What advantage does the 450 Marlin have over the ol’45-70? Been kicking around buying a Marlin Guide Gun ever since my father bought one a few years ago. My only hold up is caliber. His is in 45-70 and I like the way it shoots and handles. I will be using it for hunting whitails and black bear in PA.
Thanks.

go with the .450 Marlin

The 450 is a high power load in a lever. The 45-70 can be loaded to the same level if you reload. Most ammo makers won't load there 45-70 up to full house loads due to older weaker actions that would disintegrate under the pressure generated with a full house load. I would go with the 45-70 as the 450 is a unique case and 10 years down the road they might be real difficult to obtain, the 45-70 brass has been around for 100 years approx.

Hi Colt.

Essentially the same gun (using Cor-Bon, BB, Garrett, hotter handloads in the .45.70). If all you are going to do is shoot a few boxes a year, sighting-in and hunting, get either one. If you plan on shooting the gun ALOT, reload and get the .45-70. That way you can choose between reduced loads and the "bigger" stuff, as needed. You will never find a shortage of supplies for .45-70, and they are somewhat less expensive than .450, which probably won't enjoy the 100+ year history of the .45-70.

CE

- You might want to explain to your Dad the benefits of reloading, including having two guns in the same caliber, you could shoot significantly more together for the same cost...

Actually the 45-70 Govt can be loaded to surpass the 450 Mar. The 450 is pretty much maxed out as is. I would go with the 45-70. No belt to contend with and for deer factory ammo is fine.

Hi Colt1911,

Among the other advantages of the .45-70 already pointed out....the .450
Marlin does NOT come in Stainless Steel....the .45-70 does. And you have a much broader spectrum and selection of factory loads in the .45-70 as well. (And the .45-70's are much less expensive.)

But in complete honesty.......you can use either for what you intend!

Good luck!

Dave

I was in the same situation awhile back. Trying to decide between the guide gun in 45/70 or .450. I plan on getting the 45/70 just because of the availablity of ammo. I dont reload so i have to stick to what is on the shelf. So far i have seen only one manufacture making loads for the the .450, while there are plenty for the 45/70. When i finally do buy my guide gun it will be in the old 45/70

If you handload, the .45-70, in the Marlin leverguns, can be pushed to supercede the .450M, not by a lot, maybe a 100-200fps advantage, but chronographic testing proves the .45-70 IS a stouter load in the 1895's, not by much, but it IS faster with the same bullet.

I prefer the .45-70, I reload and can create loads that are quite impressive. If you don't handload, you're stuck with one or two manufacturers and one or two loadings each, IF your local store carries them, and you're going to pay a good deal more than .45-70 factory loads, which are available from almost every manufacturer and in several bullet types, the only problem being that they're loaded about 300-500fps behind the .450M or .45-70 max loads. If you reload, the bullets and powder are the same, case capacity is almost the same, but dies and brass for the .450 are more expensive.

Another problem I've noticed with the .450M, not all chambers are exactly the same, so certain guns will headspace on the belt, while others will head space on the case mouth, which if I recall correctly, is where it should be, this is also different with different ammo manufacturers, careful handloading alleviates this, but if you don't take it into account your gun won't shoot well, and it can be as small a matter as magnitude of crimp, too heavy and your headspace changes from the mouth to the belt, and your accuracy is changed.

That's not an issue with the .45-70, like I said, even if you don't reload it, that can be a problem with the .450, the .45-70 doesn't have that problem.

Here's what I tell everyone else, if you reload, or ever plan on it, get the .45-70, it's cheaper to reload and you can push it beyond the cusp of the .450M, if you don't reload, the 300-500fps advantage of the .450M might be worth it to you, the .45-70 is plenty powerful, but it rainbows a lot, the .450 alleviates this, BUT, it costs more to shoot, more to reload and doesn't get to the same top end for the reloader, factory headspacing can be problematic, and you're stuck with only a few manufacturers and bullet types.

For me, the .45-70 is better in either case, but people want a flatter shooting round, and if you don't reload, the .450M is faster and flatter...not like you really have to be picky with your bullet selection in rounds this stout

Great insight guys! I do reload; your points on price and supply of components are well taken. Any suggested handloads for the 45-70?

I would go for the .450 Marlin. Good luck.