Author Topic: MARLIN 45/70 REAL HUNT EXPERIENCES (Read 3979 times)

efremtags · « **on:** February 11, 2008, 04:46:32 PM »

Has anyone out there hunted with their 45/70. I have read probably hundreds of "kills anything that walks" only to find people who never actually hunted with the thing.

I have no question this is a big bullet. I hunt with 12g slug mostly and this should be comparable in knockdown ballistics, with better penetration.

I never hand loaded for rifles before (die hard 44mag fan though) so I researched and settled on 405gr rem soft points and beartooth 425gr sledgehammers.

After 75rounds, I have a 12shot group that can be covered by 2 quarters (the 425 shoot exactly 1" higher, so group spreads out over 1 x 2" rectangle). I am happy with the gun and ammo, now I want some experiences to boost my confidence some more.

What do most people hunt with ammo wise. I figure the 405 will be the go to round, with the 425 reserved for some black bear hunts. This stuff hurts on the bench with the 1895SS Guide gun (no ports).

My rig consists of 2x6 simmons pistol scope mounted scout style on XS rail, WWG peep site for backup, WWG trigger kit and my loads are:

Brass: starline unplated
Powder: H322
Primer: WLR
Trim: 2.100"

405GR REM, seated to 2.540", 52.5gr
425GR BTB WFN, seated to 2.560", 53.0gr
LEE factory crimp

stuff chambers reliably

johk01 · « **Reply #1 on:** February 12, 2008, 09:32:57 AM »

I have taken 3 deer with my Marlin 45-70. All were taken with handloads consisting of the 300 grain Hornady HP and 43 gr H4198. This is a rather light load by Hodgdon manual standards, but works for me. Two of them were bucks walking side by side directly towards me at about 60 yards and the third one was a smallish doe at about 25 yards broadside. All 3 fell right where I shot them. Didn't see any need for stiffer loads or heavier bullets for deer. I will admit that those HPs don't seem to expand much on prairie dogs, at least I didn't recover any bullets in the little critters for analysis.

Old Grizz · « **Reply #2 on:** February 12, 2008, 12:17:33 PM »

My favorite load next to the 30-30 is the 45-70. I have taken a countless number of whitetail deer, black bear and grizzly with my 1895G. For whitetail I use Hornady"s LE ammo 325gr. For black bear I use the same. For grizz I use Garretts 540gr.+P Hammerheads.

efremtags · « **Reply #3 on:** February 12, 2008, 02:34:35 PM »

Please tell me more about the Griz hunt. I know I will never go, so stories are as close as I'll get.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #4 on:** February 12, 2008, 02:51:26 PM »

I bot my Marlin 1895XLR two years ago. I mounted a Williams peep sight on it. What a great gun. The first year I took a doe with the Cast performance gas check 405 grain over 45 grains of Varget. She ran about 80 yards before she dropped. I hit her on a slight quarter too and thru the liver. This year I used the same bullet...but the Varget charge was 55 grains which crony-ed at 1800 fps. It was bang, flop.

Great gun...great round.

Dave

Ranger J · « **Reply #5 on:** February 13, 2008, 04:06:49 AM »

I shot two does this year at about 50 yards with my 1895 and hand loaded Rem 300 HP over 49 gr of Re #7. This is an extremely accurate load with my gun but I believe it is too much of a load for where I hunt. A 50 or so yard shot is about average and both deer had tennis ball size exit wounds, needless to say neither deer went far. One dropped in tracks and the other made maybe 20 feet. IMA there was too much meat damage and while I like the bullet next year I will probably drop my loads to trapdoor levels and may switch to Rem 405 SPs. Also trapdoor loads are a lot more fun to shoot at range. Great gun!

RJ

Davemuzz · « **Reply #6 on:** February 13, 2008, 08:49:26 AM »

RanjerJ,

Yeah, I hear ya. That was the plus of using the solid lead flat point Cast Performance 405 grain bullet. There was no expansion on it. So, same size hole out as in. Those hollow point bullets in the 45-70 can take out an entire hind quarter if the shot is right and the deer is close.

Dave

Ranger J · « **Reply #7 on:** February 13, 2008, 09:49:41 AM »

I used my handi 45/70 on a small buck with 300 gr laser cast loaded with 2400 at trapdoor level and it was in and out at 60 yards with no sign of expansion but also with dead deer. A flat nosed 45 still punches a goodly size hole.

RJ

njanear · « **Reply #8 on:** February 13, 2008, 11:36:45 AM »

I have only taken one deer with my M1895G and that was using the factory Rem. 405gr load. At about 35 yards, I poked a bullet-sized hole through one side, straight through the heart and out the other side - no bones were hit so the bullet didn't even slow down. He went about 70 yards, leaving a red highway of a trail out both sides.

Swampman · « **Reply #9 on:** February 13, 2008, 01:17:05 PM »

I hunt with the Remington 405 grain factory load only. I see no need for anything else.

EdinCT · « **Reply #10 on:** February 17, 2008, 04:12:08 PM »

I have shot a 400lb Black bear at 30 ft and a large whitetail doe at a lazered 240 yards with a 300 gr Nosler at 2160 fps. The bear jumped about 15 ft and the deer ran about 45 yards with a wound that showed expansion even out there.
I have seen more than a few shot with 405 factory loads and they are about like the shotgun slugs your used to.
This rifle a Marlin cowboy, was bought for cast bullet target shooting but it went to Alaska for the bear and will be used to hunt again.

john keyes · « **Reply #11 on:** February 18, 2008, 04:01:33 AM »

kilt quite a few with the guide gun, 444p, bunch a 336's
out of all the guns I own the Marlins have the most horrible triggers, yet go huntin with me the most

Old Grizz · « **Reply #12 on:** February 18, 2008, 04:11:37 AM »

Quote from: john keyes on February 18, 2008, 04:01:33 AM

out of all the guns I own the Marlins have the most horrible triggers, yet go huntin with me the most

Hi John,

You are right about Marlin triggers having too much slop and a hard trigger pull. I have replaced a couple of Marlin triggers on my rifles with a Wild West Guns trigger. They have zero slop and a 2 to 3 pound pull vs the Marlin 7pound pull. They are a little expensive, around $90.00, but well worth the price.

big medicine · « **Reply #13 on:** February 19, 2008, 05:31:01 AM »

I have killed quite a few deer with my 45-70 probably in upwards of 15 deer. Not a single one has needed a second shot. Have yet to recover a bullet from one yet. None has gone more than 10 feet from where it was shot. It truly is a great cartridge.

efremtags · « **Reply #14 on:** February 19, 2008, 12:40:50 PM »

thanks for the great feedback.

I definitely like the WWG trigger upgrade. Not the easiest thing to do for a first timer, but not impossible. I am considering a new lever as the factory version is made for 12 year old girls, not men.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #15 on:** February 21, 2008, 03:06:51 AM »

Several years ago I took my Marlin .45-70 hunting for the first time. My load was a 350g North Fork @ 2183fps, zeroed for Maximum Point Blank Range for a 6" target. (Max rise was 3", right at 100 yards, -3" was about 203 yards.)

Killed a buck mulie at 197 lasered yards. The shot was quartering away and the bullet exited. The buck leaked more blood on the fresh snow than I've ever seen - looked like someone had slopped it out of a 5-gallon bucket. Didn't need the blood to trail the deer, however, as it only went a few feet before collapsing.

The next day I killed a 6x6 bull elk at 213 lasered yards. This was a broadside shot. The bullet passed through the near side leg ,obliterating a section of leg bone, entered the chest, obliterating a section of rib in the process, nicked the heart, shattered a far rib and came to rest under the hide on the off side. The bull just stood there and just as I was getting ready to fire a second round it toppled over sideways.

woods · « **Reply #16 on:** February 24, 2008, 02:04:54 PM »

I live in central pa. the deer season here is very unpredictable some times rain sometimes snow, warm or cold. I use my 45-70 as my foul weather gun. in the past 10 years I have taken 1 buck and 2 does with mine all shots were under 100 yrds. I prefer the siera 300 gr hp. siera bullet in mine with a moderate charge of 2400. This load holds about a 2 1/2" group at 100 yrds for me. That is good enough for what I use it for. I really like the way this cartridge punches holes though the deer instead of ruining a bunch of meat. The buck I jumped from a pine tree thicket on a stripenjob area it ran to the next thicket but stopped just before entering another thicket and turned to look back at me. That was what I needed about 85 yrds. off hand. The deer turned and walked into the thicket after the shot. He only went about 10 yrds then dropped. The second deer was a large doe bedded in a ravine along a rock ledge. I had walked the ridge above still hunting and noticed it's ears moving as I poped my head over the edge for a look. The only clear shot I had was a head shot about 70 yrds. down hill With a tree for a rest, I held at the base of the head expecting the bullet to hit high do to the angle. She never got up just rolled over kiicking. The last doe was a simple 30 yrd shot from a tree stand just a broadside shot trough the chest. She ran about 50 yrds then piled up. This is quite common when the heart is hit most call it a death run.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #17 on:** February 24, 2008, 02:29:10 PM »

I shot my biggest white tail ever with my 1895 in 45/70. A massive rack 8 point with 19 inch inside spread. One shot at 120 yards trough both lungs. The deer dropped in his tracks. When I got up to the buck he was trying to get up on his feet but failing fast. One more quartering shot behind the front shoulder, but actually not needed. At the time, I was excited and wasnt taking chances. The rifle had a 4x Burris on it. The cartridge was my hand load consisting of Remington brass, a maximum charge of RL-7 and a Hornady 350 grain round nose. A very accurate combination with 1.5 inch groups at 100 yards. I recovered the second round in the top of the neck and estimated 24 inches of penatration. The bullet did expand to a massive mushroom shape.

canuck44 · « **Reply #18 on:** February 27, 2008, 05:13:49 AM »

I have not shot anything big with my 45/70 guide gun it seems that my 270 rem 700 is my goto deer gun and moose are either draw every 5 years or bow. I have however shot a number of gophers with it and I can say that they did a fine job on them. From 100yrds you can cut them in half and dig a grave in the same shot. Much more effective than my 22 mag.

Les Staley · « **Reply #19 on:** February 29, 2008, 03:39:53 PM »

I've taken four black bear, three elk, a cow meat bison and several deer and antelope with the 45-70. I like the 300 gr Hornady JHP over 43.7 gr RL7... I use a scoped 1895SS for the bear, as they come in quite late in the evening, (or not, got one about 1pm)...but the other critters were mostly shot with a Shilo Hartford model, and a Browning 85 Traditional Hunter.. nothing quite Bang-Flops 'em like a 45-70.. Les

Davemuzz · « **Reply #20 on:** March 01, 2008, 01:43:54 AM »

From 100yrds you can cut them in half and dig a grave in the same shot.

LOL....now...that one made me laugh. But....it's true! When I first got my Marlin, I was itchin to shoot something....so I took it groundhog hunting. One popped up in a clover field at about 30 yards. Well.....you can guess the rest. Only one shot....darn accurate those guns!

Dave

dla · « **Reply #21 on:** March 01, 2008, 04:52:10 PM »

I shot my Bull Elk this year at 18yds with 405gr Remington @1800fps. The fellow was running right at me. The bullet took out a long section of his spine, turned and stopped in a lung. It was a quick death and he piled up just to the side of me. I never weighed the slug, but it looked just like every other one - no jacket and about 1" in diameter.

It wasn't my idea of the best shot, but I didn't have a lot of time to think about it. The Guide Gun with a receiver sight is a fast-handling carbine. And a big chunk of lead makes a big hole. But what I really like is that it is a nice gun to pack around all day.

Old Grizz · « **Reply #22 on:** March 10, 2008, 01:54:14 PM »

Quote from: efremtags on February 19, 2008, 12:40:50 PM

thanks for the great feedback.

I definitely like the WWG trigger upgrade. Not the easiest thing to do for a first timer, but not impossible. I am considering a new lever as the factory version is made for 12 year old girls, not men.

1. Open the action half way.
2. Remove the lever screw.
3. Remove the lever.
4. Remove the bolt.
5. Remove the ejector.
6. Depress the portion behind the trigger that the lever would press when closed, put your thumb on the hammer, pull the trigger and lower the hammer down to the receiver.
7. Remove the stock screw.
8. Remove the stock.
9. Push the trigger spring retainer to the left side and remove the retainer and spring.
10. Remove the bottom action screw - just next to the magazine tube.
11. Turn the rifle to the other side (left side) - remove the other action screw (lower middle of receiver).
12. Gently pull down on the lower receiver piece (where the trigger spring retainer sits).
13. Once off the rifle, look and find the small retainer pin that holds the trigger in place (really obvious). Pop it out to the left.
14. Push the factory trigger forward - towards the barrel. Pull down and remove. It's two pieces.
15. Push your WWG trigger (it's one piece) back into it's place.
16. Reverse procedure to re-assemble your rifle.

This literally took about 4 minutes for me to do. What a sweet upgrade! I highly recommend it to anyone.
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Anthony Longo

Joined: 15 Sep 2007
Posts: 3
Location: Wellsboro, Pa.
Posted: Fri Sep 21, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject: trigger happy install

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear 450 sniper, great stepped out procedures for the trigger kit , just finished up mine on my 1895 CB. Just one point you did not list!!

You must remove the hammer screw which captures the rear end of the bottom action plate.

My thanks for a well written description.

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Use these directions and it will be a breeze.

Grizz

efremtags · « **Reply #23 on:** March 13, 2008, 12:51:01 PM »

Thanks for the list instructions. I'll file these for future reference for cleaning tear down.

If you haven't performed a tear down before, and screws and springs are flying, i does no seem this straightforward

PeterCartwright · « **Reply #24 on:** March 14, 2008, 03:47:59 AM »

I've only taken two deer-both does with my 1895SS ("Ballard" style barrel). I made a ghastly mess of the first one, pulling a 25' (yes, that's 25 foot) shot (Rem. 300 gr. CL hollow point) into the doe's shoulders. Her front end looked like she'd encountered an "IED". The second doe was taken from 50 yards using a stoutly loaded Beartooth Bullets 405 LFN/GC bullet. The bullet punched a neat hole through the ribs ("bang flop") without any meat waste.

gstewart44 · « **Reply #25 on:** March 14, 2008, 06:24:56 AM »

one doe 17 yds Winchester factory300g hp - ran 20 yds leaking the whole way.

one 285 hog 40 yds 400 gr hard cast FP at 1400 fps -right under the ear.....bang flop

one 125 sow 80 yds Winchester factory300g hp - right under the ear - another bang flop

one grey squirrel 10 yds Winchester factory300g hp - aimed for the head, hit a little low- nothing left buth the tail

NickSS · « **Reply #26 on:** March 17, 2008, 07:15:54 AM »

I have killed two deer and an elk with a 45-70 however only the elk was shot with my Marlin. The deer were shot with sharps rifles. The elk was shot with a hand load that pushed a 405 gr cast flat point bullet at about 1350 fps. The animal was going away from me up hill. I hit it right between the cheeks of its butt and the slug came out its chest. I do not know if it expanded but the animal took three steps and fell dead.

Davemuzz · « **Reply #27 on:** March 17, 2008, 08:49:36 AM »

Quote from: gstewart44 on March 14, 2008, 06:24:56 AM

one grey squirrel 10 yds Winchester factory300g hp - aimed for the head, hit a little low- nothing left buth the tail

That must have looked like an old "Buggs Bunny" cartoon!

jobyjob · « **Reply #28 on:** April 08, 2008, 06:31:23 AM »

For anything inside 125 yards, plain old Remington 405gr jacketed flat nose factory ammo will give you a 2" plus or minus sight-in and complete penetration on almost any game in North America. Eat right up to the hole. Very easy on the shoulder to boot.

warrior1 · « **Reply #29 on:** April 09, 2008, 03:49:55 PM »

i use basically the same load as ranger j 50 grs of r7 300 gr. jacketed. i hit one two years ago wanted to bust front shoulder so aimed just behind it, darn bullet went to point i aimed.
deer went about 10 yards and bled out. still considering sending it back to marlin for a ballard rifling barrel. would like to use cast. dan