quickdtoo
You are right concerning the 450 not having any real advantages over the 45-70. That being said, I have one & the reason why is I was able to trade some 7.62X39 ammo & a little cash for a new one. I have 2 frames now & soon I will have a third frame. I have 3 sons & I will hopefully soon
have a big bore for each, one will be in 45-70 & another in 444 or 405,
whichever I can come up with or have made. Each frame will have a longer range round, one is now a 25-06, probably the other 2 will be 280 & 270. I will have a varmit caliber for each also, plus 1 or 2 more barrels
thrown in like 308 or 7-08. This way I can get alot of quality shooting & tweaking in & at the same time give them handi's of equal utility. Then
Lord willing, I will have 1 more frame bought to keep for myself. I am
doing the same thing with some quality bolt rifles & handguns.
Anyway, back to this 450 H&R. I mounted a 2.8x10 Aetec because of the
eye relief & this guns shoots great without any mod's, at least for a big
bore. It is shooting 3 shot groups of 1" to 1&1/4" at 100 yards with the
factory load. I feel the factory load or the only slightly slower PMC 350 GR
load is perfect for bigger North American game at .450 Marlin Yardages &
sense I will not be shooting it much, the ammo cost is not a big deal.
They installed a steel rod in the buttstock which I will remove. I have
installed a slip-on pad over the recoil pad (I have long arms) & the rod
is not needed.
I do feel the .450 Marlin does have a niche & that is in bolt guns & the
Browning Lever gun. The case has the proper rim for these guns & due
to the fact that they are designed for Magnum pressures this case can
then be loaded quite warm!
Thanks