450 Marlin.

[DalesCarpentry]

Hey guys. I just bought a new unfired 450 Marlin barrel for my NEF Handi Rifle. How do you guys like the 450. I am really looking forward to shooting a big bore. I think I am going to put the Pentax Gameseeker 3x9x40 on it. It has the bullet drop reticle. What scope are you guys using? I also have been thinking of the Burris with the bullet drop compensator. I would also like to hear some stories about Deer / Elk / Moose and bear being taken with this round. I am going to use it for deer. Well tell what you think of it.

[Redhawk1]

The 450 is a good round if you reload, the price and availability of factory ammo is just not there. I would much prefer the 45-70. Most gun shops carry ammo for the 45-70. But I you did not ask about that.

In my opinion, you should reload, as far as a scope, I use a Leupold 1X4X20 on my Encore 45-70 with great results. But it depends on the area you will be hunting. In thick cover a low power scope is best, in open areas I think a good 3X9 would work well. Also consider the light conditions. Good luck with your 450.

[Coyote Hunter]

When I got a scope for my .45-70 a prime consideration was eye relief - I did not want to end up getting scope cut.  In the end I chose a Leupold 2-7x33 with 4.9" of eye relief. I have fired my "Rhino Blaster" loads  (460g hardcast at 1812fps, 48 foot-pounds recoil) with the scope mounted and have walked away untouched.

A ballistic drop reticle of some sort would be nice but I would place a premium on eye relief.  My .45-70 is zeroed for Maximum point Blank Range for a 6" diameter target (the bullet is never more than 3" above or below the target), which conveniently works out to be 3" high at 100 yards.  MPBR with my hunting load is 203 yards and I regularly shoot it at ranges out to 300 (-22").

[Lynn Alan Kietzman]

There has been this on going discussion, 450 Marlin vs. 45-70 since the 450 Marlin arrived on the scene. We have 8 sporting good store in my area and of those that carry 45-70, they also carry 450 Marlin. Comparing apples to apples etc., going to the sporting good store and purchasing factory ammo, why would anybody buy 45-70. Now, comparing oranges to oranges, you take those empty case home and reload them, why would anyone want a 450 Marlin. There really is room for both. I shoot an Encore in 450 Marlin. Its accurate. I believe that if I'd chosen a 45-70 in the same barrel, it to would be accurate as well. You have a 450 Marlin so enjoy it and don't give those who've said that they would own one a second thought. Everyone has an opinion.

[Redhawk1]

Lynn Alan Kietzman, the only reason to own a 450 over a 45-70 is factory loads. That is it. The 45-70 will do any thing the 450 will do and with out the belt. As far as available ammo for each, the 45-70 has the edge in all the gun shops I have been in. The only time I see 450 Ammo is if there is a 450 gun in the shop. No body said the 450 was useless, but in my opinion not as popular as the 45-70. JMHO.

[Rangr44]

I've always owned .45-70's, but when the .450M was introduced, I hadda try one!

So, I sold my latest .45-70 & bought a .450 Winchester Timber Carbine.

A nice, handy, gun - but I sold it after a few range sessions, and went back to the .45-70, as I found it to be a lot more flexible than the .450M.

[mk454]

main reason to own a 450M, is 1) cuz you like it 2) cuz you like the BLR rifles it's chambered in. 3) you like the hornaday leverevolution loads and bought an XLR and the 450M loads are hotter and fly flatter in that round than the 45/70 ones do. but as far as the 450M, i like it alot.

as far as factory loads, i think you'll find corbon, buffalo bore, garrett and a few others that have 45/70 loads that will meet or exceed what's available in 450M.  if the gunstore doesn't carry them, ask, they will or just order them.

personally i like both calibers just fine.

[.450Marlin]

 I like it very much actually My best friend has an H&R Ultra Hunter in this cartridge and it has performed exceptionally from day one. He hasn't been able to bag any game with it yet, but I have no doubt that he will soon; I also don't doubt that when he pulls the trigger, the gun will hit what he's aiming at & bring it down just as effectively as any other big game cartridge. He reloads for it, so ammunition cost isn't a problem; there are enough factory loads out there to work with, but they are quite expensive and not as common as they should be in some places. If I had to buy a big bore rifle/cartridge tomorrow, it'd be a Marlin or an H&R in .450M without a doubt; it's a good cartridge, my buddy reloads for it, and it its loads of fun to shoot I only wish they still made an Ultra in this caliber, but as you found out, the barrel is still available I'm still trying to con my buddy out of his rifle and ammo, but I don't think he'll ever sell it; you can't buy another one, and he loves it, so there we go I've heard some people (very few, since I don't think many people ever bought Ultras in .450) say that their H&Rs weren't accurate in this chambering, but I would stake my life on the 22" tube of this Ultra Hunter any day--it's that good. I'm actually hoping to use this gun on a few of the pesky coyotes we have around here if I can borrow it for a spell; I cannot think of a better gun to use honestly At any rate, I have nothing but good to say about the .450 Marlin, and if it works well for you, definitely stay with it. I hope you're barrel shoots as well as the one I've used...you can't go wrong if it does :-) Sorry for the rambling & good luck with your .450.

Kind Regards,

.450Marlin

P.S. My buddy has been using a Simmons Blazer 3-9x40 & Leupold rings on the Ultra since he got it & has had no problems; that combination has taken a worse beating than our shoulders have (the rifle does not kick very harshly at all in my opinion) have and has held up perfectly--not bad for a sub-$100 setup :-)

[GAWI]

I bought a marlin lever action, guess what, cal. is .450 marlin. Looks like a 30-30 with a fat barrel. Always reload. Barrel was ported. Sold 30-30. Love it. If you want 45-70 good, if you want .450 good. If you want to talk about 45-70 good. If you want to talk about .450 good. The question was about .450 cal. not 45-70.

[davem270win]

I'm using the Leupold 1-4 shotgun scope with heavy reticule on my 45-70. Just the thing for the heavy woods of Pennsylvania.

[K.K]

I killed my first PA buck with my guide gun in .450 Marlin several years ago. Hit it running on the left shoulder. Flipped the buck over and found the mushroom on the far side. It broke both shoulders, liquified the heart-lung area. I was using the Hronady factory load.  It's more than I need for deer, but if I ever get a chance to hunt elk in the timber or black bears over bait, or rhinos, I'll have enough gun!

[victorcharlie]

I'd think about a Leupold VX-III 1.75 X 6 to go on the rifle. 

[Cabin4]

If you have a modern lever gun in 45-70 like the Marlin, you can buy ammo from Buffalo Bore and its better than the 450 Marlin loads ballistics. So why buy a 450Marlin and be stuck with such a limited variety of off the shelf ammo. With the standard 45-70 you can have it all-ways.

Never understood the need for the 450marlin, its nothing more than a 45-70 loaded to higher pressures levels which the Marlin in 45-70 can already handle. So weather you hand-load or not, the 450 makes no sence to me.

[300winman]

I have an H&R ultra with the 450 marlin barrel scoped with an older 4x leupold.  I love it!!  I also reload.  Don't have my data with me(on a road trip) but I shoot 300 gr hdy,300gr sierra, and 400 gr speer.  Have not had a chance to shoot anything yet but on paper I get a solid 2- 2.5" at 100 yds.  I went with the 450 marlin because the 350 gr factory round costs $22 a box in Portland, OR.  The weak 45-70 rounds are cheaper (about $20), but the hot 45-70 rounds cost over $40 a box.  And for me, a 458 cal round is not for plinking, so I have no use for buying weak rounds.  I'd rather buy the 450 marlin 350 gr factory(which also shoot good) and get some use out of the cartridge before I reload.  As far as availability, I have seen 450 Marlin ammo from Portland, OR to Coldwater, MI.  And sure I see 45-70, but only the weak rounds, Buffalo Bore and Garrett are rare to find.  If you reload you can't go wrong either way.  But for those who do not, the 450 marlin gives you more for the buck.  I think those of us that reload take for granted that most people do not have the time, place, or resources to reload.

Back on subject, I love the gun and recommend a good quality 4x scope as this gun kicks alittle.  At the time I bought the barrel I could not afford a new high quality scope so I went with a used Leupold.  Better to buy a used high quality than a new low quality scope!

[Cabin4]

I went with the 450 marlin because the 350 gr factory round costs $22 a box in Portland, OR.  The weak 45-70 rounds are cheaper (about $20), but the hot 45-70 rounds cost over $40 a box.  And for me, a 458 cal round is not for plinking, so I have no use for buying weak rounds.  I'd rather buy the 450 marlin 350 gr factory(which also shoot good) and get some use out of the cartridge before I reload.  As far as availability, I have seen 450 Marlin ammo from Portland, OR to Coldwater, MI.  And sure I see 45-70, but only the weak rounds, Buffalo Bore and Garrett are rare to find.  If you reload you can't go wrong either way.  But for those who do not, the 450 marlin gives you more for the buck.  I think those of us that reload take for granted that most people do not have the time, place, or resources to reload.

All I would add to this are  points:

1. If you reload, its a mute point.
2. If you don't relaod, then you should go with the 45-70. Because if you go with the 450, you are stuck with very, very few options for off-the-shelf ammo. And what happens if your gun hates the 350gr Hornady load? Yes you can buy the Garrett or Buffalo Bore, but to your point, mail order only for the most part.
3. You can buy low power plinking loads for the 45-70 and not for the 450.

Better off-the-shelf ammo choices for the 45-70 that include Buffalo Bore loads which allow you to have 450marlin ballistics, why bother with the 450 if you don't reload?

[Redhawk1]

cabin4, that is why I own 3 45-70's and no 450 Marlins. Like I said before, there is nothing wrong with a 450 Marlin except ammo choice.

[Rev Buck]

I have both and really like them both.  Conley Precision has good ammo choices for both, and they are well put together.  I like the 300 gr Nosler partition in the .450 and enjoy the nostalgia of the .45/70.  For scopes I agree with Coyote Hunter: eye relief was a major consideration for me.  I have a Burris Short Magnum 2X7 on my .450 and a Bushnell 1.5x5 on my .45/70.  Both are lots of fun and also serious game getters.  Enjoy!  Blessings, Rev

[Gunsmoke]

Buffalo Bore ammo is availiable at Cabela Stores.

[quickdtoo]

Buffalo Bore ammo is availiable at Cabela Stores.

They've got it on sale online.

Tim

450 Marlin BB Ammo

[GEMSBUCK]

Beats  me why anyone would want either the 450 or 45-70 when they could have a 458WM. Reloads cover the full spectrum from good 45-70 loads to elephant loads @ 500gr plus @ 2200fps.
 Do all you want to a 450 or 45-70 and it still isn't a mid load range 458WM. But a 458WM can easily shoot 405 gr Remington JSP @ 1800fps if you want to hunt hogs,deer,etc
 BTW I own 1 458WM (Whitworth) and 2 45-70s (1895 Marlin & 1871 Buffalo Classic)

[Redhawk1]

Beats  me why anyone would want either the 450 or 45-70 when they could have a 458WM. Reloads cover the full spectrum from good 45-70 loads to elephant loads @ 500gr plus @ 2200fps.
 Do all you want to a 450 or 45-70 and it still isn't a mid load range 458WM. But a 458WM can easily shoot 405 gr Remington JSP @ 1800fps if you want to hunt hogs,deer,etc
 BTW I own 1 458WM (Whitworth) and 2 45-70s (1895 Marlin & 1871 Buffalo Classic)

Because the 45-70 is a lot less expensive to buy factory rounds and we don't need a 458 WM to kill deer, hogs or bear. Your argument can be said for a lot of different rounds, but until you or anyone else buys my guns, I will shoot what I want.   

[corbanzo]

Beats  me why anyone would want either the 450 or 45-70 when they could have a 458WM. Reloads cover the full spectrum from good 45-70 loads to elephant loads @ 500gr plus @ 2200fps.
 Do all you want to a 450 or 45-70 and it still isn't a mid load range 458WM. But a 458WM can easily shoot 405 gr Remington JSP @ 1800fps if you want to hunt hogs,deer,etc
 BTW I own 1 458WM (Whitworth) and 2 45-70s (1895 Marlin & 1871 Buffalo Classic)

Yeah, but most people over here in the states aren't looking to kill an elephant.  The .450 marlin and 45-70 offers plenty of power to hunt anything over, and in a smaller and much less expensive package.  Plus the 45-70 is chambered in a lot of different guns, you can find them in production bolts, levers, single shots, and even revolvers.  You pretty much gotta stick with a big bolt action or single shot to get the .458WM. 

[GEMSBUCK]

Beats  me why anyone would want either the 450 or 45-70 when they could have a 458WM. Reloads cover the full spectrum from good 45-70 loads to elephant loads @ 500gr plus @ 2200fps.
 Do all you want to a 450 or 45-70 and it still isn't a mid load range 458WM. But a 458WM can easily shoot 405 gr Remington JSP @ 1800fps if you want to hunt hogs,deer,etc
 BTW I own 1 458WM (Whitworth) and 2 45-70s (1895 Marlin & 1871 Buffalo Classic)

Because the 45-70 is a lot less expensive to buy factory rounds and we don't need a 458 WM to kill deer, hogs or bear. Your argument can be said for a lot of different rounds, but until you or anyone else buys my guns, I will shoot what I want.   

 redhawk my aren't you the snot! And coming from someone that posts frequently about big bores. You missed my point entirely. Sure the 458WM is more than most people need for deer hogs,blk bears but then again so is the 45-70 and 450. Reloads can easily be produced to run at 45-70 levels if that's what you want...but you'll never get either the 45-70 or 450 Marlin to be capable of what a 458WM is.
 458WM brass can be bought for around $.50 each unfired any day of the week and the rest of components are exactly the same as 45-70 needs. I load my 458WM down to 65.0 gr 3031/405 RJSP to hunt blk bears. Recoil is less that a 45-70 @ 1700fps
 Also Corbanzoa  rifle choices are a personal matter but your "big bolt action" comment makes no sense to me. MY Whitworth is no larger than the Mdl 70 I have in 25-06. And the overall lenght is less than my 1871 Buffalo Classic 45-70 (I also have a 38-55 barrel for it too).

[Cabin4]

Beats  me why anyone would want either the 450 or 45-70 when they could have a 458WM. Reloads cover the full spectrum from good 45-70 loads to elephant loads @ 500gr plus @ 2200fps.
 Do all you want to a 450 or 45-70 and it still isn't a mid load range 458WM. But a 458WM can easily shoot 405 gr Remington JSP @ 1800fps if you want to hunt hogs,deer,etc
 BTW I own 1 458WM (Whitworth) and 2 45-70s (1895 Marlin & 1871 Buffalo Classic)

No ones trying to make a 45/70 into a 458 mag. You also can't get a 458mag in a nice small package like a Marlin Guide Gun!!! Besides, pushing these big bullets to 458mag speeds buys you little more then addition reach.

[Redhawk1]

GEMSBUCK, I have been called worse. 

But maybe you missed my point. I never seen anyone here mention anything about trying to turn a 45-70 or 450 Marlin into a 458 WM. Yes I am a big bore fan, and I have other rifles also. Let me know when you can put a 458 WM into a 18.5 inch barrel like a Marlin lever action. I am not knocking the 458WM by no means, but sometimes even when loaded down it is not exactly what someone wants.

[GEMSBUCK]

GEMSBUCK, I have been called worse. 

But maybe you missed my point. I never seen anyone here mention anything about trying to turn a 45-70 or 450 Marlin into a 458 WM. Yes I am a big bore fan, and I have other rifles also. Let me know when you can put a 458 WM into a 18.5 inch barrel like a Marlin lever action. I am not knocking the 458WM by no means, but sometimes even when loaded down it is not exactly what someone wants.

Funny you should mention 18.5' . My father owns a Remington mdl 600 that started out as a 350  then was rebarrelled to 458WM. Nice little bolt action that kicks like a mule on steroids.
 Hey I own a Winchesterr Legacy in 45 Colt I guess because it shoots .452 bullets that it qualifies as a Big bore too....give me a break!! These guys go out and buy a $500 Marlin in 45-70/450M and suddenly think they have themselves a honest to god BIG BORE ...what a joke most wouldn't know what to do with a big bore rifle or what it is intended to be used on. A few may go shoot a semi tame bison with one an fewer yet actually hunt anything considered dangerous (an yes I include some feral barn yard stock and blk bear as non  dangerous). But take one on a true DG hunt and your PH will tell you either that toy stays in camp or you do.
 sure a 45-70 can kill a deer or most anything else but do you buy a .458 bullet to shoot 200# animal?

[mk454]

GEMSBUCK--why would you want a .458wm when you could have a 460 weatherby and trust us....most of us know exactly what to do with a real big bore!  i know i stick mine on the rack in the safe when i want something smaller and quicker to hunt with and i decide to take the marlin gg.

btw, as has been stated before..........the marlins will easily penetrate and kill everything the bigger .458's will, just at a slightly more limited range.

[GEMSBUCK]

Mk about 4 weeks ago I was in Tz and had in my pocket lead RN supplied to me as test ammo from another person...a well know gun mag author. They were given to me to load at 45-70 velocities with a 510 gr bullet. Over a chrony they were clocked at an average of 1340fps for 5 shots. I was asked to shoot them into a dead cape buffalo from different angles.Which I did the results were poor due mostly to the need of a better alloy mix than what was used. ie i shot my dead buff thru the shoulders, about 36" of penetration but no exit wound. As well as 2 times with the classic Texas Heart Shot that traveled thru the paunch but stopped at the membrane seperating the vitals from paunch. NEITHER would've stopped a buff.
 One of the 2 buffs was gut shot by my partner as he whirled to run. after a considerable tracking effort the PH hit him with a 460WBY using hornady solids from 25 yds while my partner and I both hit him with 458WM using 450 gr BTSX. The 460 WBY solid went to pieces! And was stopped by the far shoulder blade. The 458WM BTSX had complete pentration. One (mine) entered the throat of the facing bull and exited the left ham...THAT is why I use a 458WM rather than 460WBY.

I take it you're one of the "fewer yet " crowd whom actually knows what a Big Bore is meant to be used on. Surely no one can claim that a hog ( I've killed 100s) deer (I've killed 100s) or a blk bear (I've killed about 10) is in need of the .458 diameter bullet  at any speed. The appeal of the 45-70 is to those that either want to try and relive an era gone by or wish to think they've gotten their hands on a definative stopper of a big bore.
 I own a Marlin 1895 45-70 LTD and it's pretty much just a toy as a big bore...it is however a nice handy, cheaply made little gun at a cheap price available to most anyone whom wishes one.

[mk454]

your bud should've used different solids out of the weatherby.  secondly, roundnose is half the problem and no i'm not part of any "crowd".  the garrett's would've exited the chest on that shot you talked about.  remember newer powders and newer bullets give different calibers new ground with which to "cover".  in fact, one of those is the 458wm.  there was a time it was considered a very poor performer, but then again, you are the keeper of knowledge on this no doubt.  imagine, an affordable gun most could afford, how freaking horrible!!!

[GEMSBUCK]

if you need Garretts to shoot pigs and deer out of a 45-70 that should be telling you something right there!
 And as for powders/bullets making the 458WM a viable DG caliber Finn Agarrd (SP) PH said it best..." I never knew that a 458WM was under powered and a crippler of DG until I move to the USA"