What are my 45-70 lever options?

[FatJackDurham]

I need to buy a 45-70 lever gun, but all the ones I see are either carbines or have short magazines.

The only ones I have seen with a long barrel and magazine are the Cimmeron/Chiappa model 1886 and the marlin 1895 Cowboy.

The cowboy is more my price range. What other options at there?

[.45colt]

Jack, the Marlin Cowboy or the Browning 1886 26" are the only ones I would bother with for what Your lookin for. heres one on Gunbroker now.http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewIt ... =300034023

[Mustang 22]

If you can find one, the japanese built Winchester 1886 EL are real nice. Accurate, light and good looking.

[Old Savage]

I like the balance and handling of thr standard 1895SS. Can't imagine why I would need more than five in the gun.

[rodeo kid]

OS, I'm with you I have the standard 1895 in Blue/Walnut and love it, And if five is not enough, I always wear a ten round belt when out with it. God Bless.

[wecsoger]

Yeah, but the cowboy will load 10!

Of course, you do feel it.

I've often contemplated what would require me to have 10 45/70 rounds at the ready. Something involving rampant zombies, rabid buffalo or advancing hordes of feral llamas.

[Ji in Hawaii]

Rossi Rio Grande: http://www.rossiusa.com/product-details ... rumbseries

[AJMD429]

You might want to handle a Marlin 'Cowboy' before you write it off - as far as 'handling' it is like a fine shotgun - light and points superbly. The gun LOOKS heavy but the large hole takes alot of weight out of the barrel.

They aren't exactly 'compact brush guns' or 'vehicle guns' though.

I've also always wondered what the relative strengths are of the Marlin .45-70 models - they seem to be in lots of KaBooms, but I've not seen any of the Stainless Guide Guns Kaboom. Probably they are all about the same.

[Malamute]

....I've also always wondered what the relative strengths are of the Marlin .45-70 models - they seem to be in lots of KaBooms, but I've not seen any of the Stainless Guide Guns Kaboom. Probably they are all about the same.

I would guess they are all about the same, other than barrel material differences between the carbon and stainless guns. I don't know that the stainless guns will be very different, but I don't know the characteristics of the stainless they use compared to whatever carbon alloy is being used now. It seems the problems were more often in the earlier guns from what I understand, the main issue being an action designed around the 30-30 class of cartridges being adapted to the 45-70 round, (combining the fat magazine tube and size of the bore) and the resulting thin spot on the bottom of the barrel to clear the magazine tube.

Back to the original question, there are the Browning/Winchester 1886 action, which I prefer. They generally cost a bit more than the Marlins, so may not be in your list of options. There is a Browning 86 carbine in the classifieds at the moment, for a reasonable price, but still probably more than the Marlins.

[FatJackDurham]

The only reason I need more than five is for competition. Trouble is I don't know how many I need.

I'll have to go to thenext shoot and ask.

I like both the marlin and the Winchester/browning 1886....

If I only need five , so much the better

[FatJackDurham]

Which one is better at up to 400 yards