Re: linThe .45-70...questions about her...
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: RSOsniper</div><div class="ubbcode-body">45/70 is gonna be a bit much for deer and pigs. Ive seen that caliber do some incredibly nasty damage to some large bears and moose so I think the light skinned smaller dear are just going to be destroyed! if you like the rifle style I would go with a Marlin 336 in 30/30. </div></div>
This quote is pure nonsense. I have a Marlin 1895SBL (same as the GBL you're looking at in most respects, but with a picatinny scout rail and in stainless), and it's been perfect for hunting here in Texas. The XS Sights rail that comes on the SBL is worth looking into if you're palnning on optics. I've taken two whitetail (one was only 85 lbs, and it didn't blow up) and a 250 lb hog with it so far. I love it, and it's honestly the only rifle I own that I would never part with. Shoulders well, and is super accurate. I handload for it with hardcast, and they make a clean .458 hole all the way through, everything it's hit so far has been dead on the spot. The softpoints at high speed might get messy, but dead is dead. I couldn't imagine it making more of a mess than a 7mm Mag or one of the 300 Mag's within it's useful range of 200 or so yards. For bullets, I like Beartooth's the best after trying several. No leading at any velocity, even the 350 grainers at 2150 FPS, and superb accuracy. Loaded ammo I have had the best accuracy with the Bitterroot Valley Ammo company. Their 400 grain Speer jacketed load shoots 1" groups at 100 yards with ghost ring sights, no BS. It will knock your fillings out, but that's part of owning a 45-70. For powder-puff loads BVAC(Bitterroot Valley again)'s 405 grain cast load was very accurate as well, and had very little recoil. My father in law shot a whole box of it after having a shoulder replacement, and he won't even shoot a 308 at the range.
Couple pieces of advice from someone who knows a bit about Marlins:
1: Inspect ANY new Marlin before purchase. Since they've moved to Remington's plant in New York there have been serious quality control issues, both cosmetic and mechanical. The Marlin Owners Forum has more info on that if you wanna look.
2: As is always preached around here, buy once cry once when it comes to optics. I bought a cheap Chinese scout scope to try out and see if I liked that kind of setup and the 45-70's recoil killed the scope in less than 100 rounds. No big loss as I decided I liked the ghost ring sights better anyway. That was a cheap experiment.
In short, the 45-70 is a perfect hunting rifle if you accept it's limitations with regard to range. It's versatility is hard to beat, if it's within 200 yards and it walks, you can kill it. From mild to wild, it can do it all with a cool nostalgic air.
I'm gonna have to get off my ass in this heat and go shoot my Marlin, I can't get enough of it.
