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Post by nmaineron on Jan 3, 2010 12:44:26 GMT -5
My son wants to get his first rifle and he is looking at the Marlin 1895 in the 45 cal. I can't find anything other than pistol info on the 45. Has there been something new developed for this rifle?If not,I'm not really a fan of big slow bullets or let me say it this way, I wouldn't want to be throttled by the range that this cal. offers, especially when 200 yd+ shots could be common.
Opinions.....
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Post by mountainam on Jan 3, 2010 13:55:48 GMT -5
If you buy your son a Marlin lever,he'll be able to give it to his grandson after a lifetime of rugged use. They haven't changed much since the late 1800's. Anyhow,with the 200 yard thing coming up as regular business, may I suggest you look at the new .308 Marlin or the .338 Marlin. They are modern high pressure cartridges that rival the .308 and .30/06. With the new Flex tip ammo or Flex tip bullets for reloading you can tune the intensity of the loads to suit and not be handicapped by antiquated rounds. That was the only negative that I ever saw with the Marlins. There's just something All American about a lever rifle for deer. I love my .444.
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Post by nmaineron on Jan 3, 2010 16:19:42 GMT -5
Well, my son game home for a visit today and we discussed how I felt and got him to see my reasoning.I think the .308 and the .338 are on the top shelf.Is the 308 Marlin different than the 308 Winchester?
I much prefer the 308 simply because I shoot a 7-08 and have a pile of brass and powder and the dies are no problem to get.
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Post by mountainam on Jan 3, 2010 16:37:21 GMT -5
Yeah the .308 Marlin is a little different and won't interchange. I think the shoulder angle may be different but I haven't seen the case cuts for a while now. Anyhow,it's never a problem to get dies. If money will solve it, you never really had a problem, Right? It's like T/C inventing the .30 T/C for their Icon. A .300 Savage is nearly identical in length and it's been around since the early Nineteen Hundreds. The Gun companies keep bringing out so called "new stuff" hoping we're not paying attention. But in the case of Marlin, they did need a high intensity cartridge to compete with what's out there now because I think 30/30 sales are starting to wane. It's not a bad caliber but there's much more efficient calibers out there like your 7mm/08. Too bad there's not yet a 6.5 or 7mm Marlin.Good Shooting!
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Post by nmaineron on Jan 3, 2010 21:41:33 GMT -5
Yea, I did a little research after my last post and frankly a little dissapointed that it isn't the same as the Win 308.We kinda threw it out the window on that news.Soooo...it looks like we are going with the 444 or 45/70,probably the 444.He is young and rugged and has never been in the business so bigger is better! I will stay with my little girls caliber an knockem down with a feather  |
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Post by mountainam on Jan 3, 2010 23:20:44 GMT -5
I have a .444 and it hits with a lot of force. You don't have the choice of many bullets only those which are primarily pistol bullets. With a .45/70 all the bullets available are real rifle bullets including the new Hornady 325gr FTX. It works at 12-15,000 psi less pressure. That's a lot less wear and tear on the same action. But really, to dump the .308 Marlin Express because it's not a .308 Win? You'll have a lot more $ in brass for the other two and also bullets. But if I had to do it over I would get a .45/70 XLR and rock the woods. There are more options available for reloading and purchasing ammo over the counter. Remember, the .45/70 was the Army's rifle way before the 30/06 was even thought of. Good Shooting!
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Post by northny on Jan 4, 2010 18:17:35 GMT -5
I have the Marlin 1895 in 45-70, like it for what it is (200 yard is pushing it for deer) and since I hand load it is OK. But if you intend to put factory ammo through it, it may disappoint as the pressures are kept low in factory ammo since their are many old 45 70s aroud that won't take the highter pressure. If you want the performance of 45 70 handloads from factory ammo, buy a 450 Marlin (with a belted case, wont fit in 45 70, and with factory ammo will match my performance of 45 70 handloads.)t. Just another option. But if I were hunting were a 200 yard plus shot was common, and I had to have a lever gun, I would find a Winchester 88 in .308 wincester or a 99 savage in 300 savage (be warned, you need good shooting discipline to deal with the trigger on the Winc Model 88).
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