45-70 or 450

[deg72]

I was wondering if anyone could help me out with this decision, both are the marlin lever action and i don't reload. Kick dont really bother me 2 much, I know both are bout same in price for the rifle like 60$ diff. So if anyone can please feel free to give me your opinion. Thanks

[ACKLEY ABE]

If ya reloaded 45.70. Ya don't so 450

Ballistically speaking, they are nearly twins. That's where the story ends. The 45-70 has been around for more than 100 years longer and will likely be around for 100 years more so than the .450 Marlin. Go 45-70 and prosper my friend.

[catnthehat]

45/70 - cheaper, just as good and a lot classier than the "Kohnny come lately"450!
Cat

[DoeTag]

The 450 Marlin is just a hotloaded 45-70... they could load the 45-70 a lot hotter but they don't because it would exceed the pressure tolerances for the trapdoor guns made over 100 years ago.

If you ever plan to reload in the next couple years get the 45-70. If you don't ever plan to reload, roll with the 450 Marlin.

[ACKLEY ABE]

Originally Posted by catnthehat

45/70 - cheaper, just as good and a lot classier than the "Kohnny come lately"450!
Cat

"Khonny"..... He doesn't reload. Factory 45.70 is pretty enemic. The 450 does have a considerable edge.....although I wouldn't own one....but then I load....hot.....real hot........ouch.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by ACKLEY ABE

"Khonny"..... He doesn't reload. Factory 45.70 is pretty enemic. The 450 does have a considerable edge.....although I wouldn't own one....but then I load....hot.....real hot........ouch.

Looking for the gl***** ..... AGAIN!!
Even in it's slow plodding factory clothes, the 45/70 can getrdun with no sweat!
Cat

[decker1]

Not sure which model Marlin you are planning on getting. I have a xlr in a 45/70 and the action is not very smooth. When the action is almost closed it sticks and takes a lot of pressure to finish closing it. This only happens sometimes. I don't know if this is a common problem or not.

[sinawalli]

[QUOTE=gitrdun;390826]Ballistically speaking, they are nearly twins. That's where the story ends. The 45-70 has been around for more than 100 years longer and will likely be around for 100 years more so than the .450 Marlin. Go 45-70 and prosper my friend.

X2!!

[Albertafarmer]

I Own both a H&R Buffalo Classic in 45/70 and a Marlin 1895MXLR in 450 Marlin, and I have only shot Hornady Lever evolution out of both. To me, there is no noticeable difference in power between the two when shooting this ammo. I have read that 45/70 doesn't feed as well in lever action rifles because of the rimmed cartridge, where the 450 marlin is belted and looks like a long 45ACP. All I know is my 450 Marlin feeds and cycles extremely smoothly and always has lots of power.

[Gray Wolf]

I'm going to have to vote with the 45-70 crowd here ... and 'no' I don't reload (but I wish I did). The new Marlin .450 is a fine enough cartridge, but will it still be around 10+ years from now ... only time will tell. The 45-70 cartridge has been around for more than 130 years, and will most likely still be around long after all of us are dead and gone.

My 45-70 is a Ruger #1 ...


I've had lots of fun experimenting with the different factory ammo for that rifle. But now that I've tried Hornady's LeverEvolution in 45-70, the 'experimenting' is over ... my Ruger #1 just loves that pointed bullet! From the bench, I can shoot sub-MOA @ 100 yrds all day long, and it shoots a lot flatter than the flat nosed competition.



GW

[Dean2]

As the others have said, the hottest factory stuff in 45-70 is the Hornady Leverlution. and it is pretty accurate.

You may find you don't really need that shoulder crunching, rear sight a snapping, ejector a busting cause the casing is over expanded, hopped up handloads the 45-70 is capable of being loaded to. Big heavy bullets killed tens of thousands of buffalo at 1100 or 1200 FPS and North American critters don't get much bigger or tougher than that.

I used a Marlin 45-70 for bear control in Bee Hives for over ten years. Shot a lot of bears. Used almost exclusively Hornady 350 grain RN and 300 Grain Hollow Points. You can load the 350s anywhere from 1600 to 2200 FPS. The lower end is typical factory loads. The hot loads kicked a heck of a lot harder and I could not tell any difference in killing power at 2200 versus all the way down to 1600. They all went completely through.

The 300 HPs went through about 90% of the time, no matter fast or slow the load. Only difference was how much bone they hit. Also could see no diffrenece in killing power between the 300 or 350 on bear, though the 350s are the superior choice on moose. In my opinion, 17-1800 FPS load is all that is needed. It kicks far less, brass lasts longer if you happen to start to reload and it lets you get back on target much quicker, which can be important the odd time.

The 45-70 also benefits in that you can get a very wide range of factory loads. There is an appropriate load for alomost any situation.There are milder factory loads, like the Reminton 405, that are very accurate and actually fun to shoot out of what is a relatively light gun, for target practice and lighter game. Then there is custom loaded high output Bitteroot and the like for dangerous game and elephant, to Hornady leverlution for large North American game.

Finally, as the others have said, since you don't handload, will you be able to buy factory 450 Marlin ammo 10 years from now? No way to know for sure ( the 7mm Ultra Mag id only about ten years old and already there is only one factory load left for it) but 45-70 will be available. My 2 bits worth.

I love those Ruger #1's Gray Wolf, that is one sweet rig. I shoot a Marlin .444 which is a rimmed cartridge. like the 45-70. I've never had a feeding problem with mine. I do know of the dreaded "Marlin Jam" which will occur after many many rounds cycled, but I'm prepared for it when and if it does occur.

Originally Posted by gitrdun

I love those Ruger #1's Gray Wolf, that is one sweet rig. I shoot a Marlin .444 which is a rimmed cartridge. like the 45-70. I've never had a feeding problem with mine. I do know of the dreaded "Marlin Jam" which will occur after many many rounds cycled, but I'm prepared for it when and if it does occur.

I need to correct the above statement, because if I don't , I know someone else will The .444 is a "semi" rimmed case, the 45-70 is a rimmed case. There is only approx 40-50 thou diametrical difference between the base and rim of the .444. The 45-70 on the other hand has a full 100 thou difference. This would explain why I don't have feeding issues whereas a 45-70 may experience such issues. Problem solved, drop the 45-70 and .450 Marlin and go with the .444 (flame suit on).

[deg72]

thanks everyone for your input i'm gonna go with the 45-70 seems like the smart choice, again thanks for the help