Today was my first experience with a big bore rifle (other than rifled shotguns).
I installed the bases and scope this morning on the 450 Marlin MXLR and I think I found out why the previous owner swapped it off. I noticed when I took of the old Weaver base that two of the base screws were loose. One of rear screw holes had a very bad burr preventing the bases from contacting the top of the receiver correctly. Also, the front screw was too long for the front hole (a blind hole ending on the barrel), preventing the front screw from securing the base to the receiver. I am betting that the base moved around on him.
Any way, I mounted my new bases and scope (which I discovered I don't like now that I have them) and started sighting in with the 350 gr FP factory loads. When that was "on" at 100 yards I switched to the 325 gr FTX factory loads. Unfortunately, the two POI's were significantly different and I had to re-zero with the 325 FTX's.
Although, I didn't really shoot groups, it appears to shoot fairly accurately, especially the 325 gr. FTX's. My last two bullets on the same scope setting at 100 yards were only 13/16" of an inch apart C/C.
I set up a gallon paint can full of water at 50 yards to test the 50 yd. mark on the reticule. I have shot paint cans full of water before and had them rip open. However, this one didn't rip apart - it blew apart into pieces. I couldn't believe it. I recovered the FTX bullet after it went through the paint can and into a water saterated dirt bank. It made a 4" diameter hole that penetrated about 18 - 24"" into the bank and the jacket was turned competely inside out. I also recovered base of the lead core from the hole.
I also recovered a 350 gr. FP bullet that had hit into the same water saterated dirt bank. It also made a 4" diameter hole that penetrated about 30". That bullet was a perfect mushroom that measured about .760" x .680" across the widest and narrowest points of the mushroom.
I did not realize that these .458" bullets mushroomed like that.
I think the rifle will be a "keeper". Now that I believe it shoots well, I would like to get the WWG ejector and the WWG trigger/sear. This trigger measures at 4-1/2 lbs and seems like a lot compared to the Remington 700 Custom at 3 lbs.
Next year I will trade out the Talley bases and Leupold Ultimateslam scope with S.A.B.R. reticule. I will get the DNZ solid one piece base/ring base and a Leupold VX-3 scope. I should have done that from the beginning.
I didn't find the recoil too bad. But, then again I wore a Cabelas shoulder pad with an extra layer of padding. I also, pulled the rifle tighter than I do the .270.
All-in-all it was kinda fun. Thanks to the forum "enablers" who talked me into the purchase/trade. You "did good" with this one.
Oh, almost forgot about the velocities. First of all, I was surprised at how consistent the velocities were.
Actual 350 gr. FP = 2019 fps vs advertised value of 2100 fps. 80 fps difference.
Actual 325 gr. FTX = 2146 fps vs advertised value of 2225 fps. 80 fps difference.
I installed the bases and scope this morning on the 450 Marlin MXLR and I think I found out why the previous owner swapped it off. I noticed when I took of the old Weaver base that two of the base screws were loose. One of rear screw holes had a very bad burr preventing the bases from contacting the top of the receiver correctly. Also, the front screw was too long for the front hole (a blind hole ending on the barrel), preventing the front screw from securing the base to the receiver. I am betting that the base moved around on him.
Any way, I mounted my new bases and scope (which I discovered I don't like now that I have them) and started sighting in with the 350 gr FP factory loads. When that was "on" at 100 yards I switched to the 325 gr FTX factory loads. Unfortunately, the two POI's were significantly different and I had to re-zero with the 325 FTX's.
Although, I didn't really shoot groups, it appears to shoot fairly accurately, especially the 325 gr. FTX's. My last two bullets on the same scope setting at 100 yards were only 13/16" of an inch apart C/C.
I set up a gallon paint can full of water at 50 yards to test the 50 yd. mark on the reticule. I have shot paint cans full of water before and had them rip open. However, this one didn't rip apart - it blew apart into pieces. I couldn't believe it. I recovered the FTX bullet after it went through the paint can and into a water saterated dirt bank. It made a 4" diameter hole that penetrated about 18 - 24"" into the bank and the jacket was turned competely inside out. I also recovered base of the lead core from the hole.
I also recovered a 350 gr. FP bullet that had hit into the same water saterated dirt bank. It also made a 4" diameter hole that penetrated about 30". That bullet was a perfect mushroom that measured about .760" x .680" across the widest and narrowest points of the mushroom.
I did not realize that these .458" bullets mushroomed like that.
I think the rifle will be a "keeper". Now that I believe it shoots well, I would like to get the WWG ejector and the WWG trigger/sear. This trigger measures at 4-1/2 lbs and seems like a lot compared to the Remington 700 Custom at 3 lbs.
Next year I will trade out the Talley bases and Leupold Ultimateslam scope with S.A.B.R. reticule. I will get the DNZ solid one piece base/ring base and a Leupold VX-3 scope. I should have done that from the beginning.
I didn't find the recoil too bad. But, then again I wore a Cabelas shoulder pad with an extra layer of padding. I also, pulled the rifle tighter than I do the .270.
All-in-all it was kinda fun. Thanks to the forum "enablers" who talked me into the purchase/trade. You "did good" with this one.
Oh, almost forgot about the velocities. First of all, I was surprised at how consistent the velocities were.
Actual 350 gr. FP = 2019 fps vs advertised value of 2100 fps. 80 fps difference.
Actual 325 gr. FTX = 2146 fps vs advertised value of 2225 fps. 80 fps difference.
