wildcat possibilities

[bacardisteve]

A few years back i baught an h&r ultra rifle in 450marlin. love this gun it hits hard and i get 2" groups at 100yds with this big cartridge. However when hornady came out with the new ammo i baught a marlin xlr in 450. now i am thinking of taking the 450marlin and necking it down to 375 and rebarreling my ultra rifle. what do you guys think. does anybody know of someone who has tried this with a 450 or even a 45/70

 

[Jim Watson]

Well, when Winchester did it they called it the .38-56.
I have read of someone doing a modern version with sharp shoulder and short neck but cannot today find the article.
It is certainly not common and you would be on your own for developing load data.
Do you have a source for a H&R barrel? I do not know anybody who makes replacement barrels for break action guns other than Thompson Center.

 

[bacardisteve]

h&r says they can make me a barrell and even offerd to install it for me. so i have that coverd. i read somewhere of someone necking one down to 400 but cand find the article.

 

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Source of barrel aside. Nothing like this is ever cost effective. Now, if it's something to fill the arsenal with something you don't already have... -Gosh, I wish I had that kind of money.

With the XLR at hand available for big game of any sort, I'd be hard pressed not to peddle the H&R for some other itch that needs scratching.

I don't own a mass amount of guns. Many duplicates, not by choice, but others that are dual purpose or those that my boys will shoot on future hunts. One of which is a wildcat. I'm the only one shooting the wildcat, -actually my primary hunting rifle, sometimes I question my years ago desire to have a wildcat that I have to manufacture every round for.

I'd like to have a stainless .444marlin levergun. But that H&R would be sweet in 450marlin. Bear and Elk!!!