Author Topic: .450 marlin  (Read 1748 times)

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Offline Reynolds

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.450 marlin
« on: July 31, 2006, 04:31:39 AM »
What are people's opinions about this cartridge?  I have a guide gun advertised in the classifieds for a great price ($399) and haven't gotton any interest.  Is this round 'unliked' for a particular reason.  The rifle/caliber combination is a real powerhouse.  Why aren't more people interested.

Jason


Offline KN

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #1 on: July 31, 2006, 10:32:31 AM »
I have one, I love it. But I am kind of a power junky. This thing will beat you to death but it sure is fun. Pretty accurate too as long as you can hold it still. After a few rounds I'm shaking so bad I have to stop.   KN

Offline Redhawk1

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #2 on: July 31, 2006, 02:10:05 PM »
If you are a reloader, you can load a 45-70 to the same power as the 450 and don't need a belt.  I don't like the 450 personally, but that is another subject. Another reason the 450 is not so popular is, not may gun stores carry ammo for it. That may be a big reason.
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Online victorcharlie

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #3 on: July 31, 2006, 04:36:19 PM »
The .450 marlin is a great round, but lacks the reduced load or cowboy action rounds of factory ammo that the .45.70 has available......

The .45.70 has been around for over 100 years,started life as a black powder round, and there are many old weak actions that prevents the mainstream ammo providers from loading the 45.70 to it's full potential...........as the .450 Marlin is a modern design of recent development it doesn't suffer from old week rifles......

The real reason for the .450 is to provide a full power factory loaded round without having to worry about someone shooting the round from an old weaker rifle that could be encountoured in a .45.70.

In a modern action the 45.70 can be loaded to the same potential as the .450 Marlin and in fact, a little hotter......

In short the versitility of the 45.70 cannot currently be matched by the .450 unless hand loaded......

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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #4 on: August 01, 2006, 01:37:14 AM »
The .450 marlin is a great round, but lacks the reduced load or cowboy action rounds of factory ammo that the .45.70 has available......

The .45.70 has been around for over 100 years,started life as a black powder round, and there are many old weak actions that prevents the mainstream ammo providers from loading the 45.70 to it's full potential...........as the .450 Marlin is a modern design of recent development it doesn't suffer from old week rifles......

The real reason for the .450 is to provide a full power factory loaded round without having to worry about someone shooting the round from an old weaker rifle that could be encountoured in a .45.70.

In a modern action the 45.70 can be loaded to the same potential as the .450 Marlin and in fact, a little hotter......

In short the versitility of the 45.70 cannot currently be matched by the .450 unless hand loaded......



Great information there victorcharlie. I could not of said it better myself.  ;D
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Offline akpls

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #5 on: August 01, 2006, 06:58:35 PM »
I like the .450M.  I have 3, a GG, a stainless BLR and a custom bolt built on a Ruger 77 action.  And I've loaded it every way you can think of, up or down.  The .450M cartridge feeds really slick through the bolt action and I worked up a nice load using the 300 gr. Barnes-X spitzers for it.  I liked the .450M out of the bolt so well that I took it to Namibia last fall and took a nice kudu with it.  But I still grab the GG and the Hornady factory loads if I'm headed out the door on a quick trip up the river for moose or bear.  No need to worry if you've got enough gun.....it can do the job on anything I'm likely to run into.  And with over a thousand cases on hand for reloading I'm not too worried about running out of ammo anytime soon.   ;D

Online victorcharlie

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #6 on: August 02, 2006, 02:04:40 AM »
3 sweet rifles.....that Ruger 77 is one I'd like to play with for awhile.....any chance I could borrow it for a month or so?

Yea......what's not to love about the .450?  The real problem is it's 100 years to late.......
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Offline K.K

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #7 on: August 03, 2006, 02:09:05 PM »
I bought a Marlin Guide gun in .450 the first year that they came out.  I just had to have it!  I've killed a few deer with it, and none took another step.  It is more than is necessary, but I like the handiness and power for still-hunting and tracking. The new LEver Evolution ammo from Hronady has me intrigued.  I may scope it in scout style and get more downrange performance.  The .450 is a great cartridge.  That said, recoil can pound you at the range, but when you soot at game, you won't notice.

Offline Blackhawk44

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #8 on: August 03, 2006, 06:27:15 PM »
With the .450 you are a little limited as to brass availability.   .45-70 can be picked up almost anywhere.

Offline BUSTER51

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2006, 02:43:48 PM »
I have a 450m and it's great I too have plenty of ammo and spent brass ,so no problem .I use the Hornady 350 load and it does the job and I never feel under gunned. just mail order the ammo and save some money .what a great compact power house . 8)

Offline Old Time Hunter

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #10 on: August 26, 2006, 03:18:55 AM »
Between the .450 Marlin and the .444 Marlin, they are the best "store-bought" modern big-bore chamberings offered today. I have both, the .450 is a little stout out of the box, but will work on anything this side of the demarcation line. Personally since I handload, I like the .444 better. I also have 45-70's but only use 'em now for silloutte/target shooting.

Offline nomosendero

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #11 on: August 30, 2006, 01:11:47 PM »
In a lever gun or a single shot, the 45-70 can do everything the 450 can & for those guns it is a better choice.
But with the BLR & bolt actions the 450Marlin is a niche product that makes sense as the 45-70
will not work for those, you can load spitzers(the leverevolution ammo took some of this advantage
but not all), & the BLR & bolt actions are designed for the Magnum rounds & you can load the 450 in these guns at higher than 45-70 levels.
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Offline Redhawk1

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #12 on: August 31, 2006, 01:56:33 AM »
In a lever gun or a single shot, the 45-70 can do everything the 450 can & for those guns it is a better choice.
But with the BLR & bolt actions the 450Marlin is a niche product that makes sense as the 45-70
will not work for those, you can load spitzers(the leverevolution ammo took some of this advantage
but not all), & the BLR & bolt actions are designed for the Magnum rounds & you can load the 450 in these guns at higher than 45-70 levels.

And how can a 450 Marlin be loaded higher than a 45-70. The case capacity of the 450 Marlin is not as much as the 45-70. Remember the 450 case is thicker and carries a belt which takes up valuable space.  Get a 450 Marlin case and a 45-70 case and fill them with water, them weight each and you will see the 45-70 has more case capacity.  ???
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Offline EsoxLucius

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #13 on: August 31, 2006, 03:44:25 AM »
While the brass is not a limiting factor between the two in Marlin lever guns, it is when a modern bolt or lever (BLR) is involved.  I would not trust 45-70 brass for extended service loaded above 50,000 CUP or 58,000 PSI (Ruger #1), but the 450 Marlin can be loaded to 65,000 PSI in a modern bolt action rifle or if chambered in the Ruger #1.
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Offline nomosendero

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #14 on: August 31, 2006, 04:02:52 AM »
While the brass is not a limiting factor between the two in Marlin lever guns, it is when a modern bolt or lever (BLR) is involved.  I would not trust 45-70 brass for extended service loaded above 50,000 CUP or 58,000 PSI (Ruger #1), but the 450 Marlin can be loaded to 65,000 PSI in a modern bolt action rifle or if chambered in the Ruger #1.
 

Yes, that is what I was talking about. The Browning chambers the Belted & Short Mags & the same with the Bolt guns. The 450 brass is stronger & we all know it has SLIGHTLY less capacity but the diff. in pressure makes up for that as the 450 case is stronger. I don't really care, just pointing out a niche market for the 450
that will probably keep it from going away. As I said before, other than that it offers no real advantages.
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Offline 1895m

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Re: .450 marlin
« Reply #15 on: February 03, 2007, 07:37:07 PM »
I love my 450.  2 years ago I carried my H&R slug gun in the north woods of Michigan and took a nice doe at 106 yards.  That was the las time that I will carry that gun up there. Too heavy. The 450 is so light and very accurate.  I have a Bushnell 1.5 - 4 power on mine and it works great.  Shot a 4 point this past season and it only we 40 or so yards.  Albeit, it didn't even act like it was hit, but both lungs were mush.