Skip to main content
Help Center Community Shop

Marlin .45/70 vs .450

Bill Costik
My next hunting gun is going to be a Marlin big bore lever action. Now, I can't decide between the 45/70 or the 450. I'm kind of concerned about the availability of .450 in my area ( Northern PA). Also, I'm not too sure about barrel lenght. How much velocity would I lose/gain with the 18.5 inch barrel versus the 22 inch?

Also this next question is more of a sidenote. I have a Marlin catalog from 2004. In it they have a 1895 chambered in .475 Linebaugh/.480 Ruger, along with a .450 with a 22 inch barrel. Does anyone know what happened to these two guns?

Cyclonus, thanks, but no thanks. I'm set on a 45/70 or 450.
0

Comments

9 comments

Date Votes
  • Cyclonus
    Well Bill My grandad has one for sell if your interested in a .444 marlin. has 2 boxes of ammo lemme know if your interested.

    Revenge is a double edged sword that only kills its wielder

    "Are you a photographer?"
    "No im a combat correspondant"
    "Well you seen much combat?"
    "Yeah I seen a little on TV"
    "Youre a real comedian"
    "Well they call me the Joker"
    0
  • ern98
    The way I understand it the 450 came to be because of the real possibility of hot 45/70 ammo getting shot in guns that can't handle those pressures safely. The 450 is all hot all the time and unless you reload that will be the only way to shoot it, ooch. If you or your circle of shooting buddies has classic 45/70 rifles that you enjoy shooting then you might really want to consider the 450. Myself, I sold my Sharps because I got a Siamese Mauser in 45/70 and I didn't want any cross over problems. The Marlin in 45/70 will be able to shoot govt level loads and the full on hot loads depending on the intended range and game. You will find the the lighter loads much nicer to practice with. I built my Siamese with a 23" barrel because with the hot loads velosity is the name of the game and you need barrel length to get it. If I were to always be shooting inside of 100yds, then the 18.5" barrel would be just fine. This is how I see it, I sure others will weigh in with their opinions soon.
    0
  • D.S.COLE
    The 450 Marlin is a superb cartridge.The most powerful round Marlin has put in a lever action.
    I have one I built on a 98 Mauser action and it is incredibly accurate.
    I get half inch cloverleaf groups at 100 yds. with the factory (Hornady} ammo. I usually reload for all my rifles but it is so good Ive never even thougt about trying reloads.
    It is the deadliest thing Ive ever seen on a deer,literally knocks them a flip.
    If you check the 458 Win mag ballistics in the Lyman Manual you will see the 450 is practically a lower end or starting load equal to the 458 with the same weight bullet.
    Go with the 450, you will glad.

    <BR>
    0
  • I.Shute
    Bill, I would stick with the .45-70. I don't think the 450 will ever reach the popularity of the .45-70. Also, you can load it as heavy as you and the rifle can stand.

    I've been really careful to keep my ammo for the Mausers separate from that for the Marlin. Keep them in separate boxes, too. As ern98 says, you don't want any cross over problems. Someone put a Siamese load in the Marlin box when I wasn't looking, and as I was sighting it in, that's the round I shot first. Thought that poor little 1895 had exploded. Shoulder turned blue, too.

    My 405 grain hunting loads for the Mausers go at about 2140 fps and the heaviest loads for the Marlin that are still comfortable are at 1740.

    I have a Siamese in .45-90 too, and that's a nice step up from the .45-70.

    Get the .45-70, but make sure your friends with their trapdoors don't grab your hot loads.
    0
  • D.S.COLE
    With the 450 you have power to start with. You dont have to "hot" load a 45/70 and worry about getting rounds mixed and blowing up the weaker rifles.The 450 has been around for years now and I dont think it will be dropped.
    This is not to take anything from the 45/70 after all its been around over a 100 years and a lot of people love it,but the 450 is a great cartridge and should be right up there with it.

    <BR>
    0
  • tsavo303
    Hot 45-70 is available, just buy the .45-70 for the versitility. Mine is a 1895gs and is awesome and accurate!
    0
  • jptatum
    I have to agtree with the 444 Marlin. I have never used the 450 Marlin or the 45-70. The 444 Marlin is a well known quantity and you will not have to worry about hot loads.

    J. Patrick Tatum
    0
  • young n dum
    I would go with the 45/70...even without handloading you can get the ballisitics of the .450....check out buffalo bore ammo....they load a 405grn pill at over 2100fps.


    Neo-Jedi Order

    th_reblogo.gif

    Member

    th_MC_SSgt_E6_gif.jpg


    To all the liberals.....bite me!
    0
  • Cyclonus
    I just hope Bill has the arm to take all of this pounding recoil. Id go with the 450 if I were him.

    Revenge is a double edged sword that only kills its wielder

    "Are you a photographer?"
    "No im a combat correspondant"
    "Well you seen much combat?"
    "Yeah I seen a little on TV"
    "Youre a real comedian"
    "Well they call me the Joker"
    0

Please sign in to leave a comment.

Recent Activity