Need some informed opinions

[Duke0313]

Marlin 1895G in .45-70 or Browning BLR in .30-06? Could be huntin' anything from white tail to Mr. Grizz. Anyone have experience with these two guns? Pros? Cons? What would you do?

[Old Grizz]

I have lots of experience with the 1895G 45-70. Works great on griz especially with Garretts 45-70 Hammerheads +P 540gr bullet. For whitetail I use the 325 gr Leverevolution ammo from Hornady. If you hand load you will have some good choices depending on your application. Most guides prefere nothing less than a .338 for a grizzly hunt. I bought my GG to hunt griz and was so impressed with its performance I use it for most everything now. I have done a little custom work on it to obtain a little better permance out of her. I have installed a DRC large loop lever fo accomodate my big mits with heavy gloves on and have also replace the trigger with a Wild West trigger. The factory trigger is about 7 lb pull and with WWG trigger brings it down to 2.5lbs. Also replaced the ammo follower with an aluminum follower from WWG. It has a new WWG Bearproof ejector along with a XS Ghost ring with a XS Scout scope mount. The idea of the scout set-up is fast target aquisition and if you get into a situation where you need to use Iron sites it only takes a second to remove the scope with the Leupold QRW scope mounts. When you replace the scope back onto the gun it will still be on target.



As far as accuracy goes, it's great to about 200 yards, after that it really starts to drop. I don't have a photo from the range but at 150 yard off a bench it maintains a pretty tight 1.25 group.

[Rangr44]

[Marlin 1895G in .45-70 or Browning BLR in .30-06?]

Normally, for me the cartridge choice would almost be a toss-up, slightly favoring the .45-70 - but your choices of rifles firmly puts me in the .45-70 camp, as I have no love for the alloy-receivered BLR's (which AFAIK, all .30-06 BAR's are).

.

[wreckhog]

I have a 45-70 GG (one of many 45-70, just love the cartridge) and a .270 long action BLR. Marlin is handier. BLR smokes it for anything over 100 yards. Both GREAT guns. I think that it would be real neat to have a mag loaded with bear medicine just in case. My BLR does not require small base dies for reloading, which is a known issue.

[Blackhawk44]

Have you thought about the BLR in a .300 WSM??  Plenty of power with better range than the Marlin in a shorter, handier package than the .30-06.  You might need a better recoil pad, but with big loads so will the Marlin.

[Terbltim]

I've been shooting & handloading the Marlin 1895 since the late 70s and that would be my first recommendation for your question with no more info than you provided.
I don't like the Guide Gun, (a personal opinion.)
For store-bought deer ammo, the 300gr JHP loaded & sold by Remington is flawless for about 150yds, (200yds with some hold-over practice.) I handload them slightly faster but that bullet hits 'em real hard no matter what.
The Winchester ammo is, well, I don't buy that stuff anymore.
I just handload now anyway but I do use and recommend Remington bullets.
I haven't shot at grizz with one yet but there is no shortage of suitable loads for that task.
I have not been able to develop a favorable impression of the lever-evolution bullets.
Glowing reports about them are puzzling to me.

I also have a BLR chambered for 308-Win which I think of as barely useful for deer because of its poor accuracy. I think of it as a 100-yd maximum-use rifle. It is the 4th BLR I've owned and every BLR that I've ever seen or personally handled gave disappointing accuracy. (I'm talking about 3" being the very best it can do [at 100 yds] with the most tricked-out, special-made, just for the individual rifle type of loads.)
I think they are junk, but man they sure are smooth to operate.
I keep on coming across sweet deals on them.
Maybe the previous owners gave up on them and sold them cheap so they wouldn't face the risk/shame of being labeled a scam artist.
I finally put a scope with a turkey-reticle  on this gun. The circle in the center represents 15" at 50yds and when the circle is bigger than the kill-zone its a no-shot situation.
Claims of good accuracy from others just mystify me.
Good on you if you find one that shoots good.

[Blackhawk44]

Sorry for your luck Terbltim, but good on me.  My three BLR's will group inside of an inch and a quarter with factory ammo; better with handloads.  I have worked with several others and have not had major problems with accuracy.  Better luck in the future.   

[efremtags]

The 2 are really apples and oranges.

One is a true lever, one is a bolt gun with a lever in disguise.

The BLR is nice because it has a magazine and can fire spitzer bullets. It also comes in some high velocity calibers. It is definately more versatile in term of caliber selection and bullet selection. The BLR tends to be pretty expensive. They have nice wood and blue jobs typically too, with lots of shiny gold trim. I have heard mixed reviews on accuracy.

The marlin is a little more utilitarian in fit and finish. They have the advantage of coming in a lot of variations (short medium and long) so you can take your pick on what you prefer. They are also available in stainless. They tend to be pretty accurate, more so that one would expect.

The 45/70 is overkill on deer. Downloaded, it has balloon trajectory, hot loaded it kicks like hell.

Also, comparing a versatile deer gun with an occasional grizzly gun is like saying you want the cheapest Ferrari that also gets good gas mileage.

My take is the BLR is more versatile if you like a lever, but are not a traditionalist. The Marlin is more fun but usually takes some accessorizing to get it the way you want it.

[Duke0313]

Thanks all, for the info...so, would most agree that the BLR in 300WSM would be the better choice?

[Natty Bumppo]

Could go with the .325 WSM in the BLR.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  I have nothing against new calibers, but I would bet in 10 years or less the 325 is a thing of the past...the .300 WSM will be with us due to the popularity of the good old .30 cal...with the range of bullets, for me it is no contest...I have had calibers from the little .17 to the .45 range....all have something to offer...for general big game hunting and that is what you are looking at nothing beats the .30's....For elk, a good 30 cal. will drop them as quickly as any .338 or 325, with less hassle getting ammo and bullets......

[mannyrock]

Gosh Duke,

   The problem is, that you say you want a rifle that is both a good white-tail gun, and a good grizzly gun.  They are apples and oranges.  One animal weighs 150 pounds, can be killed easily at long ranges, and is not dangerous.  The other can weigh 800 to 1,000 pounds, is hard to kill at long range, and can kill you. 

  With all due respect to all of my friends on this board, there is no single gun that is going to be great at both of these.  So, why are you trying to "compress" these two extremes into one firearm?  Rifles are not that expensive, especially if you buy them in used VG+ condition.  So, do right by the game, and buy two.

   Now, if for some reason you just must have these capabilities in one rifle, then the .45-70, or a .35 Whelen, would be the round.  BUT, you are limiting both your grizzly shooting and  white-tail shooting to approximately 225 yards.  Are you willing to do that? 

  Some folks have mentioned the .300 WSM, which is a great round, but I feel that it is too light (not a fat enough caliber) for grizzly.

   The .325 Ruger will be dead in 10 years.  If you go in that direction, then get a .338 Magnum, and hand-load down some cartridges for white-tail.  The .338 is a proven performer, especially on grizzly, and is here to stay.

Just my thoughts,

Good luck,

Mannyrock

     

[mannyrock]

  Oops.  :-) 

  I mean't the .325 WSM will be dead in 10 years. Ditto the similar Ruger cartridge.

Mannyrock

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Manny, I have not shot any grizzlies, but several very large blk. bear.. when we think of grizzlies, one often pictures the coastal browns which get huge, and inhabite thick country....check out the size of the griz. shot...one on the board was 6 and 1/2 foot... many are that range or a bit more...we took one blk. over 7 foot...griz. are often shot in very open country, so shot placement is not hampered by thick brush...one of the old timers in this valley was a guide in Alaska for many years, he shot and saw shot dozens of bear...he often used a .270 for browns, blacks, polars, and grizzly...admitedly he was a very cool head and good shot.....as I said, I like guns..rifles, shotguns, pistols...I like .30 cal...When I hunted the Yukon, grizzly were on the menu...I had a 30 cal. with 180's for sheep, caribou, etc. and some 200 Nosler Part. for griz...(both shot to the same point of aim with that rifle) we did not see a grizzly, but I am perfectly confident, that he would have come home with me if I would have gotten a chance...I think the size of our big game is over rated....elk, bear, maybe moose are give more weight than they really achieve on a normal animal...If I ever get another chance to go for grizzly, I would take the same .30 cal. with the same loads...I could take a .340 or .375, but for grizzly the 30 would be more than enough...for browns, no doubt, with heavy brush, the bigger bores would probably go...Over the years, I have visited with many hunters from Alaska and around the country, and guides who operate in Alaska...most seem to feel a good .30 cal. is enough for all but big brownies...If you feel comfortable with the .338 fine...when I was in the Yukon, there were several .338s' in camp...Only one of the three was comfortable with that caliber...it was easy to see that when they shot at target...poor shooting is responsible for more wound game than anything else...Plus, all were shooting 210 grain bullets to get some additional range, for sheep..My rifle shot a 200 faster and flatter than the .338's did a 210....One of the well know riflemen today, and I would say he has been there and done lots of shooting and hunting since childhood, felt once a guy leaves the .30 cal. rifles, and feels the need for more rifle, the next real step in power begings with the .375...He did an piece on brown bear rifles that proved very interesting....But buying two guns rather than one is ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA...

[Swampman]

I'd avoid the BLR and get the Guide Gun.

My centerfire Marlins all shoot under an inch at 100 yards.

[mcwoodduck]

If Grizzley is on the hunting list I would say bigger is better.
Bigger hole, Bigger bullet, bigger # of foot pounds.
The Marlin Guide gun can handle the hot +P 45-70 loads.
I keep the 500 grain Buffalo Bore loads in My 1895 when we are in Bear country as a camp cannon.  They are not pleasant to shoot but I think the heavy wide slug would be effective up close.
If you are looking to hunt them I would look at a good bolt action 338 Win mag or 375 H&H  the 338 WM would be the most versitile of the two for American game and give you a deer and up game fun.

[Lloyd Smale]

I love lever guns and have a few 4570s but if i was looking for an o6 i would probably go with a lightweight bolt gun. It will be probably a bit lighter and more accurate then the blr.

[Freezer]

   The origional post never mentioned the terrain he'll be hunting.  If the whitetail terrain is brush and or under 250 yrads the guide gun will fill the bill well.  If he'll hunt longer distances then two guns are in order.  I have a GG in 450 Marlin and I'm thankful for it.  Last year a sow black bear attacked my son, he droped it with authority with the GG.  We were hunting Blacktail deer (Small) with shots shorter than 150 yards.  The GG is short handles well and I don't believe there is such a thing as over kill when it comes to harvesting game cleanly, especially if your on the menu.  Dead is dead.  I carried a Savage 99 in 308 with 168gr Seirra Game Kings.  With these little deer 135gr will work fine but when you end up nose to nose with a cougar or bear......  By the way we carry a .44 back up piece.  Why take chances.