that will be used in thick stuff at short to medium (150 yards) range. So if you are a lever-action fancier, get the shortest, lightest one you can find. A long barrel is of little advantage in a caliber like .45/70, where the powder charge will be consumed in 18" or less.

Comparing the Marlin to the No.1, if you are determined to use the HOTTEST load you can cook up in both, the No. 1 will beat the Marlin by about 200 FPS if you use 400-grain bullets in both. I have a load for my Ruger that gives 2270 FPS at 10' from the muzzle using the Barnes 400-grain semi-spitzer. This load carries over 4000 FT/LB of energy at the muzzle and also hit me with 57 FT/LB of recoil. It ain't no fun zeroing this load in! But I would only use it for big bears at close ranges!!

I have no real use for maximum loads in the 45-70, but 200 FPS is a lot, especially when it's a considerable percent of gain. The Ruger #1 isn't something I feel would be as effective in the brush, I know that having just 1 shot will haveyou think about your shot a little bit more, but in thewoods I might need more than 1 shot. I guess it's between the Marlin Guide Gun or just the normal one withthe 22" barrel.

One shot was plenty for Boone and Crockett. Even for Bars.

Not on the one bear that chased that guy around. It took a bunch of shots, we heard about it in school.

And the Ruger is more expensive...but you can load it higher...but not as many shells...man this is hard deciding and I don't even have the money yet!

I have a solution. Get the Marlin Guide gun, fit it out the way you want, (sights, sling, etc.).

Then save up and get a Ruger. I'm sure you could get a good, used one for a lot lower price than MSRP! The one I bought was used, but it didn't look like it was used a lot.

(I have found that when hunting in thick forest, I rarely get more than one shot anyway. That's why these days I use a muzzleloader a lot, even during regular modern firearms seasons.)

What kind of sights would you put on it? I'm thinking either a good peep or low powered scope. I'm thinking for real quick shots peep sights might be better but not as precise for long range. Any input?