45-70 Lever Action

I'm in the market for a new lever action...they are addicting, I know. I'm pretty set on a 45-70 but I am not sure about the Marlin or the Winchester. Both are reputable, obviously. Here are the links:

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/bigbore/1895.asp

http://www.winchesterguns.com/products/catalog/detail.asp?family=024C&mid=534053

Opinions?

 

http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-195.html

 

Man they are both great guns. Good luck with your choice

 

Whichever gun you get you'll love it...I bought a .45/70 Govt two years ago and it has quickly become my favorite hunting caliber (I took a whitetail with it last fall).

If you ever plan on reloading I suggest you go with a good single shot rifle such as the Ruger No.1 or TC Encore. You can get a lot more power and versatility with a .45/70 using hand loads...not too mention it's cheaper if you shot a lot. Lever action .45/70's can't handle the higher pressures of the stronger loads....there are even some commercially available 'tuned up' loads (such as those made by Buffalo Bore) that aren't recommended for lever-action .45/70's.

If you're not planning on using higher power loads, just get whatever gun you want and enjoy it. My .45/70 makes me smile every time I look at it.

My TC Encore .45/70 Govt -

 

2 Tacomas, that is an awesome rifle. i would love to get a sharpe's rifle in 45-70 with vernier sights...but they are too much $$. What grain bullet are you pushing?

 

Yeah, I'd love to have a Sharpe's too but I didn't want to spend $2000-4000 on a gun that would be way too heavy for me to carry up the mountains where I hunt....not to mention I would be freaking out about getting any little ding on it.

Right now I am using 300gr. Jacketed Hollow Points out of my .45/70 Govt - they are perfect for deer sized game. They pack plenty of punch to knock em' down quick without excessive meat damage.

 

i've got a tc pistol in 45-70,its a handfull for sure.both are good guns,but i'm partial to winchester.