Author Topic: 45-70 cowboy or guide (Read 2398 times)

rex6666 · « **on:** December 19, 2007, 08:30:56 AM »

never owned a 45-70, but love Marlin lever guns.
witch is better cowboy or guide gun? have a friend that has a cowboy and it
really is hard on the shoulder. The cowboy is my choice but i am wondering about the shoulder, has anyone found a way to tame it, or is the guide gun easier on the shoulder.
i am talking hunting loads.

six_gunz · « **Reply #1 on:** December 19, 2007, 08:42:02 AM »

I own the stainless guide and I have to tell you it doesn't kick near as bad as other 45-70's I've shot, I remember my uncle's....it felt like it was tearing my shoulder off. In fact I thought my dad's 35 Whelen had more of a kick than my GG. JMHO
Yeah I agree, there's nothing like a Marlin lever!!!

teddy12b · « **Reply #2 on:** December 19, 2007, 09:38:59 AM »

Have you considered the regular 1895? It's a mix between the two. Not too big, not too small. I've held them and they real great. Any Marlin is tempting to buy. I've got a 30-30 336 and I just can't justify buying another 100 - 200 yard levergun, but if I bought something else it'd be a regular 1895.

no guns here · « **Reply #3 on:** December 19, 2007, 11:04:57 AM »

I had the 1895 SS for years... and loved it so much... I bought it's big brother the Cowboy model! Neither is for sale. Just do yourself a favor and buy both now...

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #4 on:** December 19, 2007, 03:12:24 PM »

buy a cowboy and put a pad on it. the stocks are the same and the cowboy weights more so it will obviously kick less with the same pad. A good pad especially a limb saver will do wonders for a hard kicking rifle.

ccoker · « **Reply #5 on:** December 19, 2007, 05:39:06 PM »

yeah, I just got a 444 and before I even shot it I put a limbsaver pad on it

BAP · « **Reply #6 on:** December 21, 2007, 03:49:26 AM »

i love my guide guns, but then you NEED a cowboy

im not much for the regular 1895 but thats just because i love the straight stocks!!

Swampman · « **Reply #7 on:** December 21, 2007, 02:23:13 PM »

The Cowboy is just too long, cumbersome, and barrel heavy for me (it reminds me of my old Browning 1886 Winchester which weighed a ton.) I hunt with leverguns because they are light and handy. The Guide Gun is awesome and the 22" barrel has excellent balance. If you only shoot at the range the Cowboy might be ok.

If they ever make a 20" barreled Cowboy I'll probably buy one.

My first year 1895 (22" barrel) is perfectly balanced and very handy.

deernhog · « **Reply #8 on:** December 21, 2007, 05:12:13 PM »

I have used a 45-70 cowboy for 6 years now and have made shots from 20 yards to 168 yrds. The guns 26" barrel makes it flow on running shots and stable at the longer shots. I have used it in tree stands, ladder stands and blinds without any problems. I walk with a empty chamber and even in thick cover I have been able to chamber rounds and make shots on a coyote and a hog. The rounds I use are hand loaded 405 grn lead and Rem JSP between 1400 -1500 fps but the recoil is no worse than a 30-06. I would pick this gun over my other six leverguns if I had to choose one.

blue roan · « **Reply #9 on:** December 22, 2007, 12:18:18 AM »

I've got 2 1895 Cowboys and a Limited model with a pistol grip stock. I love those straight stocked guns and the longer barrels. Yes, it is big and heavy--especially compared to my 24 inch 44 Cowboys--but my 34 inch SHILOH SHARPS weights 13+ pounds, so...What looks, feels and shoots good for YOU?

Put a Limbsaver on it or a slip on recoil pad and ENJOY.

buzztail · « **Reply #10 on:** December 30, 2007, 03:56:01 AM »

I've got an 1895, and love it. Wouldn't mind a GG though.

handirifle · « **Reply #11 on:** December 30, 2007, 05:25:09 PM »

I have never held a Cowboy model, but if you're gonna hunt with it I can tell you the GG is the cats meow in the brush. I love mine.

ihuntbucks · « **Reply #12 on:** December 31, 2007, 07:38:20 PM »

I have the 95 Classic (22") w/a limbsaver.Works great!!I reload so rounds are fairly heavy.But doesn't kick as hard as my .300 mag.Think you would like any model.It's a Marlin and a 45/70.Hard to go wrong with that combo

I also own 336 in .3030 and 35 Remy.I love 'em.......Rick

Rangr44 · « **Reply #13 on:** January 01, 2008, 02:41:45 AM »

IMO, the Cowboy seems to recoil more because it has a little more drop to the stock than does either the Guide Gun or the Sporter.
Stock shape/design has a lot more to do with perceived recoil than most think.

If you're gonna hunt North America with a .45-70, with the exception of the big bears, dropping down to either the 300 or 350 grain slugs will work wonders (at both ends) with a gun of any weight.

The Cowboy and the Guide Gun are both extremes - both of which I've owned, hunted with, and subsequently sold.
As posted above, the best one is like Confucious say: balance - I'm very happy with a 22" Sporter, which I'm thinking of swapping out the PG stock, etc, for a Guide Gun butt/lever/etc, and shortening the mag to a button mag.

McLernon · « **Reply #14 on:** January 01, 2008, 11:48:43 AM »

The 1895 Classic in 45-70 loaded down to Trapdoor levels would be my choice. 22 inch barrel and pistol grip stock. Very nice to look at and to shoot.

Mc

teddy12b · « **Reply #15 on:** January 01, 2008, 01:21:05 PM »

I picked up a 1895 22" this last weekend and I'm itching to shoot it. So far I've just worked the action some to help it smooth out and it has a little. When I get a chance to shoot it I'll let you all know how it does. The weight and size of this rifle is just right for me. It's an excellent compromise if you feel the cowboy is too long and the guide is too short. I've always been partial to the "pistol" grip anyway.

mcwoodduck · « **Reply #16 on:** January 01, 2008, 04:47:57 PM »

The rifling in the two is different. The cowboy is set up to fire cowboy loads. Lead projectiles. The guide gun can shoot anything jacketed. Both bullet designs can be used for hunting. I have shot the cowboy loads out of my standard 1895 with the micro groove rifling but it was a royal pain to clean. All lead bullets do not mean black powder so you will not have the mess.
My thought is if you like the cowboy get one and just shoot the cowboy loads. If they killed buffalo to near extinction it should work for your deer, bear, elk, hog, or other critter with a leg in each corner. Especially with that long tube holding half of a box of shells.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #17 on:** January 01, 2008, 05:31:32 PM »

Quote from: mcwoodduck on January 01, 2008, 04:47:57 PM

The rifling in the two is different. The cowboy is set up to fire cowboy loads. Lead projectiles. The guide gun can shoot anything jacketed. ...

Marlin hasn't used Micro-Groove rifling in their BIg Bores for years now, not sure just how many. The current crop of 1895's all use 1:20 Right Hand twist, Ballard rifling. They all shoot copper jacketed or lead bullets equally well.

Cottonwood · « **Reply #18 on:** January 01, 2008, 06:13:47 PM »

It was sometime back in the early 90's that Marlin went to deep grove rifling.

Win94 · « **Reply #19 on:** January 07, 2008, 10:42:24 AM »

I enjoy my Guide gun alot. handy and lots of punch

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** January 07, 2008, 11:01:43 AM »

In a recent magazine article I read, they ran velocity test between the Cowboy and the Guide Gun. They tried 3 different loads. In no instance was the difference more than 100 fps. That's not enough to make hauling all that extra iron around worth it.

Windwalker 100 · « **Reply #21 on:** April 23, 2008, 10:11:09 AM »

Hunting hogs or bear the 9+1 mag. on the 1895 Cowboy gives you a warm fuzzy feeling.

teddy12b · « **Reply #22 on:** April 23, 2008, 10:42:24 AM »

More ammo is always a nice warm fuzzy feeling, but I don't feel nervous about 4+1 in the gun. I'm still trying to find the right load for my 45/70 and I'm hoping to settle on something this weekend.

I want to use mine for black bear and I've heard that hard cast is the best way to go for penetration, and since I'm not shooting far I think the heavier the bullet the better. I've loaded 460gr hard cast and I have some 405gr hard cast to load up. Those 460gr bullets kick like a son of a gun. Factory ammo is so easy and smooth but I loaded mine up on the minimum end and they still knock me silly. I'm hoping to have some good results with the lighter 405gr bullets this weekend.

When I shoot factory ammo, it's a soft recoiling kitten. When I shoot hard cast ammo, it's a beast on my shoulder.

S.B. · « **Reply #23 on:** April 27, 2008, 03:25:42 AM »

Give this some careful thought, then buy the one that fits your fancy the best? Both are excellent guns!

Echo4Lima · « **Reply #24 on:** April 29, 2008, 06:12:28 PM »

I love my guide gun. Its perfect for woods and mountain hunting within reasonable ranges. I've shot it fairly accurate to 200 yds. but try to keep it closer. BUT I do like the Cowboy and the capabilities of it. With that 26" barrel, good peep or ramp type sights, lots of practice, one can reach out and touch something as well as with any high powered rifle. A fried of mine has taken mule deer with it out to around 300yds. He regularly target shoots at 500 with a load his friend worked up.

Sounds like a lot of fun to me!

S.B. · « **Reply #25 on:** April 30, 2008, 03:01:54 AM »

Please explain what you meant by "ramp type sights"?

Cottonwood · « **Reply #26 on:** April 30, 2008, 02:06:30 PM »

I love the swing and carry better with my Guide Gun

S.B. · « **Reply #27 on:** April 30, 2008, 03:22:38 PM »

Very good looking gun, Montanan!

Cottonwood · « **Reply #28 on:** May 01, 2008, 01:42:27 AM »

S.B.

Thank you, I tell you this one is a real sweetheart to shoot.

S.B. · « **Reply #29 on:** May 01, 2008, 02:46:16 AM »

Montanan, I just got a stainless version if this rifle but, I haven't made it mine, yet or had time to even shoot it. Of course I'm a Harley rider so can't leave it stock but, they are so functional as is?