Like everybody already said if you don't handload the factory shells are more powerful in the .450 unless you go to the specaility loads. I have a Marlin .450 myself and love it. We were planning on reloading for it but the factory shells shot so good out of it we never bothered to buy any dies for it. I wouldn't hesitate to shot anything with it out to about 200 yards. I know it does a realy good job on large boars.