New Bolt action .450 Marlin

[Japle]

Just built a new rifle. I got a major yearning for a medium-power large bore rifle and, after considerable research, I settled on the .450 Marlin cartridge. I wanted a bolt action and there aren’t any being made in that caliber, so I bought a new T-C Venture in .300WSM (because the bolt face works with the .450) and sent the action off to E.R. Shaw with instructions to install a medium-heavy 18” barrel with spiral fluting.

I got it back a couple of weeks ago and spent hours opening up the barrel channel in the T-C stock to fit the much bigger barrel.

I mounted a Vortex Crossfire II 3-9X50 scope with the V-Brite reticule, loaded some 350 gr Berry’s flat-point bullets on top of 37.5 gr of IMR4198 for around 1600 fps and hit the range.

Nice shooting gun. The accuracy isn’t bad, but could be better, so I’ll play with loads. Got some 350 gr Speer SPs on order. The recoil is a solid push; very comfortable. I’ll probably push the Speers at 1700-1800 fps.

 

[LoonWulf]

Holy crap! Now THATS a barrel.

For some reason it looks huge, tho I know I've seen that size before.

Anyway, very neat rifle!

 

[cowboy77]

I bought one in a short barreled Marlin lever when they first came out. Cor Bon ammo was all the store carried. Ain't no bench gun. Kicked like a mule. Mine is really accurate though for a lever. Don't pull it out much unless we head into N Carolina for bear. They never moved more than a few feet if at all. I don't think I even have a half box of ammo left. I'm not recoil shy by any means but don't let that thing give you a case of scope eye. Don't ask how I know.

 

[Japle]

As I noted, recoil isn't bad at all. I put 15 rounds through it from the bench and it didn't bother me.
When it goes off, you know something definitely happened. No question about that. But it's not any more of a smack than my Garand.