For some reason I've got a crazy urge to buy a large caliber rifle, something big, heavy, and slow moving (like me). I've thought about the Marlin Cowboy in .45-70. No scope, must be iron sight, must have a nice wood stock and deep rich bluing...

Any suggestions?

Ammo cost isn't really an issue since I reload.

If money was no deciding factor I know where I would turn for a THUMPER

http://www.turnbullmfg.com/store.asp?pid=25557

A less expensive alternatve would be the Browning version of the 1886 Winchester if you can find one

I am a huge fan of the 444 Marlin.

Good luck on the Marlin Cowboy. It's hard to come by. The 45-70 is a real thumper.

get you one of those marlins in 45-70 i bet it would be a fun gun to shoot.

444

They are fun to shoot especially if you load them up to full potential for the Marlins. Loaded to 40,000 PSI loadings you have a good Cape Buffalo gun. Or you can load it back to Black Powder pressures and have a gun that still thumps things around here hard but is much kinder on the shooter.

I have shot the Marlin Cowboy, 1895G, 1895 standard models as well as the 1886 Browning reproduction which had better wood and metal finish than the others.

I highly recomend a Pachmayer or Kick-Ezz for the 45-70.

IMO the lever thumpers start at the 375 Win and go up from there, 444 is a great found as is the 45-70 and being a reloader you can make those even more versital than they are with factory loadings.

blondes, red heads, brunettes....whatever makes your heart flutter, nobody can make that decision but you. besides the already mentioned calibers, 30-30 is still proven, any .44, 45 calibers will do, choose one, get fancy and high dollar, the .458 socom, 45 bushmaster if you can afford em. money, money, money....if you got it spend it.

Lever actions are obvious suggestions, but there are others.

cdnn investments has some of the limited Winchester 1885 models at good price. Calibers range from 405, 45-70, 45-90, 50-90 depending on model. $800 to $1000 price range. I would be all over the Hunter Model with tang peep in 405 or 45-70 for $800 if I was in the market for such a gun.

You could also consider a rolling block be it modern or old. I have a Swedish Rolling Block converted to 50-70 that I like to reload black powder cartridges for. It is a hoot to shoot.

ammo for any of those aint gonna be cheap even if you reload. I would say stay simple, accessible ammo and like I said if you got deep pockets,name your poison.

Predator tactical makes a pretty cool lever gun in 500 S&W

i have 4 45-70s a sharps quigley , a marlin guide, a browning 1885, and a h&r buffalo, and the one i enjoy the most is the h&r , it has a 32 inch barrel and globe sights and the wood is nice , and its the least exspensive of the 4, probably 375-450.00 new, try gun broker.com

"Nice wood stock".
Like this one?

Just to be thinking outside the box a little bit, how about this thing?

http://www.airgundepot.com/samyang-909-rifle.html

I've had two of the Marlin 1895G in 45-70. They are a blast to shoot with a slow moving 405gr bullet and an absolute destroyer with a 325gr around 2000fps like the Leverevolution. Mine both had nice wood. One was blue the other stainless. Easy to carry with the short barrel and definatly a conversation starter. The only draw back is everbody wants to shoot it. Give them a couple of hot loads and they will give it back pretty quick. Give them the slow 405s and you will have to take it away from them. This beast can be loaded mild or wild and the 1895 can handle most anything. Hey maybe we should get one for Vanguard and see if he can blow it up. Ok, i'm rambling, sorry.

buy a 870 express and build you up a slug gun

9.3x62

I wish I would of known yesterday KC. I went to the gun show in Greenville and traded off my 1886 TD in 45-70. It was a Japanese made Winchester. I traded for a Marlin 1894 in 44 Mag, a Marlin 336 Texan in 30-30 and some cash.

CZ 550 Safari Classic in .458 Lott would be my choice! It is a true Dangerous Game Rifle, suitable for anything on earth.
And you can download it to .45-70 levels if you want.
As far as ammo availability, .458 Win Mag is a suitable substitute if you get somewhere without your ammo. The Lott is essentially based on a full length .375 H&H case, where the Win Mag is shortened to fit in a regular length action. It is prevalent, and cheap, as far as the boomers go.
As for the CZ, I have one in .375 H&H, and love it. Shot my Cape Buffalo, and nine other African animals with it. My next big bore will be a Lott.

How was the show Ricky? I got there just as they were packing up...

Its all just talk until I see how much the wee one is going to cost me.

Might just get a nice muzzleloader and play with it- dont wanna break the bank...

I also was at the Greenville show yesterday at closing. I didn't see any great deals. Just like Rickyk I left there with a 1894 44 mag. I paid too much but I wanted it. I also picked up some ammo from the Ammo Biz guy by the front door. Average price on it.

There were several lever guns so that keep me happy. Almost bought a Rossi 92 in 480 Ruger, I think that's a cool rifle.

KC,

the 45-70 is a great cartridge for a handloader. It's a bit more flexible than i imagined it would be.

If you have access to Speer manuals #11 and #10 you can find some warm loads for the Marlin that will push the 405 remington jsp to ~1800 fps out of a guide gun.

Or you can load the 45-70 a bit more reasonable and still take anything in N.America

The nice thing about big'uns is that you can load them down for target practice. It doesn't take much to kill paper.

However, sooner or later, you're going to have to get a sore shoulder.