Author Topic: Is the 450 marlin to much for whitetails (Read 5645 times)

Forest Walker · « **on:** September 19, 2005, 05:31:24 AM »

I get alot of crap at my hunting club because of my choice in a walking gun/brush gun. My question is Do you use a 450/45-70 for whitetail or do you think it to large a calibre

EsoxLucius · « **Reply #1 on:** September 19, 2005, 08:00:50 AM »

The 45-70 or 450 Marlin in the Marlin lever gun is an excellent choice for hunting whitetails.

JD338 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 19, 2005, 11:56:03 AM »

forest walker,

There is no such thing as overkill. You are hunting and the objective is killing a game animal for food, horns, etc. Your weapon of choice is your
personal choice. Use what you are comfortable with and within your own personal limitations and don't look back.
There are a lot of "experts" that offer their "expertise" even without being asked. As an example, my neighbor came down to my house this past June to look at my new truck. (GMC 2500 HD Crew Cab) He "informed" me that 12-14 MPG was going to be very expensive for me to drive. I just grinned and told him that I didn't buy it for gas mileage!

March to your own drum beat, hunt with your 450 Marlin. You will kill your deer without much if any tracking.

Regards,

JD338

Savage .250 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 20, 2005, 07:28:38 AM »

Quote from: Forest Walker

I get alot of crap at my hunting club because of my choice in a walking gun/brush gun. My question is Do you use a 450/45-70 for whitetail or do you think it to large a calibre

If that`s your only gun then there is no problem.
You said in part," My question is DO you use a 450/45-70 for whitetail
or do you think it is to large a calibre?"
Being you asked i`d say no to the first part and yes to the second.
That is a major sized cal to shoot whitetails with, IMO. But it will sure
as all get out ...............kill-um.

" The best part of the hunt is not the harvest but in the experience."

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #4 on:** September 20, 2005, 11:26:12 AM »

If you take game with it I believe its a good choice, Is it to big? Prolly. But I'd rather err on the big side than small.

.45-70s are fun to shoot anyhow.

tanoose · « **Reply #5 on:** September 20, 2005, 01:43:24 PM »

Forest , use what you like I hunt in New York's Catskills and while most of us use 30/06 class cartridges we have one guy who uses a 300 Weatherby magnum and for a couple of years i used a 338 winchester magnum. My personal favorites are the 30/06 and the 45/70

Forest Walker · « **Reply #6 on:** September 21, 2005, 01:34:09 AM »

Thanks Guys these are the answers I was hoping for, I use my encore in a 300 win mag while Im sittng, but when Im on a drive or stalking where most shots are close (under 100 yds) I love my lever gun.

victorcharlie · « **Reply #7 on:** September 21, 2005, 12:07:04 PM »

The really neat thing about 45.70 and .450 Marlin is the versatility achieved by hand loading. Load it up for dangerous game, load it way down for cowboy action shooting, load it in the middle for deer...........If there ever was a '"one cartridge fits all", then these are truly the "one cartridge fits all" rounds for any north american big game at reasonable ranges.

Pinkerton · « **Reply #8 on:** September 21, 2005, 04:49:28 PM »

In the end it saves processing time, it's venison-burger right there where you shot it... just kidding.

It'll make a great timber rifle, and if it's what you like to use, and use well, you'll be the one giving the crap back to your buddies when you fill your tag.

I used a 300 Weatherby for antelope last season, so the "too big" thing is lost on me.

oso45-70 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 21, 2005, 05:19:03 PM »

Forrest Walker,

As you would probably guess i think the 45-70 is a great gun for about any thing you might want to hunt. The deer you shoot with it you can eat right up to the hole. I would rather see a person use more gun than a lighter gun. I have shot deer with a 300 Weatherby and destroied more meat than i took home..........Joe..........

big medicine · « **Reply #10 on:** September 22, 2005, 02:09:08 AM »

I have shot several deer with the 45-70 and they dont move. Never figured you could kill anything too dead. The thing about the 45-70 is that it doesnt tear deer up, just punches a thumb size hole in and out. You can eat the meat almost right up to the bullet hole. Unlike the 300 mag or 30-06 for that matter. One you bust one with the 45-70 it will be all you want to use. :wink:

Pinkerton · « **Reply #11 on:** September 22, 2005, 02:37:28 PM »

I couldn't agree more about the 300 Weatherby being terribly distructive, the year I used it for antelope it was the best longrange rifle I had at the time and made the mistake of using Horandy 165gr spire points when it hit bone it destroyed alot of meat. If I ever do it again I'll try a 180gr bullet of heavier construction.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #12 on:** September 22, 2005, 06:40:53 PM »

The 450 is definitely too much for whitetails. It kills them dead.

Chuck White · « **Reply #13 on:** September 24, 2005, 02:28:58 AM »

I don't think you are overgunned with the 450 or 45-70!

My justification is as follows:
Hunters use 50 caliber Muzzle Loaders cranked up to the "MAX"!
No, as I see it, as far as Whitetails are concerned there isn't a lot of difference in the effectiveness of a 45-70 or a 50 cal modern Muzzle Loader!

As has already been stated, if you are comfortable and have faith in your gun of choice, then by all means, USE IT!

Happy Hunting;

Hooker · « **Reply #14 on:** September 24, 2005, 03:55:48 PM »

I'm sitting here reading this thread and all around the room there are nice racks hanging. Many of them taken with a 45/70.
Is the 450- 45/70 to much for whitetails? It is if your a whitetail

Pat

K.K. · « **Reply #15 on:** September 25, 2005, 06:20:09 AM »

The Marlin Guide Gun in .450 is my still hunting, and early season rifle. It is has the XS Ghost Ring. If you practice with it and can handle the recoil, it is an excellent caliber. Sure, you can effectively use less gun, but here in the Adirondacks of New York, one can run into a buck nearly 300 lbs live weight. Also there is no such thing as "too dead". Just my two cents. Good luck!

Varmintnut260 · « **Reply #16 on:** January 16, 2010, 04:20:19 PM »

Some people may think its over kill, but they don't think about the nights and wasted hunting time they spend chasing a wounded deer. Mainly due to using the wrong gun for their shooting ability, or take a long distance shot. Do not forget not having a functioning gun to finish the job!

In case you haven't noticed, it's just plain easier to find a deer when it drops where it was shot.

swordfish · « **Reply #17 on:** January 16, 2010, 06:27:02 PM »

I missed a shot at 275 yds with my 45-70 last weekend. Shot low. Wished I had my 30-06. It's been a long time since that happened. I love my 45-70 but it didn't work for me at 275 out, just not used to that distance with it yet. I know guys are bangin' them at that distance, and longer, but I need more work at it. I'll be doing a lota range work with the 45-70 after missing that shot. : (

To answer your question, no. Trajectory is the only issue, and that can be solved with time behind the trigger.

Graybeard · « **Reply #18 on:** January 17, 2010, 03:47:25 AM »

I think the question should not be is it too much for deer but rather whether it is too much for your shoulder. If the answer to that is no then it's a fine choice for your hunting so long as shots are kept to within the reasonable trajectory range of such a round. Due to the rather rainbow trajectory of the relatively short fat bullets starting out at not much over 2000 fps or perhaps even less I'd keep shots on the short side of 200 yards personally but within that window it's a perfectly adequate round for your needs.

It is unnecessarily punishing on recoil and from my experience with the .45-70 the big bullets kill no more effectively or quickly than do milder recoiling rounds like the 7-08 which is my personal deer hunting round or the .270 both of which extend the viable range for you if that's of importance which for the most part where I hunt it isn't.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #19 on:** January 17, 2010, 03:29:50 PM »

I think GB may be correct with the comment about it being too big for the shoulder.

If it isn't, then there just ain't such a thing as too dead.

I do read the comments above about the damage caused by some of the rifles like the 300s, and believe me when I say a lot of that is because of less then premimum quality bullets.

I am using a 300 with 165gr bullets for my deer/elk/moose/bear hunting, BUT that 165 grainer moving over 3200fps at muzzle is a NOSLER PARTITION.

Over 50 years ago, probably the worst meat damage I have been around was caused by a cousin's poor hit with a 30/30. Just know that there was a lot of mince meat made that year!

In the years since that time, I have seen equaly poor hits with a Nosler Partition, sorry to say I made one of them, in much faster rifles which produced far less damage.

But back to the 450 Marlin, I hope to soon move for the first time into the big bore area with 45/70, and if it happens to end up being the #1 I have my eye on, I will hot rod some loads just for fun, but those sure won't be what I shoot day to day or hunt with.

From everything I am reading, there is no need to use the high end loads for hunting with the big bores, but if that is what floats your boat and you can handle them, there just ain't no such thing as toooooooooo dead!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

Swampman · « **Reply #20 on:** January 17, 2010, 03:55:17 PM »

The .45-70 is a fine whitetail gun.

Cheesehead · « **Reply #21 on:** January 17, 2010, 04:48:41 PM »

I am glad I had a 45/70 when I shot the biggest buck of my life at 120 yards.

Cheese

FredWT · « **Reply #22 on:** January 17, 2010, 06:02:05 PM »

I have a .450G and I do not think it is a very good White Tail deer rifle at all. Why I've seen rounds bounce off of them at 60 yards!

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #23 on:** January 18, 2010, 04:54:15 AM »

Fred, FRED!!

Stop, turn around!! I think we're lost, you just shot that city park statue!

Keep em coming!

CDOC

rex6666 · « **Reply #24 on:** January 18, 2010, 05:48:04 AM »

Quote from: Forest Walker on September 21, 2005, 01:34:09 AM

Thanks Guys these are the answers I was hoping for, I use my encore in a 300 win mag while Im sittng, but when Im on a drive or stalking where most shots are close (under 100 yds) I love my lever gun.

What do the guys say about the 300 win. mag.
450/45-70 both good cal. for whitetails 300win mag?

Swampman · « **Reply #25 on:** January 18, 2010, 06:08:26 AM »

.300 Win. Mag. has too much recoil for the average shooter. Unless you're shooting over 800 yards I'd forget the .300 Win. Mag.

Darrell Davis · « **Reply #26 on:** January 18, 2010, 08:43:35 AM »

Morn'in Rex6666,

The 300 win mag is a great round, which I have used for years.

One of the main things is, never let it hurt you and it will never be a problem

When shooting from the bench, I use a sand bag between me and the rifle even at the level of a .270.

Then for practice I use reduced loads with light bullets and there is never a recoil induced problem.

My wife is a sometimes shooter/hunter, and as such would not like or put up with recoil. For that reason I use 100 or 110 grain bullets with a reduced load of the PROPPER kind of powder and she shoots without pain or strain.

Before hunting season, I make sure the rifle is properly sighted in and the shot or two she takes at game, with "hunting" ammo, is never felt.

The one very important thing which you need to keep in mind with the use of rifles in the class of the 300s is BULLET QUALITY!

Use of bullets of less then premimum quality, such as the Nosler Partition for example, in any high velocity rifle can lead to a lot of meat loss and the lower price for such lesser bullets is false economy at best.

Until I can come up with a rifle such as a 45/70 for cast bullet hunting, my 300win mag is my go to hunting rifle for the whitetails, elk, moose and bear I may have the oppertunity to hunt close to home.

With the 300 and a premimum bullet, I am never over or under gunned.

My current 300, a RUGER Hawkeye, has accounted for 4 whitetails during the last two seasons and there is no reason not to use it again, that is providing a 45/70 doesn't come to live here.

Keep em coming

CDOC

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #27 on:** January 18, 2010, 11:15:56 AM »

Quote from: Swampman on January 18, 2010, 06:08:26 AM

.300 Win. Mag. has too much recoil for the average shooter. Unless you're shooting over 800 yards I'd forget the .300 Win. Mag.

The question is not “does the .300 Win Mag have too much recoil for the average shooter” but rather “Does it have too much recoil for the shooter in question?”

The problem with “Unless you're shooting over 800 yards” is that in a lifetime of hunting I’ve never known at what range I would be shooting until I took the shot. There have been times when I didn’t get the close-up shots I anticipated and times when the anticipated 400-yard and longer shots turned out to be within spitting distance – even when hunting open sage.

Frankly, I love my .300 WM and have never found recoil to be an issue with it, although it has noticeably heavier recoil than my .30-06’s or 7mm RM (both of which are similar). One thing is certain, a .300 WM will do what a .30-06 does but at 150 yards further down range when talking about retained velocity or energy. It certainly seems to have a more dramatic effect on elk than a .30-06, even at modest ranges.

If I was down south shooting dink deer I wouldn’t use the .300 WM or even the .30-06 – my .257 Roberts would be more to my taste. In elk country, where I hunt mulies and elk in the same season, I prefer the .300 WM.

Swampman · « **Reply #28 on:** January 18, 2010, 02:08:40 PM »

There's nothing you can do with the .300 Winchester that you can't do just as well with the .30-06 if you're a hunter that is.

brianscott12 · « **Reply #29 on:** January 19, 2010, 12:29:43 AM »

I guess all you fellars that have a 300 oughta just get rid of em. Lol.