Marlin Cowboy 45-70

[Mikey]

Well fellas, ya jes can't ever tell what younger brothers are gonna do.  After all this time of advocating the 444 as a whompin' stompin' big bore lever action and my personal preference, my younger brother goes and gets his own self a Marlin Cowboy in the 45-70.  He loves the looks and wanted a faster handling rifle for whitetail and hog, as well as the longer bbl (26", I believe) for the extra range.  Actually, I think he made a darn good choice.  I think those are really nice looking rifles.  You can't beat the caliber or the manufacturer and if I ever go to a 45-70 I just might follow suit with that particular modle rifle.

Questions though - I know from other posts that many of you fellas use the 300 gn load for both whitetail and hog, and for those who handload you find very accurate loads with 4895 and 3031, as well as others.  He has asked me to reload for him and it will be my pleasure.  Need to know though if there are dies specifically for smokeless powder rounds in that caliber or whether it doesn't matter; does anyone have any pet loads for that caliber and particular model of Marlin rifle, and lastly - do any of you folks have any personal experience with the Marlin Cowboy in 45-70???

Thanks all in advance.  Mikey.

[Flinch]

I really like that model, I almost bought one. I think the only reason I didnt is it doesnt have sling mounting studs and I didnt know how easy it would be to mount one on the fore end cap or the tube magazine. I know they make em for the 336 but im not sure about the 1895cowboy model. I didnt want to buy it and then have to fabricate something.

[Mikey]

Flinch - I know what you mean but, Uncle Mikes of Oregon makes 3/4 band sling swivel attachements for the magazine tubes of lever actions, as well as end cap sling swivel attachments for shotguns.  They are split rings that secure to the tube by a connecting screw on the tube bands.  I bought a couple of the sling swivel kits for my Winchester Big Bore and an older 30-30 I have - they work just fine and look like they belonged there.  So, the next time you see one of those Cowboy Models and think about buying one you won't have to worry about how to attach the sling.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Loozinit]

Hello Mikey,
I have one of those Marlin CB's.  I don't have a pet load as yet because I haven't yet re-loaded for it.  I find that the 405 (1873) remington factory loads are more than plenty for deer.  Probably for hog, too, but we don't have any around here so I can't be sure.  Besides, those hotter rounds are punishing with the relatively light Marlin.  Maybe it's just me, but I have to spend alot of time at the range every year before I hunt.  It's no bench gun like my Winchester (Miroku) 1886.  That puppy'll take anything and you won't feel it next day.

I find the Marlin to be consistently accurate - very accurate, at 100 yards.  With my old eyes and racing goggles, I usually group about 1-1/2" or so.

That's my 2 bits on experience with one of those...

[Ka6otm]

I've never seen blackpowder only dies for the 45-70 so I'd have to assume they all work with smokeless.

I use RCBS dies for this caliber and have for many years.

I don't load 300 grainers any more as I also have a need for 400 grainers and the difference in POI is huge between the two...so I just stick with 400 grains and use it for everything.

Ka6otm

[B_Koes]

I don't have a favorite recipe to give you, but for the .45-70 you can't go wrong using 4198 as the powder.

[Mikey]

Fellas:  thanks for all the input, I appreciate it.  Mikey.

[WD45]

Mikey,
run over to sixgunner.com and go to back issues. Check out paco kelly's
articles. He has some good stuff on 45-70/450 marlin which will probably fill yer barrel :grin:

[Flint]

Watch the overall length, some 400 gr bullets have the crimp groove too far back and the round ends up too long to feed, making the rifle a single-shot.

[Lloyd Smale]

Mike my favorite loads for the 4570 modern marlin are for a heavy a 405 rcbs gc rf with 47 grains of wc842 and for a light load try 20 grains of 2400 and a 405 paco gave me that load and its alot of fun

[Triple4]

Good rifle I own two 45-70/38-55, they should have made it in 444.

Down sides in 45-70.

1.  Kicks like a pissed mule with any ammo, as you get hotter you dread pulling the trigger.

2.  The tapered barrel will string shoots as it gets hotter.

3.  Do not load the Mag Tube full and shoot Hot rounds, as this could detach the Mag tube from rifle.

4.  Length of pull too short for most tang sights and scopes, they will bite you so use your safty glasses.

[JCP]

I shoot a Marlin CB very much. I shoot max. loads using remington 405 gr. bullets. It does kick hard with these loads sitting at the bench but it's not that bad standing upright or when hunting. The factory laods kick about like a 20 guage shot gunI would guess. I kinda like the kick, it makes you feel like you've done something when it sets you back. As for accuracy, velocity doesn't seem to change accuracy. You can find a powder that will give accurate load at any velocity with any bullet , and it fun trying to find it. You do need a chronograph and a good loading manual, I suggest Hodgdon manual and shooting chrony. Hope this helps.

[Old Griz]

Hey Flinch--try a shotgun sling. It just slips over the stock and the barrel. Get one a leather insert on the barrel end and it won't slip. Carry it stock up instead of barrel up. Mine is long enough that I carry the sling across my body instead of just over the shoulder. This also gives me more freedom of movement with my arms w/o it ever slipping off my shoulder. When I get to my stand I slip it off the gun and it's out of the way. I just didn't want to drill into my wood or attach anything to my barrel or magazine tube. Cheap and it works for me. :cb2:

[Brisky]

Flinch. my guess is that the nose cap is the same on all the 1895`s.I would check with Marlin to be sure. The tennon is the same product # in Brownells so you would think the nose caps with the swivel stud would be also. They list for $14.31 in Brownells

[Perferator]

Here's one of my pet loads:

H4198 51gr
Win brass
CCI 200 primer
Hornady 350gr RN #4502

Cant tell you the exact fps (need to chrony in the spring) but it's near 1900-1950fps out of the guide gun.  

Max powder charge for this setup is 54gr as stated on the Hornady website and the "complete reloading manual for the 45-70 govt".

Kick isnt too bad if you pull the gun in tight to the inside of the shoulder muscle...let the pecs take the hit instead of the shoulder.  I can shoot 40rds without any after-effects. I can shoot 40rds without any after-effects.  I can shoot 40rds without any after-effects.  Really.   :-D


Perferator

[TexasMac]

Mickey,

I bought one of the limited editions Cowboy 1885 when they 1st became available.  The main difference between it and yours is mine has a 24" barrel.  I can tell you the nose cap on the standard 1885 will not fit unless it is modified by grinding some of the metal on the cap away.  The nose cap on the standard 1885 is made to the contour of the round barrels, not the rectangular barrel on your rifle.  

By the way, not wanting to use one of the solutions suggested by others, I did modify a standard nose cap and it looks fine if one does not look real close with an educated eye.

I love the rife.  I also installed a ghost ring rear sight and comparable front sight.  This allow me very quick image access, which is especially usefull on running whitetails.  The final modification was to replace the terrible looking safety with a fake bolt.  Looks real nice.

I like shooting with my own cast bullets.  One of my favorite loads is 55grs of 4895 with 300gr gas-checked cast bullet.  They come out at 1709 FPS with benchrest accuracies of 1.5" or less in my rifle.  If you use cast bullets don't waste you  time with plain-base bullets at over 1400-1500 fps.  I tried a bunch of different combination and only gas-checked bullets resulted in reasonable accuracy.  I've tried 405gr cast up to 1892 FPS and don't like the recoil at all of the heavier bullets, preferring the higher velocity obtainable with 300 gr.

Wayne

[Mikey]

Wayne:  thanks, I appreciate your input, and thanks again to all of you who responded.  I really appreciate your answers and your insights.  Now, all I need to do is put it all to work........................  Mikey.

[Brisky]

I really like that model, I almost bought one. I think the only reason I didnt is it doesnt have sling mounting studs and I didnt know how easy it would be to mount one on the fore end cap or the tube magazine. I know they make em for the 336 but im not sure about the 1895cowboy model. I didnt want to buy it and then have to fabricate something.

Flinch, longbarrel from Marlin Talk installed one of the swivel stud forend tips on his 1895 CB and said it needed just a small amount of filing where it touches the octogon barrel.         Brisky

[howie1968]

I like 37 gr IMR 3031 and  a  405 hard cast bullet  light  recoil   and  still  penetrates pigs