Connected on a doe tonight...

[ajvigs]

Maybe, just maybe, if I can find a stainless original Marlin, I may pick one up...

 

[SJB358]

I haven't heard of a single person that has gotten an actual Marlin Guide Rifle that was disappointed in their capability. Mine has been very accurate from the get go, and seems to shoot everything really well. It is just about the handiest rifle a guy could pack around in timber or for just protection. Set up correctly, they are very capable and will put alot of hammer on game. I won't ever get rid of mine.

 

[DrMike]

One must wonder about the 45-70, and other cartridges that launch heavy chunks of lead at modest velocities, whether the conditions are just right for a surprising degree of accuracy. The 45-70 is not a cartridge that people often present as a "tack driver," yet the cartridge in a surprising number of platforms, is accurate. Similarly, a number of medium bore cartridges that deliver lead at modest velocities (think 358, 356, 35 Whelen, 375 H&H) tend to deliver pretty fair accuracy. There must be some fascinating mathematics to be studied that would define why these calibres at modest velocities commonly shoot MOA and even better.

 

[JD338]

59.0gr of H322 and a Hornady 300gr hollowpoint.

Here's one of the groups it printed at 100 with that load....actually was the last one I shot before hunting with it....3rd shot could have been me. I should have used dots bigger than the 2" one I have there. It wasn't easy to get a good, repeatable sight picture at 5x with a 2" dot at 100.

Also, that's a VariX III on the gun, and I HATE HATE HATE HATE HATE friction adjust scopes! Have I mentioned I dislike them?

At some point, I'll probably put a different optic on it, but the VariX III is doing fine for now.

That looks like JDs load right there. Scary how accurate the Marlins are. Great shooting Tom. Any sign of the bullet?

:wink:

JD338

 

[SJB358]

One must wonder about the 45-70, and other cartridges that launch heavy chunks of lead at modest velocities, whether the conditions are just right for a surprising degree of accuracy. The 45-70 is not a cartridge that people often present as a "tack driver," yet the cartridge in a surprising number of platforms, is accurate. Similarly, a number of medium bore cartridges that deliver lead at modest velocities (think 358, 356, 35 Whelen, 375 H&H) tend to deliver pretty fair accuracy. There must be some fascinating mathematics to be studied that would define why these calibres at modest velocities commonly shoot MOA and even better.

I'm with you Mike. It's not like these rifles are pea shooters either. There's recoil on all of them, but most shooters seem to be able to coax excellent accuracy out of them with minimal load work. Maybe it's the stiff barrels that's aren't whipped horribly by a huge load of powder behind a small bullet? I'm just guessing again, but it has to be something along those lines.

Jim, when I saw 59 grains of H322, I knew you couldn't be far away.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Remember back in the Schuetzen fest days in the latter half of the 19th Century, they shot many medium bore, black powder, paper patched, single shots that were scary accurate at 100 and 200 yards, even offhand. Bullard, Ballard, Stevens, Farrow, Ballard, Remington and Winchester all made black powder single shots for offhand shooting contests. Most of these rifles were .35 to .45 caliber with heavy bullets for caliber.

 

[FOTIS]

Funny that is similar to the load I use in my GG. I use 60 grains with the 300 grain. Same load I told JD338 to use when he bought my blued GG.

I have a ghost site on mine and a 2X eer nikon scope. I think my testing will be limited to 50 yards or so.

Unless I buy a more powerful scope. Really weird looking through them EER's.

 

[JD338]

Fotis is right, the H322 load is from him. When I bought the rifle from him, I started with H322. It shot so well, I never bothered trying anything else.

Thanks Fotis.

JD338

 

[tddeangelo]

Thanks, FOTIS! :grin:

 

[Thankful Otter]

Tom, I am so glad you are closing out the season with a nice doe. Congratulations.

I am even more impressed that you have a 45/70, as you know the 45/70 is an extension of my arm. I never leave home without it. The more you use it the more you will like it.

What is that strange looking thing on the top of it ? Is it a new type of peep sight LOL As you already know, no scope for me on the 45/70.

enjoy the gun and congrats on the doe

 

[tddeangelo]

LOL, Cheyenne.

That is a 1.5-5x scope that had been my late grandfather's scope. It's a little short on eye relieve, though. I may look for something else for it. I like the idea of a peep, but I never would have taken the shot on the doe with a peep. There was too much brush to shoot around...with the optic, I could see where the openings where.

I don't know where I'll wind up with the gun as far as sighting systems, but I do like it quite a bit!

 

[FOTIS]

Thanks, FOTIS! :grin:

Pleasure

 

[Oldtrader3]

Hey, you guys take it easy on Tom. I used a scope on my .45-70 as well but then I am old!

 

[DrMike]

As you already know, no scope for me on the 45/70.

All my lever guns wear scopes. However, I do hunt by braille. Age will do that to a person. :grin: