New 45-70 and I'm lost....

[wolftalonID]

Ok so I just could not stop myself. I tried and tried and god help her so did my wife, however this little bugger would not stop following me around Cabelas and I just had to bring her home. I landed myself into a Marlin Guide 1895 in 45-70. I actually didn't have anything in my kits for a bore this size. I now do. However I am very unhappy with what I came home with for cleaning stuff. I bought a hopes bore snake. It works ok for what they are. I also bought a .45 cal brass brush from gun slick and a mop. And some patches.

The brush just doesn't seem to really go in tight enough to do much good. The patches are ok. I may need a .45 swag to make them a tighter fit. Right now I forgot that and used a .30 and it was Soso.

I was wondering if any of you more senior lever action guys have found a better brush? Or is a .50 cal brush better suited? Just in case anyone asks, yes I checked the stamp on the brush and its right. It just has so very very little friction. This is actually the first time I have ever run into a brush set up being so poorly matched.

 

[Old Hunter]

I've been thinking of that exact gun lately. A great gun for timber hunting.

I can't help with the brush. I use Eliminator solvent, and it eats copper brushes, so I use a bristle brush.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I use .45 cal brushes all the time in my .45 LC pistols & rifles for cowboy shooting. I use brass brushes and ballistol for cleaning....I shoot black powder so the solvent has to be water based. I think Otters is the brand and make sure you get the rifle brush as it is longer.

45-70 is a really great caliber for elk & larger animals. I used 3031 powder & and a 400 gr slug for awhile in mine, before I switched to BP. I had a Sharps replica, it was a single shot. I did kill an elk with mine...one shot and down it went. I have shot the Marlin you bought, the only problem I see is that it whacks you pretty good. My Sharps was pretty heavy and really fun to shoot, can't say the same for the Marlin.

Have fun with it.

 

[BossBrott]

30 cal brush and a limbsaver recoil pad.

 

[Old Hunter]

How does a .30 cal brush work in a .45 bore?

 

[wolftalonID]

Well I am not sure but I wouldn't have to worry about too much friction! Lol. Or was I supposed to stuff the recoil pad in there also?

 

[T43]

Get a 475/480 brush from Brownells won't fold over as bad as a 50 and fits just right.

 

[wolftalonID]

That sounds like a pretty solid idea. I will let you know how it works as soon as I get one. Save the .45 rifle brush for something else down the road that follows me home!

 

[Old Hunter]

Are you sure the brush you bought was really a .45 cal brush? Not what it was marked, but what it measured. I'm a muzzleloader, and shoot .45,50, and .54 cal guns. The brushes made for those bores fit very tight.

 

[wolftalonID]

I don't have a caliper to measure but by raw comparison it fits the same as my .40 brush does. Could have myself a misprint! Maybe if I save it it could have collectors value down the road, haha. Or just get a new one. It's labeled .45 and the little tube said .45 rifle. I was just curious more about the experience of others. Was curious if by some chance a 45-70 was a slightly larger bore than a standard .45 and if that was playing into the equation. However after seeing e brush I have fit the same as a .40 cal brush it leads me to think along the lines you did OH.

 

[T43]

Most brushes marked .45 are made for .44/.45 they cover the 44 mag and .45 colt rifles the 45/70 is a .458 cal and the brushes are a bit loose. I had the problem in both my Marlin and my Handy Rifle. The .475 is the way to go.

 

[Old Hunter]

You could be right. I just realized muzzleloader brushes are different. They use a 10/32 thread, and are probably made for just one bore size.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

If I remember correctly, the diameter of the bullets I used for 45-70 was .452.

 

[wolftalonID]

Well I got out today and sent a few down range. Was expecting a Hollywood style land on my ass thump from what everyone said. Was very disappointed. It didn't kick much at all. My wife even shot it. Not saying it doesn't kick, just not like a mule.

However it did a wonderful performance on a 12" log. Clean through and then some. And there was a cinder block there when I showed up but not when I left! Just dust. Sent fragments 50 ft into the air! I think I like this thing.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

Glad you like it. The stock must fit pretty well. You will find that the big ol 45 slug will really put a hurt on an elk or moose. The one elk I shot with my Sharps never took a step after it was hit.

 

[Old Hunter]

What was your load?

 

[T43]

I've always thought of the recoil as more of a push then a kick. My little model 94 30-30 kicked harder and was harder on my arm.

 

[Old Hunter]

I sure can't agree with that. I was shooting a 30-30 at 10 years old, and it has 11lbs of recoil. Pretty soft shooting.

The 45/70 has 37 lbs of recoil. Equal to a .375 mag.

 

[Shooter]

.451 and .452 is 45 colt. .458 is for the 45-70 and .458mag.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

.451 and .452 is 45 colt. .458 is for the 45-70 and .458mag.

Your right....

I shoot so many .45 Colt, it just clicked in my mind. Checked and the 45-70 is bigger.