Gentlemen (and Ladies?),

I just found this wonderful site, and this is my first post.

I recently obtained a used Marlin 1895G Guide Gun in 45-70. Although I had previously shot .223 and .308 caliber rifles while in the U. S. Army, this is the first, shall we say, substantial caliber rifle I ever owned.
My wife and I went to a local gun club to shoot it this morning and it was quite an experience!!
The gun is wonderful--just right for hunting in GA. It sure doesn't go "crack" when fired; more like "BOOM". I love it, and since I also received a set of reloading dies and lots of reloaded ammo, I am going to learn to reload. At 56 I can still learn a few "new tricks."
1. I read your thread on the .444 vs .450 and 45-70. Very informative.
2. Any suggestions as to inexpensive and beginner's-level reloading equipment.
3. Any additional information on my new rifle and caliber will be most appreciated.

Teach.

Thanks,
Gene

Oh yeah that is a great cal. . Shop around for reloading equipment. Sometimes http://www.natchezss.com/ has good prices. I know this much about factory ammo: the model 1895 will handle a lot more than what the factory stuff puts out. It's a tough rifle. I have one.

The 305 gr bullets may shoot a little faster and flatter but you usually lose accuracy. Mine likes the 400 to 450gr bullets the best. The bullet drop is such that with any bullet over 150 yds you will be holding over your target to hit the right spot. The thing is to practice shooting plastic bottle filled with water at various ranges out to 250 yds. You'll be picking em off right and left after 300 rounds or so. It takes that many to get used to the recoil and stop flinching and getting used to that trajectory.

I shoot cast bullets cause they are cheaper and the new hard cast stuff doesn't lead the barrel all that bad.

Above all have fun.

Well you have quite a rifle there. AS you probably know the 45-70 was replaced as our U.S. service cartridge 111 years ago. That gives you and Idea of its staying power. Marlin chambered it in the 1895 rifle in 1972 I think. The rifle has caught on again and this time with Hunters in Africa where it dropped two Cape Buffalo with one shot and has been used a few times to take the Big Six Game animals of Africa. You can find out more about its new loads by going to the Garret Gartridge webb site and read the testimonials. I have one in the Marlin and one in the NEF single shot. Loaded to the hilt it will get your attention right away. I would get a good reloader such as the RCBS starter kit Or even one of the Lee Kits. Go to Midway USA for a good place to start looking. The 300 grain bullets are best for deer size game with the 350 Speer and 350 Hornady Round nose for Elk and bigger bears. If you have any more questions feel free to Email me and I will do my best to help you out..

45-70, First let me congratulate you on a nice "little" rilfe. I love my 1895. Is your ported at the muzzle? the newer ones aren't. Mine is and felt recoil is reduced somewhat. I handload for my 45-70 but won't quote my load cause without looking I'm not sure what it is. I would have to look it up for you. I know I use H4198 powder and Hornady 300 gr. FP bullets.
As for reloading equipment, you can't go wrong with RCBS stuff. You may pay a few dollars more than some other brands, but it will last you forever. You can pass it down to your kids. Buy yourself a couple of reloading manuals. Lee has a new book out that tell you all you ever wanted to know about reloading and has good load data in it also.
Brass for the 45-70 is pretty salty for some reason. When I got my rifle, I boutght a bunch of factory ammo when it was on sale at Walmart and when it was exhausted, started to reload it.

A) Shooting factory loads, then swapping up to some hot-rodded reloads (i.e. loads mentioned in your manual as "for Marlin leveractions" etc) is going to be an enlightening experience...with factory loads-loaded lightly in deference to trapdoor springfields-your recoil is light, VERY manageable, load up some 502grn bullets at nearly 2000fps and you're going to notice the difference...keep this in mind as you start reloading.

B)Cabela's used to have, I don't know about this year, but did last year-they had a 40th anniversary LEE reloading kit, very good kit, VERY VERY good price, has most of what you need to get started.

C)Great choice on gun/cartridge combo, I reason you will not be sorry with it...I WILL ask if it is the ported guide gun or is a new model? (or is it a really old model?) If it is one of the ported models, ALWAYS wear ear muffs when "plinking" with it, ESPECIALLY with .45-70+P loads (.45-70Marlin, .45-70Magnum, etc.)

D)There are light bullets available for it, they seem like they'd take the gun into the typical High Powered rifle classes, i.e. pushing a mid weight bullet to 2500+fps, bad idea in the .45-70, expecially in the guide gun, accuracy is terrible and retained energy is less than with the heavy hitters...Using a Marlin 1895Cowboy (LONG bbl) I send 502grn hard casts down to 800yrds at least once a month, I can get awesome groups, 2.5-3MOA at that range...I was lucky to get that accuracy at 100yrds with 325grn bullets.

E)It's hard to beat a good hardcast all lead bullet for hunting with the .45-70, when you get to rather high velocities, say much over 2000fps, or gaining on 2200+fps, your leading may start to get bad with "softer" hard casts, but don't be too concerned-they're AWESOME killing bullets, I use modified Keith type bullets from 410grns up to 535grns in my Guide Gun and my Cowboy, I've taken everything from jack rabbits to buffalo with these with OUTSTANDING results.

Thanks to all of you for your replies. Yes, it is ported. I'm goint to a gun show today and will start the search for reloading equipment.
The gun came with a ghost ring (probably Ashley) sight. If I wanted to add a scope at a later time, any thoughts.
You guys know your stuff!
Gene

I have a H&R 45/70 buffalo classic with a 32 in barrel that gets all the pressure that the buffalo bore bullets can deliver and it is most definetly felt. You will love shooting it and showing your friends how much power that a 100 yr old round can have.

Welcome to the board and the Big-Bore-Club!

I own a few Marlins myself, and they are my favorite rifles ever. Fast handling, accurate, and man oh-so-powerful! My 45/70 is my favorite one.

The 45/70 is one of themost versatile cartridges around. It will be as comfortable in the GA woods as it is here in the CO mountains as it would be in Africa.

Here is a site with some good info. on the round.

www.garrettcartridges.com

They make exclusively .44 mag and 45/70 rounds, and man are they hot!
Check out th trophy section for anyone doubting the power of this round.

A low power fixed or variable scope is good, but it is just as good as the sights that came with the gun or a nice ghost ring sight.

When shooting alot of rounds through your gun, have a couple of good screw drivers around to check all the screws on it. Sometimes that BOOM will begin to loosen the screws a bit, and it is helpful for accuracy to keep everything nice and tight.

As for targets, start saving all of your gallon milk jugs and filling them with water. Buy a piece of 4x8 plywood or particle board, and rip it down to 2 sheets 2x6. Place 1 water jug in front of the target, and shoot a hollow point or soft point bullet at the jug. The jug will make it expand, and the resulting exit hole in the board is something to behold! Canned tomatoes, cokes, etc... also are fun to shoot.

Good luck and good hunting with that Marlin. Let us know how she shoots!

I will add that in reloading these things be careful not to bulge the neck when seating the bullet. There is a canelure grove on the bullet and you want the top of the neck to line up with that so when you crimp it, it has something to hold on to. I crimped some to hard and it made a very small bulge. They wouldn't chamber and would get stuck. IF this happens don't reef on the lever hard to get them out. It will bend belive it or not.

Gentlemen,
Thanks to all of you for your replies.
The adventure continues.