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.45-70 or 450 Marlin ???

coon-hunter-1
After working many hours of over-time, I have finaly saved up enough money to buy the Guide Gun that I have been wanting for a very long time. Now I have to decide if I want the .45-70 or 450 Marlin model. I will be using it for Elk, Bear and Deer. I am also planing on reloading my own shells. But I cant decide what caliber to go with. Any opinions or sugestions will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!!!!
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Comments

7 comments

Date Votes
  • ahankster
    If you are going to reload, I would suggest the 45-70.

    There are many commercially available rounds for this caliber, including some reeeeally stout stuff from Buffalo Bore.
    Also, there is reloading data that give ballistics equal to or in some cases exceeding the 450.

    The gun, mechanically and looks wise is the same. I just think you can get more versatility with the 45-70.
    R
    Ahankster
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  • MIKE WISKEY
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  • 1KYDSTR
    I agree with AHankster! I feel also that even if reloading the 450 Marlin brass might, in the future, become a bit difficult to obtain whereas the 45-70 has and will continue to be produced in it's millions, particularly with the popularity of Cowboy Action Shooting. I have, additionally never been very fond of belted cases as I see little purpose to them short of avoiding ammo interchanges with Magnum into Non-magnum chambers (which, granted, would be REEAALLLY bad).

    AHankster makes the good point too that I think you will run out of cartridge with either round befor you run out of room to play with in the Marlin action. Granted, it is not as strong as a bolt gun, but you will hit your limits at about the same charge levels with both rounds.

    I also wonder about commercial availability. If you are hunting the North Woods and run out of 45-70, chances are VERY good you will find some at nearly any shop you visit. Whether that can be said for the 450 Marlin in the future remains to be seen! there is, additionally a HUGE amount of handload info and experience to draw upon with the 45-70 that just does not exist yet with the Marlin chambering. E-mail me if you want some really fun loads for your guide gun in 45-70...I've got a few REALLY nasty ones I've worked up to good effect over the last few years playing with my own GG. Have fun and enjoy the shopping process!

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • zink
    I've got a Marlin 1895 that I use for elk in dark timber and I promise that it EFFECTIVE on elk at 175 yds. Just use the right loads and pick your shots. I've also used it for mule deer and black bear with some awsome results. With the "premium" loads I don't really see any advantage with the 450 Marlin.

    Lance
    10's RULE
    [:D]
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  • ahankster
    Just a point of interrest on why there is a 450 Marlin.

    This cartridge was developed awhile ago mainly because there were allot of folks that really like a 45 cal bullet with allot of mass pushed to moderate to hot velocities. There was some amount of fear among ammo makers that they couldn't sell 45-70 rounds loaded to today's standards due to the large numbers of old trapdoor and other rifles out there. There was (and still is) considerable fear of litigation because somebody blows themselves up shooting some stout smokeless 45-70 rounds in an old gun intended for black powder.

    So, Marlin's answer was to put a belt around a 45-70 cartridge and call it the 450 Marlin. That would enable the ammo makers to pump the round up to some pretty stout loads without any fear that it might be chambered in an old gun with a weak action.
    That was then, now is now.

    There are hotter, more modern loads for 45-70, as we all know, and the 450 seems to be fading away.
    R
    Ahankster
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  • 1KYDSTR
    Fading away...and rightly so! Our litigation minded society really irks me and makes me grateful that at some point I never took the Bar exams!

    There is also a slight difference in the web thickness of the 450 so it might take at least a few more hot reloadings than the 45-70, but as mentioned...no real point to it's being in existance at all! Stupid, stupid people! I sure hope you're right, Ahankster, about the 450 being on its' way out...what a useless "innovation".

    It seems as though people do not take the basic tenats of firearm safety seriously, because if they did, none of this would really be a problem. But, as you mentioned, it IS a problem and likely has to be dealt with in this way.

    Just had a last thougt also. The price of brass AND dies for the 45-70 will be significantly cheaper than the 450 so perhaps the economics of the whole issue will help you make up your mind!

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • zink
    My point has been made. The 450 Marlin has no advantage over a 45/70 loaded within safe limits by a person with a good head on their shoulders.

    Lance
    10's RULE
    [:D]
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