I'm looking at purchasing one of these but do have a few questions for those of you with more knowledge:

How do you compare these calibers in terms of accuracy, efficacy, felt recoil, and versatility? I live in Alaska and will be using the gun for moose and/or bear, both for hunting and protection. I don't expect to use it at distances of much more than 150 yards. I will be reloading.

Thanks in advance for your time and thoughts.

Seeing where you are at and what you be shooting I would go with the 45/70 or the 450. With either two you can load 400gr.stopping bullets into the 2000 fps zone for those mean ole bears that are up to no good.::::MV

I have a 45/70 marlin and love it. I would steer clear of the .450 I personally feel components may one day be hard/expensive to get. The 45/70 handloaded gives near the same ballistics (may be a shade behind but the game will not notice). The trouble with the .444 is it has not got the bullet selection that the .45/70 & .450 has.

Regards PC

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Without putting the others down , I`d go for the .444 Marlin with hard cast bullets , I cast 348gr. bullets from a Lyman mould and penetration will be a lot deeper (for grizzlies) than with any of the other 45 caliber bullets.But that`s just my cents worth of input , and my gun shot the Hornady XTP 300gr. in a 1,5" circle at 100 meters!

Don3198, I assume you mean the 450, 3 1/4" NE, and if I'm right in that assumpsion, neither the 45-70, nor the 444 Marlin can hold a candle for the 450 to work by. Of the three I would list them #1 450 NE, #2 45-70, with a 400 gr bullet minimum, #3 444 Marlin, but my list would have about five different cartridges between the 450 NE, and the 45-70,and the 444 would be my dead last choice!

The 450 3 1/4" pushes a 480 gr bullet to 2150 fps, developing 4990 fpe at muzzle, and does it at the same chamber pressure as a 45-70 which simply can't compete with its 400 gr bullet. the 450 3 1/4" will push that 480 gr bullet through a Cape Buffalo end to end, so it will do the deed on anything in North America with power to spare. The 45-70 simply doesn't have the powder capacity to handle bullets larger than 400 gr effeciently, and the 444 isn't even in the running.

If you had only listed the 45-70, and 444 marlin, it would have been easy, the 45-70 with Barnes 400 gr jacketed soft points, with the .035 thick jacket, made for light loads in the 458 Win mag. Loaded up to the loads for the Ruger No1 rifle, if your rifle will stand the pressure, and I would say use the 444 only if you don't have a 308 bolt rifle!

Like all opinions, and advice, from me,these are priced right, at $0.00, and are sold at a 100% money back on return guarentee.

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..Mac >>>===(x)===>
also DUGABOY1
DUGABOY DESIGNS
Collector/trader of fine double rifles, and African wildlife art

[This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 03-04-2002).]

[This message has been edited by MacD37 (edited 03-04-2002).]

This may be a stupid question, but what is the 450 NE? I meant the 450 Marlin.

Thanks.

Don,

If you want a bolt action rifle you might take a look at the .450 and .460 Heavy Express rounds. They are built on the .348 Winchester case with the rim turned off, the same thing Winchester did with the .300 WSM.

http://www.heavyexpress.com

jim dodd

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"if you are to busy to
hunt, you are too busy."

Has anyone tried the Swift 400gr FP in their 45/70s or 450AKs? I'm about to convert my M71 348Win. to the 450AK round and need to find some good bullets to use in it!

The .450 NE is the 450 Nitro Express. It's an old British cartridge originally designed for double rifles. It looks a lot like a .45-70, but it's nearly twice as long.

shiflan

45-70 hands down for available components, bullets and light to cannon loads both by hand loaders or factory. They are all great, but there is only 1-factory load for the 450, so it isnt anything great compared to the 45-70 in my little opinion. I love my 1895SS in 45-70 and I would nt hesitate to hunt anything in the US with it. Good shooting!

I've got the 45-70 guide gun and I love it. If I were you I would get one too. The 45-70 has been around since 1873, so you won't have to wonder if ammo for it will still be around in 10 years like you do with the .450. The 45-70 with good handloads can do every thing the .444 can do and more.