[Montanan]

I have never been more please with a levergun in my life as I am with the performance of this Guide Gun in 45-70. Many talk about recoil, but I don't have to load my stuff wild, when mild still gets it done for anything that walks in North America. The Guide Gun was a find that was sitting on the gun rack at a local sporting goods store, marked as pre-owned for $399.00 which Tim Skinner said that I stole it for that price.

You will notice the Skinner Sight on the back, which I did not even have to replace the front sight at all. The padded shoulder strap gives great releaf in while packing into the woods. The cartridge belt was made for me by a friend many years ago. And the knife sheath was a pawn shop find for a steal of a price along with the knife which I changed out the handle to something more suiting of my taste.

 

[sheepdog]

I like the lines of that rifle more the more I see it....I'd like the SS model, though...seems anything on 2 legs or 4 wheels would succumb to those slugs....

 

[Bountyhunter]

That's a fine looking gun and I really want a lever action.

 

[Montanan]

I only need the one, but I want a Guide Gun in SS for them wet conditions that we are so known to get in the fall/winter time. I never thought I would like the 18.5" barrel, but its a real keeper cuz it just delivers one heck of a smackdown :twisted:

 

[chance]

Went to a gun show in PHX yesterday with the intention of leaving with one. Onliest problem was there was NOT a single guide gun (or any other Marlin 45/70) in the house. The closest I could get was 20 rounds and two 45/70 ammo boxes.

Did pick up 5000 WLPs for 107 bucks.

 

[deputy125]

never fired a guide gun and have not thought about one-----just a bit shy thinkin' that they would be noisy as all get-out and too hard on the ears while hunting------i don't wear hearing protection when hunting for better or worse. Of course part of it may be i've runned across fellers who had a guide gun in that 450 marlin round and they all complained of kick and lot of noise/blast so that's were may be i got a bit shy about them..........

But i'm always willin' to learn more.......
What velocity are you gettin'? are you givin up much velocity comparied to the longer tube?

The only big bore marlin i ever owned was a 444 marlin in the longer tube.

 

[Montanan]

never fired a guide gun and have not thought about one-----just a bit shy thinkin' that they would be noisy as all get-out and too hard on the ears while hunting------i don't wear hearing protection when hunting for better or worse. Of course part of it may be i've runned across fellers who had a guide gun in that 450 marlin round and they all complained of kick and lot of noise/blast so that's were may be i got a bit shy about them..........

But i'm always willin' to learn more.......
What velocity are you gettin'? are you givin up much velocity comparied to the longer tube?

The only big bore marlin i ever owned was a 444 marlin in the longer tube.

The .444 Marlin in the XLR I can identify with as my brother in law has one, and they are nice shooters as well. BUT my main rifle cartridge is the 45-70. With my 405-gr JSP (Remington bullet) I load 45.0 gr of IMR 3031 to get 1550 fps nice thump not something to complain about on the shoulder at all. With my 405-gr RNFP (cast bullet) I load 27.0 gr of AA 5744 for a reported 1399 fps.

These are actually quite mild loads compared to the wild loads you will find on other boards because reloaders are trying to obtain a flatter trajectory. The noise level is not bad at all. Most of my shooting is done with hearing protection, but when just seeing what it will do to a deer size target at 25, 50 and 100 yards, those 3 shots were very easy on the ears. Just like when we hunt, and believe it or not, when your hunting you don't even notice the noise from shooting 1 or 2 shots.

Alot differant than practicing for a room clearing or engagement of a BG inside of a dwelling where shots are ear punishment if no protection is used.

I thought the Guide Gun would be alot more punishing than it is.....

 

[Snuffy]

I have had both the 45-70 and the 444 Marlin. loved them both but was married at the the time needed money. But here in Texas there is just nothing that needs that much killin in my book. Have no idea why there are 2 300 Win Mag. in my gun cabinet and then there is the 338 Win . Mag. Strange how things get there like that.

 

[sheepdog]

Come the time, they'd stop an SUV just fine, Snuffy...hang onto them....

 

[Bountyhunter]

They had one in my local shop last night. Real nice looking gun.

 

[Montanan]

They had one in my local shop last night. Real nice looking gun.

BH, they are not that bad... you can reload from mild to wild or anywhere in between :mrgreen:

 

[Bountyhunter]

I loved the look. I want a 45 Colt lever though.

 

[chance]

I loved the look. I want a 45 Colt lever though.

BH
Easy, get one of each. Finally got an 1895 Guide gun(L) to go with the other Marlins including the 1894S .45LC on the right.

 

[Bountyhunter]

Very nice, Chance! I think my next purchase may be the lever action 45 Colt. I find them in 44 magnum all the time and occasionally in 38/357, but have only seen one in 45 Colt. That was a Puma I believe and it was in Maine so it's a pain to buy. Plus I wasn't shopping for a gun. I was shopping for reloading supplies. :|