.450 Marlin

[bigblue77]

Currently hunting with a .405 Win but considering the .450 Marlin more or less for similar performance levels and a much shorter firearm.
Anyone out there hunt with the .450?
What do you think, pros n cons. Thanks and good luck in the woods this fall.

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by bigblue77

Currently hunting with a .405 Win but considering the .450 Marlin more or less for similar performance levels and a much shorter firearm.
Anyone out there hunt with the .450?
What do you think, pros n cons. Thanks and good luck in the woods this fall.

Basically a loaded up 45-70. Very effective round, great knockdown power but really running faster than they need to. A 45-70 350 RN at 1800 FPS is all you need to kill anything you can find stone dead. Running them faster just makes the gun kick more, it doesn't kill any better. You can't get the heavy bullets up to the 2600 fps+, unless you use a 460 Weatherby, you need to initiate hydro-static shock so why bother trying to get to 2200 to 2400.

[YYC338]

Dean2's got it just about right. Velocity helps a bit with trajectory but the recoil can get ferocious. Lots of bullet options if you reload, not so much for the 450 anymore if you shoot factory.

400 -430gr hardcast lead will penetrate just about end to end on anything around here. Expansion isn't really required when the hole starts out at .458. At the lower velocities you can also "eat right up to the hole" without any bloodshot, jelly meat.

[Sparx]

Yup I got 2 BLR's, one with a scope and a takedown without. Great gun but in all honesty I would have just went with a 45/70 if it weren't for wanting the removeable mag in the BLR forcing me to go with the 450 route.
I love having a bowling ball to through at moose and elk through the willows though.

[bigblue77]

Thanks guys, good to know about the 45/70, just got in from Mac, absolutely a boat load of chickens n moose up there this year, any back road is plugged with bear tracks for anyone hunting up there.
On the hunt for a 45/70 now.

[YYC338]

Originally Posted by bigblue77

Thanks guys, good to know about the 45/70, just got in from Mac, absolutely a boat load of chickens n moose up there this year, any back road is plugged with bear tracks for anyone hunting up there.
On the hunt for a 45/70 now.

Marlin makes a ton of models. 22", 18.5" barrels. Decide what's best for you. Henry lever and Ruger single shot rifles out there too.

Just make sure you get a modern rifle designed for "full house" loads if that's your intention. When you review the reloading data you'll see three levels of loads usually. Old trap door style, marlin lever (post 1972) and Ruger No.1.

If you stick with factory ammo your good with either of the last two. Some "bear load" ammo is too hot for the older rifles.

[Atticus]

Originally Posted by bigblue77

Currently hunting with a .405 Win but considering the .450 Marlin more or less for similar performance levels and a much shorter firearm.
Anyone out there hunt with the .450?
What do you think, pros n cons. Thanks and good luck in the woods this fall.

I've carried mine on a couple of white tail hunts but it does have a mean recoil as mentioned.

[fps plus]

I currently own a win 1886 45-70 and have owned a couple other 45-70 . I also built a 450 Marlin based on a Ruger m77. The factory ammo for 450 Marlin is loaded to a higher pressure level than 45-70.(a lot more thump). If you reload there is really no difference .