Billybob that's a sweet looking lever action right there. I like the idea of chopping it down.

Beautiful rifles everyone! I am very partial to the 1886 Winchester in 45-70 govt as well. This one is a limeted series of 500 made. I also have the Marlin guide gun but in 444 Marlin, great gun, but I like the Winchester! Love the classic Octogon barrel, crescent steel but plate and the smooth top ejection. John Moses browning was a genius!

1895G,JM stamp, stock cover has ammo loops on other side.

Its my brothers rifle... but I collected the first blood with it. Shot this hog with a federal 300 grain jacketed soft point. No exit at 25 yards. Loaded up some 405 grain hard cast with a pretty stiff load. It now KILLS on BOTH ends and I'm positive will give an exit.

I bought my first 45-70 about 5 months ago , the marlin 1895 SBL ... The week I got it , it was shipped to Louisiana to be cut down to 13" barrel , threaded , and will be getting a silencerco hybrid

I'm not recoil shy. Ive shot a 270 since I was 9, have and shoot 300 wby, 45-70, and 12 ga slugs. Full house loads are every bit on the level with my 300 wby. It doesn't scare me and I'm not gonna cry, but telling someone a full house 45-70 is a kitty cat is funny.

It kicks and if your think your 270 with Chads loads kick get ready for an azz whoopin! if your shootin anything more than cowboy loads.

For reference to my earlier comments I looked up in my Cartridge Comparison Guide the recoil energy of a 45-70.
These numbers are based on 8 lb rifle.

45-70 405gr@1330 17.20 F lbs
45-70 500gr@1700 42.71 F lbs

375 H&H 270gr@2790 43.32 F lbs
308 Win 180gr@2705 17.63 F lbs

Depending on what you shoot in a 45-70 there is a big difference in results on both ends of the rifle.

Mine is an 1895 Classic. I've only used 405gr Remington but when I've used it I've never had a deer take more than one step after being hit and that was more of a stumble. I actually put one in the front shoulder of a big buck quartering toward me and the old slow 405 just drilled all the way through and after traveling along the spine exited right at the opposing rear quarter. That deer raised it's foot to run and and face planted right there at about 120yds. I've kept most shots inside 150yds. The durn thing is just fun to shoot. I've got a 2 X 7 X 32 scope on it and it's just awesome to put one down range and literally watch the bullet arc and hear the thump on the target. Recoil on the 405 isn't bad at all as long as you mount the gun to your shoulder correctly. To me it's just a loud bang with a big push.

Get cha one and have fun!

OK, so maybe kitty cat is a stretch, but even full house loads don't recoil p to their reputation, especially if you're wearing more than a t-shirt.

I read something about the 458 SOCOM being the modern sporting rifle version of a 45-70 is this true?

Don't know much about the Socom but from what I've read velocity an energy are close in the lighter loads, for older trapdoors and even the modern lever guns to a point. Once you step up to loading heavy's and shooting from guns like the ruger #1 the 45-70 wins out.
One of the great things about the 45-70 is pushing the speed and energy up to max levels with the heavy bullets. 400gr to 500gr bullets at 2100 to 2300fps is big medicine. with the limited case capacity of the socom you might be limited on how much you can push without compressed loads.
I would agree it's the MSR equivalent, but with limitations.