45-70 vs 450 Marlin??

[Gewehr98]

I doubt it.

You reload 45 70 rounds for something like a trap door and you don't want to get the loads mixed up with your Ruger #1 class of loads.

That sounds like a situational awareness problem, honestly.

I have several .45-70 rifles, and they cover action strengths from Trapdoor to Ruger #1. My loads are all labeled for the guns they're intended for. I'm in no more danger of stuffing a 500gr Hornady FMJ thumper intended for my Ruger #1S into my ancient Rolling Block restoration as I am stuffing 6.5-06 rounds into my 1903A4 Springfield.

If you bought a .450 Marlin because you were afraid you'd accidentally stuff hot .45-70 loads into a Trapdoor, you've got deeper issues.

Really, I think the .45-70 is just enjoying a wave of nostalgic support and over time, the .450 will supplant it.

Umm, no. The .45-70 has been around since what, 1873? The .450 Marlin has been around since about 2001, and doesn't do anything the .45-70 cannot. Check back in another 100 years...

 

[ArmedBear]

As I said, the .450 Marlin was created to answer a completely artificial problem: the refusal of commercial ammo makers to load anything that wouldn't work in the Trapdoor. Marlin was tired of having these artificial limits imposed on its much-more-robust rifles.

It seems that that problem has gone away.

I expect the .450 Marlin to slowly go away with it, like the Super .30 and most of the other 14 varieties of .300 Magnums that served a purpose, but are now defunct.

The .45-70 is about as moribund as that other antique US military cartridge, the .30-06.

 

[t165]

Yeah! The handloading data is all over the place for a 45-70. I bought a Gibbs Summit 45-70 based on the Enfield NO 4 MK1 action. Opinions differ on just how hot a 45-70 load this rifle will take. Some say not to exceed lever gun pressures and some say it will handle the loads listed for the siamese mausers and Ruger NO1's. IIRC Chuck Hawks said it would handle the hottest loads listed in the reloading manuals. I just shoot factory loads in it. If I need more horsepower I'll use a bigger gun.

I don't see anything wrong with the 450 marlin but the 45-70 is just so popular and has top end potential equal to the 450 Marlin that I don't think I would ever purchase one.

 

[fireman 9731]

I challenge somebody to find something the 450 marlin can do that the 45-70 cant...

Not to mention cheaper brass for reloading, and more guns chambered in it...

 

[UnTainted]

Be loaded in an ar-10 chambered for the 450?

 

[moooose102]

45/70! the 450 marlin will eventually be fased out of production in both rifles and cartridges (although the later will take a while). if you buy a MARLIN 45/70 you can load, or even buy cartridges that are equal (although they are expensive) to the 450. IMO, the reason they built it was to get full power loads out of the 45/70 WITHOUT the risk of anyone getting hurt by installing HOT 45/70 loads in their old lever guns. unless you are in love with belted magnum cases, there really is no reason to buy a 450. plus there is the bonus of shooting lighter factory loads when you want to plink. plus a much wider range of, and way more available factory ammo.