45-70 VS 450 Marlin

[tecumseh]

I got to shoot a 450 Marlin yesterday that one of the guys I hunt with recently got, I was good for about 4 shots before the recoil became more than I wanted to put up with. God help anything on the receiving end of this rifle!

Having owned a 45-70 in the past is there a big advantage using a 450 Marlin over the 45-70? And also from a reloading standpoint?

 

[Thebear_78]

There is no real advantage in a lever gun because they can both be loaded to the same levels. Starling brass in the 45/70 gets you all the power you'd want.

The 450 marlin in a short action bolt gun can step it up a little. Get you stomping on 458 win mag performance with lighter bullet weights 300-350gr

 

[SJB358]

I can't see a real reason to choose one over another. Both do the same work and the 45-70 in a Ruger or similar can be loaded to pretty stout levels. I've loaded 425's to 1800 and that is about all the power I'd ever want out of a lever rifle.

 

[Thebear_78]

There is a much better selection for 45/70 ammo, mild to wild. Not a lot out there for the 450 marlin

 

[DrMike]

I consider the 450 Marlin to be a hand loader's proposition. It can be a hammer, but you will need to load for it.

 

[Rem Jim]

I have both - a Marlin 1895G 45-70 and a BLR 450 Marlin - the BLR can be loaded to higher pressure then the Marlin Lever Rifle there fore more velocity - also the BLR has a 20 " barrel vs the 18.5 " barrel of the Marlin Guide Gun - not much diff but a bit - Like Dr Mike says the 450 MARLIN is a handloaders cartridge .The factory Horn FTX 325 gr ammo is 2050 fps for the 45-70 and 2220 fps for the 450 Marlin ! I just got my 450 Marlin so i have no Velocity specs for it yet but my 45-70 loads are a 405 cast gas check at 1985 fps and a 525 gr Bear Tooth Pile driver at 1665 fps ! That 525 boolit load kicks friggin hard ! :shock: I will publish 450 Marlin velocity when i get it done ! I really like the BLR rifle with the mag - and its really smooth and it has a nice trigger too ! :grin:
Cheers RJ

 

[tecumseh]

After shooting it I'd stick with the 45-70, you can always load a 45-70 to match what the 450 Marlin will do.

 

[onesonek]

I can't see a real reason to choose one over another. Both do the same work and the 45-70 in a Ruger or similar can be loaded to pretty stout levels. I've loaded 425's to 1800 and that is about all the power I'd ever want out of a lever rifle.

I agree.
I also suspect, there are darn few animals that require more. A good choice for all-around Scotty. I bet it'd do just fine a tad slower too.

 

[SJB358]

I can't see a real reason to choose one over another. Both do the same work and the 45-70 in a Ruger or similar can be loaded to pretty stout levels. I've loaded 425's to 1800 and that is about all the power I'd ever want out of a lever rifle.

I agree.
I also suspect, there are darn few animals that require more. A good choice for all-around Scotty. I bet it'd do just fine a tad slower too.

Yeah, I'm running your 405's at 1600. Can't imagine needing more and I have room to grow if I wanted too.

 

[bobnob]

In either of them, a mild loaded 300g at 2000fps or 400g at 1700fps will both do the same things with plenty of power to spare and margin of safety.

My nod goes to the 45-70 for nostalgia's sake but they are much of a muchness ballistically. I can see more sense in the 450 Marlin when chambered in a more modern action like the BLR above such as in Rem Jim's case. We need to see that chrono data Jim!

I assume there is also a greater variety of brass and more data out there on the older round which can be important.

A nice boar taken a few months ago with a 300g Sierra at 2250fps out of my GBL...

 

[DrMike]

Good looking boar; sweet looking rifle.

 

[Rem Jim]

I will REVEAL all 45-70 GOV and 450 Marlin #'s when done ! May the best cartridge WIN ! LOL :grin:

Cheers RJ

 

[Rem Jim]

In either of them, a mild loaded 300g at 2000fps or 400g at 1700fps will both do the same things with plenty of power to spare and margin of safety.

My nod goes to the 45-70 for nostalgia's sake but they are much of a muchness ballistically. I can see more sense in the 450 Marlin when chambered in a more modern action like the BLR above such as in Rem Jim's case. We need to see that chrono data Jim!

I assume there is also a greater variety of brass and more data out there on the older round which can be important.

A nice boar taken a few months ago with a 300g Sierra at 2250fps out of my GBL...

Nice BOAR the 300 gr worked well - HES dead ! :grin: LOL RJ

 

[alaska100]

There is no real advantage in a lever gun because they can both be loaded to the same levels. Starling brass in the 45/70 gets you all the power you'd want.

The 450 marlin in a short action bolt gun can step it up a little. Get you stomping on 458 win mag performance with lighter bullet weights 300-350gr

This gentleman is spot on, in a lever action rifle it will not make a difference

If you want more than these two in a lever gun (that is ported to reduce recoil), Wild West makes both the 457 Mag, that allows you to also shoot 45/70 s in it, if you want to do so or they also make a 50 Alaskan. Both are made from a marlin. We have tried them, but just didnt find a need for anything over the 45/70 or if we do , we use a 458 Lott. The wild west guns are well made and the co-pilot is a pretty handy rifle to carry, but for us they were a bit more than we felt we needed-both in the field and in the wallet

 

[SJB358]

It still doesn't stop the itch for one of those 50 Alaskans Sean. Granted, I love my 45-70, but I'd love to fire some of those big Alaskan rounds!

 

[Rem Jim]

I was into the WILD WEST shop in Las Vegas in march and they gave me a tour of the shop ! They do some nice stuff to Marlins & Remlins ! :grin:

As far a levers go the BLR is a STRONGER action then the Marlin 95 and the 450 Marlin is higher pressure brass too - SO all things being equal ! :shock: should be able to get 100-200 fps higher out of a 450 M then the Gov ! Not at all needed in the real world just us GUN NUTZ guys with Mine is faster then yours But mine is more accurate then yours Deal ! :grin: Its all for FUN ! with me . LOL

Cheers RJ

 

[Rem Jim]

Then new to me BLR 450 Marlin with a 2-7 x 33 Leupold Rifleman scope and Leupold Quick detach rings ! :grin:

Cheers RJ

 

[Oldtrader3]

I did a lot of mental gyrations about buying another .45-70 Marlin or a .450 when I gave my son my Guide Gun. What I finally came up with is that the .45-70 is more flexible for hand loading than the .450 is. The .45-70 case has an advantage in powder capacity and in powder usage (burn rate) range. For that reason, I purchased another .45-70 and never looked back. Plus .45-70 brass will be available for another 130 years, .450 Marlin, maybe not?

 

[Rem Jim]

I did al lot of mental gyrations about buying another .45-70 Marlin or a .450 when I gave my son my Guide Gun. What I finally came up with is that the .45-70 is more flexible for hand loading than the .450 is. The .45-70 case has an advantage in powder capacity and in powder usage (burn rate) range. For that reason, I purchased another .45-70 and never looked back. Plus .45-70 brass will be available for another 130 years, .450 Marlin, maybe not?

I hear ya Pal this one will keeping the BLR company for a long time yet ! :grin: RJ

 

[tecumseh]

In either of them, a mild loaded 300g at 2000fps or 400g at 1700fps will both do the same things with plenty of power to spare and margin of safety.

My nod goes to the 45-70 for nostalgia's sake but they are much of a muchness ballistically. I can see more sense in the 450 Marlin when chambered in a more modern action like the BLR above such as in Rem Jim's case. We need to see that chrono data Jim!

I assume there is also a greater variety of brass and more data out there on the older round which can be important.

A nice boar taken a few months ago with a 300g Sierra at 2250fps out of my GBL...

Nice Hog!
Nice BOAR the 300 gr worked well - HES dead ! :grin: LOL RJ