[Buckskinner]

So I took a hard look at my safe and realized I need a .45 caliber or larger rifle. And I choose the Marlin 1895 series, probably Guide Gun, probably in stainless. The question is, what's really the difference in these calibers?

I'd like it for a North American Dangerous Game rifle, and just as a whopper. I'd probably have it modified by Wild West Guns to have the trigger, ejector, loop, and sights upgraded.

So who of you have various iterations of above rifle, and can give me some feedback?

[tex_n_cal]

I have owned a .45-70 Marlin in the past - didn't have a use for it, so I sold it off, but it shot well.

The .45-70 is probably the most practical of the bunch, you can find a wide variety of loads that will shoot well. You can also handload it up to some pretty fierce power levels.

The others will all do about the same thing, though the .50 Alaskan is going to cost you the most to put together, and probably have the most stopping power. too.

[444]

If your rifle has to be .45 cal or larger, the .444 Marlin doesn't qualify.
The .45/70 and the .450 are basically the same thing. The .45/70 is much more common so why go with an odd ball that doesn't have anything extra to offer.
Don't know anything about the .50 Alaskan.

[Buckskinner]

I think the .457 Mag. chambered rifle can also chamber 45/70. This makes me feel better about a six week pack/raft trip through some real AK wilderness. I can bring a box of each, but know that I can always find 45/70 in the next town.

Wait! Won't this chamber .410 shot shells too?

[Wildalaska]

Hi Bucksinner the 457 will chamber 410s but not feed them.

[Buckskinner]

I'm asking 'cuz I was in the shop last August and saw an interesting .378 Epstein on the rack. It was built on a Ruger M77 action...

Also, I understand the .457 is a WWG proprietary offering? And the .410 will chamber fine in a regular 45/70...

[Frohickey]

http://www.equipped.com/devices30.htm

wo other "survival" rifles can be had in larger calibers. The excellent "Alaskan Co-Pilot" by Jim West of Wild West Guns is a .45-70 or .444 Marlin caliber take down rifle with a lever action. The barrel is 16 in. long, the action and stock is 18 inches. The two units screw together in a matter of seconds. A soft carrying case is included. This rifle is custom made and available with a number of options. The .45-70 will also fire a .410 shotgun shell in single shot mode.

:uhoh:

Does anyone here have 410 shotgun shell dimensions?

[cpileri]

A 45-70 dimesnions:
length: 2.105"
width (diameter) at case mouth: .480" (externally, slug is .458)
width at base: .504"
width at rim: .608"

410 shotgun:
length: duh 2.75"-3" (fired)
case mouth: .465" external
base: .465"
rim: .537

So the rim is too wide and the case too fat unless the rifle's chamber is manufactured to allow it- which apparently Wild West's are. Interestingly, the 401 will fit nicely into a .303 british rebarreled. so would a re-barreled/re-chambered BREN semi-auto make a 30 shot .410ga? I dunno.
Here's the .303 dimensions. Figure one could trim off or otherwise expand the case mouth to make a de facto brass 410 hull.
303 Brit:
length, total loaded (i.e max OAL):3.075"
length, just before taper: 1.79"
case mouth: .309"
Shoulder (just before taper): .401"
base:.460"
rim:.540"

I think that's neat-o.
C-

[Gewehr98]

Interestingly, the 401 will fit nicely into a .303 british rebarreled. so would a re-barreled/re-chambered BREN semi-auto make a 30 shot .410ga? I dunno.

When Springfield Sporters was still around, they sold a bunch of Ishapore No1MkIII* SMLE's that had been rechambered to .410. Keep your eyes open, they pop up for sale every now and again. ;)