RE: 450 marlin
One of my brothers isn't into balistics at all!!! He's NOT "one bit" interested in any of it!! He buys a gun, buys some ammo for it, sights it in, and goes hunting!
He shot a LOT of deer with a 444 Marlin and liked it! He said it killed deer quite good! He still has it.
Then he bought a 45/70 and after shooting 5 or 6 deer proclaimed it a DUD!!! It kills them, but too slow for his taste!! He sold it!!!
Now he has a 450 Marlin and has shot about 15 or more deer with it. He really likes it, and said it really does the job on them!!!
Perasonally, i've not used one myself,
Drilling Man