Anybody here messed with the 450 Marlin as far as reloading goes? I have a friend who came to my shop today and asked about loading for it and the only data I have is Hornady loads for 300 and 350 grain bullets. Wondered did any of my comrades here have any experience with the cartridge and would be willing to share. Thanks in advance! Charlie (GHD)
Groundhog Devastation(GHD)
Posts: 2495 | Location: SW. VA | Registered: 29 July 2002
What for bullet he wants to load? I have datas from Hornady, Lyman, Barnes, Speer and Lee. And my own tested loads with Norma N200 propelant behind 300grs, 350grs and 400grs bullets. The last new load I tested is 51grs IMR-4198 with 300grs Sierra HP. Reloading is no problem, the same easy round like the .45-70. The only is, the brass is stronger, with less powdercapacity.
can't speak for the 450 but the hornady bullets in a 45/70 act different from each other. the 350 is a little tough for deer and don't open much at woods ranges. the 300 leaves a bigger wound channel. never recovered one from a deer as they have always exited. blood trail has been a bit tough to find as the damn deer is always laying on it. just been my expierience with a small sample.
Posts: 983 | Location: Shenandoah Valley VA | Registered: 05 January 2005
We have two Marlins and a Browning BLR in this chambering for sale at work, and they are marked down ... and tempting. I have concerns about the future of this round, however, and am such a .45-70 fan that I can't quite convince myself to buy one.
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Posts: 16700 | Location: Las Cruces, NM | Registered: 03 June 2000
Thanks for the response guys. Now another question. Can he use cast bullets and get along just fine as he wants to oad up some slow, light loads just for plinking and fun shooting? I have NO experience with this kind of loading! Thanks in advance again. Charlie (GHD)
Groundhog Devastation(GHD)
Posts: 2495 | Location: SW. VA | Registered: 29 July 2002
Originally posted by max(hm2): blood trail has been a bit tough to find as the damn deer is always laying on it.
Hilarious and true in my experience as well. I like my 450 Marlins (Guide Gun and XLR) as well as my 45-70 Guide Gun. As was said, 45-70 load data works just fine.
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Posts: 3465 | Location: In the Shadow of Griffin&Howe | Registered: 24 November 2007
Can he use cast bullets and get along just fine as he wants to oad up some slow, light loads just for plinking and fun shooting
This is no problem. Cast bullets and the fast burning powders , like the SR-4759, IMR-4227 or the N110 are good combinations. Next time, I will test a 300grs copperplated lead bullet with 30grs N110 for fun shooting.
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Big Bore Fan: What for bullet he wants to load? I have datas from Hornady, Lyman, Barnes, Speer and Lee. And my own tested loads with Norma N200 propelant behind 300grs, 350grs and 400grs bullets. The last new load I tested is 51grs IMR-4198 with 300grs Sierra HP. Reloading is no problem, the same easy round like the .45-70. The only is, the brass is stronger, with less powdercapacity.
Less powder capacity? Yes. Stronger case? No. Read Brian Pearce's articles in Handloader and Rifle. There's no point in the brass being "stronger" as today's 45-70 brass will withstand over 70,000 psi. THE MARLIN WILL NOT!
"Let every created thing give praise to the LORD, for he issued his command, and they came into being" - King David, Psalm 148 (NLT)
Stronger case? No. Read Brian Pearce's articles in Handloader and Rifle. There's no point in the brass being "stronger" as today's 45-70 brass will withstand over 70,000 psi. THE MARLIN WILL NOT
.458Only, my description was not correct. I mean with "stronger" not withstand more pressure, I mean the case is thicker than the case of a .45-70, and so "stronger". For example, the brass thickness at the case mouth from the .45-70 measure ~0,25mm and from a .450Marlin ~0,30-0,32mm. And with stronger I mean, the .450 withstand more reloading times.
I have heard that a 450 Marlin is just a .458 x 2 American with additional material on the belt to prevent it from being chambered in any 375 H&H based magnums of smaller bore.
Originally posted by papapaul: I have heard that a 450 Marlin is just a .458 x 2 American with additional material on the belt to prevent it from being chambered in any 375 H&H based magnums of smaller bore.
Yes, this is true. I have a rifle chambered for the .458 X 2" AMERICAN, which is almost exactly like the .450 Marlin except for the belt. I like using a light load of: 42.0 Grs./ IMR-4198 / 300 Grain H.P. Bullet. An Accurate & good Deer load with not so much recoil.
David
Posts: 332 | Location: Backwoods Of Kentucky | Registered: 18 September 2005
Less powder capacity? Yes.
Read Brian Pearce's articles in Handloader and Rifle. There's no point in the brass being "stronger" as today's 45-70 brass will withstand over 70,000 psi. THE MARLIN WILL NOT! 
