Hand Loading for the Big Bore Guide Gun

Owning your rifle is a lot of fun but if you hand load (re-load) your own cartridges it brings a whole new level to your satisfaction. Beyond pure enjoyment, hand loading makes for much cheaper shooting. For example, in mid-2012 you can buy a box of twenty factory rounds of 45/70 for approximately $42.00. I can hand load twenty rounds for around $9.00. There are a lot of variables such as what type of bullet you chose to load but regardless of your choices it WILL be cheaper. 

Getting started

There are some basics that you need to have to start so I'll list them below and their approximate price. As with any process related hobby there are recurring and non-recurring costs. Non-recurring means you pay once for it and unless it needs repairing or replacement you never buy that item again. The recurring costs typically relate to consumable items that go into making your ammunition.

Non-recurring

The press can come in many makes, shapes, complexity & price ranges. I started with and am still using my $27.00 Lee press.

This is a single stage press and can only perform one function at a time which is a great way to learn hand loading. The press typically mounts to a workbench however you can see in this picture I have mine mounted to a wood board and then it is C-clamped to the table. That allows me to mount my press almost anywhere I go quickly (camping, shooting range, hunting, etc.).

There are also hand presses that you literally hold them in your hands (no need to mount them) however they can be cumbersome and it will take a bit longer to load your ammo with. The upside again is price (around $28.00) and portability.

Hand Loading Dies

This is the next non-recurring item that you must have. One set for each caliber you intend to hand load for. These can run  $20.00 and upward of a $100 for a nice set of "competition" dies for the serious hand loader.

This set is for my 45/70 Guide Guns. the 45/70 is a straight walled casing which uses a three die set. The first one sizes the case back to factory specs after firing and removes the spent primer. The second (middle in this picture) flares the mouth of the case to allow you to start the new bullet just before you press it into place. The third and final die then seats the bullet to the proper depth in the case and then crimps the case tightly around the new bullet. You also need a shell holder which can be seen in the top, center of the plastic case that holds this specific caliber case in the press.

I use Hornady brand die sets but all available manufacturers are good - and they all fit the different press manufacturers presses. Rifle die sets require you to lube the case before resizing with the first die whereas pistol caliber die sets are often manufactured out of carbide materials which do not require this first step.

Recurring expenses

These items include but are not limited to the
following:

- brass cartridge (can typically reuse 15-20 times)
- powder (amount used varies on cartridge & load)
- primers
- bullets (lead or copper jacketed)
- case lube (liquid or spray)


This listing of non-recurring & recurring items is to give you a basic idea of what you will need. The most important item that hasn't been listed yet is the reloading manual. There are so many to choose from and everyone has their favorite. That being said I rely heavily on my Lee and Lyman 49th edition. You cannot have too many reloading manuals. A beginner should pick up a couple of these and read from the front cover to the back.

There is also a ton of reloading advise on the internet (including this blog) but you should always compare what you read online with what your books and common sense tell you. This is a very fun hobby however you must take precautions along the way to stay safe. I would say the best way to get started is to have a mentor that you can work with to show you the ropes. That being said I started years ago before the internet and just read everything I could get my hands on.

Powder in bottles on left, primers in blue Winchester boxes, Spray lube in cans and jacketed bullets in boxes on right.



A Guide Gun family history

A Guide Gun family history

1998 was a great year for the 45-70, this was when Marlin brought out their first Guide Gun that became so popular it is still being manufactured as I type this in 2012, the model 1895G. Based on its early success it was quickly followed by additional models/calibers in years to come. In 1999 the venerable Marlin 444 cartridge was offered in an "Outfitter" (Guide Gun configuration) known as the 444P. In 2000 the Marlin 450 Guide Gun configuration (1895M) was introduced and continued in production until just before Marlin closed their factory doors in North Haven, CT and moving into the Remington NY factory. The final factory available cataloged Guide Gun was the 1895GS that also premiered in 2000. This was Marlin's second stainless steel rifle made available and the first and only factory offered Guide Gun offered in such. This rifle was only made available in 45-70 and just as the 1895G it is still available from the factory.

Factory porting was made available in each of the previously mentioned Guide Guns as standard in the 444P and optional in the others from inception of each model through 2002. After that Marlin removed the option for porting.

Technical Specifications of Guide Gun / Outfitter

• Caliber: 45-70, 444, 450
• Capacity 4 + 1
• Action: Lever Action with hammer block safety
• Barrel: 18.5" with 6 groove Ballard-type rifling
• Sights: Adjustable semi buckhorn folding rear with bead front sight that is hooded
• Overall Length: 37"
• Weight: 7 lbs
• Stock: American black walnut with straight grip and recoil pad 

Additional Guide Gun Offerings

A couple of specialty houses worked with Marlin to offer select/limited Guide Guns that added even more choices. Davidsons and Talo were two of them. Each offered a limited run which has made these very collectable.

Davidsons:

1895SDG LTD .45-70, "Guide model" Stainless steel, 18.5" barrel. Grey laminate pistol grip stocks. 4+1 round cartridge capacity. Serial #'s read 95SDG000-95SDG500. 501 produced. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1895STP LTD .45-70 "Guide model" Stainless steel 16.25" Ballard rifled barrel. Grey laminate pistol grip stocks. 5+1 cartridge capacity. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1895GS LTD .45-70 "Guide model" Stainless steel 18.5" ballard rifled barrel. Grey laminate Straight grip stocks. 5+1 cartridge capacity. Hi-Viz sights. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

336D LTD .35 Rem "Guide Gun" Blued 18.5" ported barrel. Straight grip checkered walnut stocks. Made in 2000. 1001 produced. Serial # reads 336D0000-336D1000. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

1895LTD III .45-70 Blued, ballard rifling 18.5" Full octagon barrel. Straight grip walnut stocks. Special run by Marlin for Davidsons.

Talo:

1895GST .45-70 "Guide model" Stainless steel 18.5" ballard rifled barrel. Straight grip checkered walnut stocks. Made in 2007. 500 produced. It featured majestic and highly ornamental whitetails on one side of the receiver and the Marlin mounted cowboy logo on the other. Special run by Marlin for Talo.

Over the last several years Marlin has expanded on the "typical" Guide Gun with some variations. These include the GBL and SBL.

1895SBL - 2009: 45-70 stainless 18.5" barreled  Guide Gun configuration with 6 shot tubular, full length magazine, medium sized loop lever, grey laminate stock and lever rail for scout type scope mounting, XS Ghost  Ring sights with a Pachmayr Decelerator recoil pad.

1895GBL - 2010: 45-70 pistol gripped, brown laminate, blued 18.5" barreled Guide Gun configuration with 5 shot tubular magazine.

The Guide Gun is very popular in heavily wooded areas, especially where large game can bite & claw you! That being said, even though I live and hunt in Florida far from a grizzly - I use many of these configurations with great pride.

1895gunner