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In general, when it comes to my leverguns, I live by the 3M’s: Make Mine a Marlin! But I will admit, I had a couple Win 94 Trappers which were insanely sweet for portage. I had youth stocks on mine, and the short 16” barrels, they were ultra light, perfectly balanced, and super streamlined for carry. I just never seem to be able to get used to the massive wounds in the top and bottom of the actions, so I’ve never been as comfortable with the Win’s as the Marlins. |
no one can possibly be expected too unfailingly select someone elses favorite hunting rifle,
there are always other factors , unknown experiences and other options , and while I've used a marlin 44 mag and 45/70 extensively with good results, I'm certainly open to trying other rifles, but that being stated, I've consistently found, the browning BLR in calibers, 257 Roberts, 358 win and 450 marlin to be head and shoulders above any marlin I've ever owned when it comes to consistent repeatable accuracy. match that BLR to a high quality optic and you have a very lethal combo, Id be much happier with a BLR than a marlin personally. now theres not a darn thing wrong with a marlin 45/70 marlin, that will keep consistent 1.7"-to-2" three shot, 100 yard groups throwing a 350 grain bullet at about 1700 fps, Ive had several guys in my hunting club use one to drop elk. but my 450 marlin has consistently been more accurate (not that it really matters if it shoots 1"-to-1.2" three shot hundred yard groups.) and a 405 grain remington pushed to about 1800 fps has been very impressive but theres two guys in my group of friends that have used a 358 win blr to kill elk for decades, in fact one guy preferres to use nothing else and my late hunting partner collected 16 elk over 35 years with his 358 win loaded with speer 250 grain bullets over 44 grains of IMR 4064  |
I really like the blr for what it is. But it doesn't have the classic lever feel to me. I've shot them in .300 short mag and 7mm-08 and both are fantastic shooters.
I keep watching for one to come up cheap locally but no such luck as of yet.. -Jake |
BLRs are nice but seem a might too heavy for my taste. Especially in a lever gun. IMO if I'm going to tote something that heavy it may as well be a bolt action with a medium wt. barrel. I've looked at a bunch but could never drop the hammer on one!
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load a caliber 450 marlin BLR to its potential with a 405 grain soft point bullet , to near its full potential, and those few extra ounces come in handy
YEAH, A BROWNING blr IN 450 MARLIN if you want a good 450 marlin load try 50 grains of IMR 3031 under a 405 remington bullet and a 215 fed primer, its accurate and will kill anything in north America if you place your shots well,  450 marlin handloads. Wt. Bullet Powder Manufacturer Powder Charge Velocity (FPS) 250 Barnes XFN Hodgdon H-4198 57.0 2,288 Remarks: 2.10 group 300 Nosler Partition Accurate XMR-2015 60.0 1,970 Remarks: 1.95 group 300 Nosler Partition Accurate XMR-2015 62.0 2,091 Remarks: 1.80 group 300 Sierra JHP Vihtavuori VV-N130 51.5 1,751 Remarks: 2.25 group 300 Sierra JHP Vihtavuori VV-N130 53.0 1,869 Remarks: 2.10 group 300 Sierra JHP Vihtavuori VV-N130 54.0 1,990 Remarks: 1.90 group 300 Barnes XFN Hodgdon H-4198 50.0 1,982 Remarks: 1.65 group 350 Hornady FP Hodgdon H-4198 48.5 1,842 Remarks: 1.60 group 350 Hornady FP Hodgdon Varget 59.0 1,770 Remarks: 1.65 group 350 Hornady FP Hodgdon Varget 61.0 1,821 Remarks: 1.70 group 350 Kodiak FP IMR IMR-3031 56.0 1,827 Remarks: 1.55 group 350 Kodiak FP Hodgdon H-335 60.0 1,872 Remarks: 1.20 group 400 Speer FN Hodgdon H-4895 56.0 1,773 Remarks: 1.75 group 405 Kodiak FP Hodgdon H-322 52.5 1,842 Remarks: 1.50 group 405 Magma cast IMR IMR-4198 32.0 1,332 Remarks: 2.00 group 415 RCBS cast GC Alliant RL-7 48.0 1,875 Remarks: 1.80 group 415 RCBS cast GC Alliant RL-7 50.0 1,960 Remarks: 1.45 group 300 Lead Flat Nose Accurate AAC-5744 38.7 1,928 Remarks: start chg 300 Lead Flat Nose Accurate AAC-5744 43.0 2,096 Remarks: max chg 405 Lead Flat Nose Accurate AAC-5744 36.0 1,716 Remarks: start chg 405 Lead Flat Nose Accurate AAC-5744 40.0 1,865 Remarks: max chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-5744 43.2 2,034 Remarks: start chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-5744 48.0 2,211 Remarks: max chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-1680 52.2 2,198 Remarks: start chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-1680 58.0 2,389 Remarks: max chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2015 54.9 2,217 Remarks: start chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2015 61.0 2,410 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2230 58.1 2,226 Remarks: start chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2230 64.5 2,420 Remarks: max chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2460 60.3 2,214 Remarks: start chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2460 67.0 2,407 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2495 59.4 2,001 Remarks: start chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2495 66.0 2,175 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2520 56.7 2,034 Remarks: start chg 300 Sierra FNHP Accurate AAC-2520 63.0 2,211 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-5744 39.4 1,813 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-5744 43.8 1,971 Remarks: max chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-1680 46.1 1,919 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-1680 51.2 2,086 Remarks: max chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2015 50.0 2,030 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2015 55.5 2,207 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2230 55.8 2,067 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2230 62.0 2,247 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2460 55.8 2,010 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2460 62.0 2,185 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2495 54.9 1,892 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2495 61.0 2,057 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2520 55.8 1,982 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2520 62.0 2,154 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2700 55.8 1,719 Remarks: start chg 350 Speer FNHP Accurate AAC-2700 62.0 1,869 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-5744 36.9 1,688 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-5744 41.0 1,835 Remarks: max chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-1680 41.4 1,732 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-1680 46.0 1,883 Remarks: max chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2015 47.3 1,883 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2015 52.5 2,047 Remarks: max chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2230 49.9 1,877 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2230 55.4 2,040 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2460 54.0 1,909 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2460 60.0 2,075 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2495 49.5 1,689 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2495 55.0 1,836 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2520 53.1 1,875 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2520 59.0 2,038 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2700 53.1 1,620 Remarks: start chg 400 Speer Flat Nose Accurate AAC-2700 59.0 1,761 Remarks: max chg; compressed load 300 Barnes XFN IMR IMR-3031 52.5 1,870 Remarks: 35,000 psi; compressed powder charge 300 Barnes XFN IMR IMR-4198 44.2 2,000 Remarks: 39,000 psi 300 Nosler Partition IMR IMR-3031 57.0 2,100 Remarks: 35,000 psi; compressed powder charge 350 Hornady IMR IMR-3031 56.0 2,030 Remarks: 38,000 psi; compressed powder charge:D 350 Hornady IMR IMR-4198 45.0 2,050 Remarks: 40,000 psi 400 Barnes Flat Nose IMR IMR-3031 50.8 1,860 Remarks: 40,000 psi; compressed powder charge 400 Remington soft point IMR IMR-3031 50.0 1,840 :D Remarks: 40,000 psi; compressed powder charge (VERY ACCURATE) 400 Barnes Flat Nose IMR IMR-4198 40.0 1,820 Remarks: 40,000 psi |
Is there a point in all of that?
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I wouldn’t have kept any of my 1895’s if they only shot 1.7-2” 3 shot groups. |
Originally Posted by Oldtimr
(Post 4337595)
Is there a point in all of that?
|
Originally Posted by Bocajnala
(Post 4337586)
I really like the blr for what it is.
I keep watching for one to come up cheap locally but no such luck as of yet.. -Jake |
Originally Posted by Father Forkhorn
(Post 4337654)
Price would be the issue for me on them.
I don't like it enough to pay what most are asking... And I certainly don't need it... -Jake |
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