marlin guide gun
08-08-2006, 02:46 PM
#11
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Pa
Posts: 4,647
RE: marlin guide gun
I like my 444 Marlin... I'm sure I'd like the 450 also... My 444 will shoot 1.5" - 2" groups at 100 yards... I've freehanded several bucks out past 75 yards in thick timber... Love those Marlin lever actions
08-09-2006, 09:25 AM
#12
Spike
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location:
Posts: 58
RE: marlin guide gun
Marlin does make a 450 in stainless steel according to their web site.
Model: 1895MXLR
URL: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/xlr/1895MXLR.aspx
Image:
Model: 1895MXLR
URL: http://www.marlinfirearms.com/firearms/xlr/1895MXLR.aspx
Image:
08-09-2006, 11:31 AM
#14
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: mississippi by way of Florida
Posts: 357
RE: marlin guide gun
I think you need to look at the whole picture of the three loads.
First, the 444.
Generally found only with lighter grain bullets, around 250 to 300 grains. Is it hot and fairly flat, yes. But, it may not be good for thick skinned thick bodied game. Many people only think of it as a super hot 44 magnum.
45/70
A great round. Killed many buffalo and deer. But, generally limited in the type of commercially available ammo due to ammo makers concerns over all the old guns out there that they might blow up and be held liable for. There are a few, buffalo bore being one, ammo makers that make hot ammo with the caviat that they only be used in modern firearms such as Marlin lever guns. All that goes out the window if you handload. It can be beefed up almost to the point of the 450 Marlin.
450 Marlin.
This is basically the same exact round as a 45/70, but Marlin placed a rim on the bottom so that someone could not take a 450 Marlin round and shoot it in an old 45/70. Commercially, it usually comes in loads that are a good bit hotter than 45/70 and more hunting loads for big game than 45/70. It is basically a rimmed semi magnum cartridge so handloaders can beef it up pretty well.
So,
In my humble opinion, the 450 is the most versitile, especially if you don't handload, for someone to hunt just about everything in North America. The other two are great, but the 450 probably the best.
R
Hank
First, the 444.
Generally found only with lighter grain bullets, around 250 to 300 grains. Is it hot and fairly flat, yes. But, it may not be good for thick skinned thick bodied game. Many people only think of it as a super hot 44 magnum.
45/70
A great round. Killed many buffalo and deer. But, generally limited in the type of commercially available ammo due to ammo makers concerns over all the old guns out there that they might blow up and be held liable for. There are a few, buffalo bore being one, ammo makers that make hot ammo with the caviat that they only be used in modern firearms such as Marlin lever guns. All that goes out the window if you handload. It can be beefed up almost to the point of the 450 Marlin.
450 Marlin.
This is basically the same exact round as a 45/70, but Marlin placed a rim on the bottom so that someone could not take a 450 Marlin round and shoot it in an old 45/70. Commercially, it usually comes in loads that are a good bit hotter than 45/70 and more hunting loads for big game than 45/70. It is basically a rimmed semi magnum cartridge so handloaders can beef it up pretty well.
So,
In my humble opinion, the 450 is the most versitile, especially if you don't handload, for someone to hunt just about everything in North America. The other two are great, but the 450 probably the best.
R
Hank
.
