45/70 or 450 Marlin or ????

Ive always wanted a #1......
That would be a pretty cool combo, especially if its a good price.

If handloader -- 45-70
If commercial only -- 450M

It kinda depends on what you want i think.
The .450 Marlin has the least capacity of the three, the .458 the most.
If your going balls to the walls, the .458, and to a lesser extent the .45-70 would be a better choice.
If your NOT going full bore, then it really dosent matter performance wise, but cases for the .45-70 cheaper (and more available sometimes) than the other two.

Id be comfortable with the 450 Marlin, and mid weight bullets around 2000fps. Brass isnt a huge issue since its Hornady supported, but you could always buy a pile when you buy the gun.

I went with 45-70 because I felt that brass was more available and that I had more options on factory ammo and for reloading. Don't think that the 450 wasn't thoughtfully considered. A very viable choice by any means.

Can't go wrong with the 45-70. You can load it up or down depending on how you use it. I have a #1 in 45-70, and it is my favorite non muzzleloading deer gun.

MEHavey said:

If handloader -- 45-70
If commercial only -- 450M

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This paradigm hasn’t been valid for about a decade by now.

It used to be true that the only .45-70 ammo a guy would find on the shelf was SAAMI compliant, relatively low powered ammo, and 450M would be found in “full house” loads. But for some time now, enough commercial Marlin only 45-70 loads have become available such it’s actually more common in most cases to find 45-70 Marlin only level ammo over any 450M. Small shops will typically have 45-70 ammo, often at least a few boxes of at least one Marlin only load, and typically don’t have 450M in stock - while the big box stores which do have 450M will have as many or commonly more options for 45-70.

And of course, the internet has flattened mountains and brought anything under the sun to our front doors.

Such, the relevance for the 450M has largely evaporated (which explicated why nobody is making rifles for it any longer). Rather, today, the 450M isn’t advantaged any longer, even in its original niche. Now, the 450 carries the DISADVANTAGE that it doesn’t have inexpensive and commonly available lower-powered plinking ammo on shelves as does the 45-70.

45/70 or 450 Marlin

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The only reason the 450 exists is so you can’t put more powerful ammunition in a 45-70. It doesn’t do anything that the 45-70 cannot except be harder to find.

Had both the 45-70 has more power loaded up, don't like the 450 is stuck on only one brass. Get a 45-70 if the gun allows a rim. Do a 458american if you can't have a rim.

WisBorn said:

I was looking at the PSA daily deals e-mail and see that they are running a special on a Ruger #1 Sporter 20" barrel in 450 Marlin.

I would like to buy a large caliber rifle (again) but which one???

The rifle would be used for feral pigs, deer, range, and maybe black bear. Looking for your thoughts/recommendations.

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I like the .45-70 but you left an or? And my answer is the .460 running buffalo bore or handloaded monos, that thing ought to be COOKING out of a long tube.....just saying...... going back to my corner now..

WisBorn said:

@horsey300 yes, I left it open for feed back!!!

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Also the .458 soccom, but that .460 beckons......'Merica is calling.

I think you need to call before you order. That rifle looks like a .450Bushmaster. The 1-10" twist in the description gave it away.

Do like my 458 quite a bit but it looses a few hundred feet per second to my 45-70 Marlin with loads acceptable for the action.

Here's what I think is the listing:

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ruger-no-1-sporter-450-marlin-20-falling-block-rifle-213131.html

I checked the stock number (21304), and Ruger says that it's a 450 Bushy:

https://ruger.com/products/no1/specSheets/21304.html

WisBorn said:

Thanks it shows a blued walnut version in their email.

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I'm guessing this one?

https://palmettostatearmory.com/ruger-no-1-sporter-450-marlin-20-falling-block-rifle-21313.html

That one is out of stock, and Ruger doesn't even show it as a current production item any longer. The stock number 21313 was/is also showing as a 450 Bushmaster:

https://www.impactguns.com/single-s...ish-american-walnut-stock-736676213139-21313/

450 Marlin is a fair step up from 450 Bushmaster. I like 450 Bushmaster but it seems rather silly in a Ruger #1, 450 BM is an AR-15 cartridge and my interest in the cartridge falls fast outside of that platform. 458 Lott would be my choice in that action, go big or go home...

The 450 marlin is just a very hot 45/70. I owned a .450 and sold it but still kept my 45/70.

MEHavey said:

If handloader -- 45-70
If commercial only -- 450M

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Reverse this. 450 Marlin ammo is rare. 45-70 is available mild to wild.

MEHavey echoed my recommendation.

js8588 said:

Reverse this. 450 Marlin ammo is rare. 45-70 is available mild to wild.

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I don’t believe he was looking at it from that perspective, rather like Hornady’s factory 45-70 load data for the 325 FTX @ 2050 fps.



Vs the 2225 FPS for their 450 marlin loads.



However, if you look at Hodgdon’s load data for the same bullet in 45-70, for lever actions, your at 2250 fps, with the same barrel length.



So if you buy factory 45-70, in many cases your getting ammunition that doesn’t utilize the full potential of modern firearms. There are exceptions but, well, they are the exception.

jmorris said:

I don’t believe he was looking at it from that perspective, rather like Hornady’s factory 45-70 load data for the 325 FTX @ 2050 fps.

View attachment 919765

Vs the 2225 FPS for their 450 marlin loads.

View attachment 919767

However, if you look at Hodgdon’s load data for the same bullet in 45-70, for lever actions, your at 2250 fps, with the same barrel length.

View attachment 919766

So if you buy factory 45-70, in many cases your getting ammunition that doesn’t utilize the full potential of modern firearms. There are exceptions but, well, they are the exception.

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Buffalo Bore, Underwood, Doubletap, HSM and I'm sure a number of others offer very spicy 45-70. If you can post on this forum, you can certainly order them.

js8588 said:

Reverse this. 450 Marlin ammo is rare. 45-70 is available mild to wild.

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Agreed. If you can't readily find ammunition (like the .450 Marlin) on the shelves, you may be more inclined, if not forced, to reload to keep shooting it. If ammunition is common ("mild to wild") and readily (and relatively cheaply) available (like the .45-70), reloading it becomes way more optional in order to keep shooting it.