In the past decade, state wildlife management agencies in the region have opened what were once shotgun-only deer grounds to rifles chambered for straight-wall cartridges. At 100 yards, that advantage is holding strong with the .450 Marlin showing an additional 701 ft-lbs of energy. A heavier bullet will generally travel more slowly than a lighter bullet. We didnt like these, having become thoroughly used to the half-cock position on hammer rifles. I disagree. I have worked pretty extensively with this cartridge on the range with three different rifles, and I have talked with a bunch of other gun guys who have been shooting the 350 Legend. The .450 Marlin is a relatively new cartridge designed as a challenge to the classic .45-70 Government, but did not offer enough of an improvement for most hunters to justify making the switch. If, instead, the case had been developed around a standard belted brass case, we feel consumers would ultimately be better served by the Marlin 1895M. That said, I have both in rifles. Online pricing may vary from in-store pricing. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry the guns prices at the time of the original review. The main aim of 450 bushmaster is big game hunting in the long-range distance, so the traditional scope that performs in the mid-long range is perfect for this cartridge so that we've recommended this Vortex scope. One would think that would have to play in to your decision making. Ejecting the round, after a suitable wait, we found the primer soundly indented (see photo). .444 Marlin - BallisticStudies.com flex tip Hornady's it shot 1'' at 75 yards - sighted in at that range since it's 65 yards to the hog feeder . We have no doubt that with a scope both of the Marlin rifles would average well under 2 inches at 100 yards, based on our iron-sight results. The .450 Bushmaster cartridge was developed using a modified .284 Winchester case with a rebated rim. This cartridge was held back for years by the lack of good factory loaded ammo. The .458 American was Frank Barness idea, developed decades ago. The .450 Marlins additional energy will allow you to take larger game out to 200 yards, while the .450 Bushmaster should be used only for medium game at this distance. Mag..375 Ruger vs. .375 H&H Magnum7mm-08 Remington vs. .280 Remington .280 Remington vs. .280 Ackley Improved 7mm vs. .30 Caliber6.5 Weatherby RPM vs. 6.5 PRC.338 Win. However, the primer was apparently not struck soundly enough. At the muzzle they are basically the same, .308 Win has around 2700 ft.lbf and 450 Bushmaster has just a few pounds under that. 450 Marlin vs 45-70 Government - Sportsman's The 450 Bushmaster was developed for use in AR-15 rifles. The Buffalo Bore .45-70 load, same weight bullet, was faster than the .450 Marlin. Head to Head: 350 Legend vs. .35 Remington - An Official Journal Of The NRA Shoot it enough and know what to expect and it shouldnt prove prohibitive, except to the most recoil shy. With the good loads out there for the .45-70, and with Wild Wests .457 Magnum available, we see no need for the .450 Marlin. There are lots of old Springfield rifles around, but its a weak design, and it cant stand a lot of pressure. Save. Ive lost count of the groups that started under 2 inches with four shots and jumped to 5 or 6 inches on the fifth. The data in both cases are from a 20-inch barrel, which is somewhat common in the field and is the standard test length utilized by most ammunition companies. This was adjusted by means of a stepped elevating slide, a design as old as rifles and still functional today. Perhaps as this trend grows, we will see some bolt-action .444 rifles from the mainstream gun makers. Mag. 450 bushmaster vs 444 marlin - 24hourcampfire I have an H&R 444 with the 16tw barrel - loaded some 240gr. At the range, the first shot told us that the Marlin .450 was a powerful rifle. Copyright 2023 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Out of the muzzle, the .450 Marlin packs another 886 ft-lbs over the .450 Bushmaster, a significant difference. When not at his press or the range he can be found chasing mule deer around the Rocky Mountains. Some hunters like lever-action rifles for hunting, but they want more power than the .30-30 delivers, and so the medium-bore lever rifle cartridges were born. While .308 can reach out accurately to 1,200 yards (if you're pretty good), 450 . And when it comes to straight-wall Midwestern deer options that would be the .450 Bushmaster. Then, later in our testing, we again encountered this failure to feed, and not just from the last round in the magazine. 45/70 or 450 Bushmaster for ohio big buck | Gun and Game Forum All rights reserved. Specifically, the 45-70 cartridge has an overall length of 2.55 and a 2.105 long case. But if you find a sample that doesnt exhibit the problem and you have zillions of .44 pistol bullets you want to shoot in it, then wed give it a Conditional Buy. Published Jun 15, 2021 9:00 AM EDT, We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Straight-Wall Rifle Cartridges Are Making a Comeback in Deer Hunting It is on the wane and has long ago been supplanted by the resurgent 45-70. Buy From Opticsplanet Buy From Amazon Specifications: 3-9x magnification 40mm objective lens 12.6-34.1 ft field of view at 100 yds Mag..30-06 Springfield vs. .270 Winchester6.5 Creedmoor vs. 7mm-08 Remington8x57 Mauser vs. .318 Westley Richards.358 Winchester vs. .350 Remington Magnum.22-250 Remington vs. .220 Swift.270 Winchester vs. .270 WSM.26 Nosler vs. 6.5-300 Weatherby Magnum.458 Win. Over the last few years, there have been a number of straight-walled cartridges to hit the market. A box of .357 Mag. The quality of bluing on the Winchester was excellent, in spite of the slight metal-polishing problems. The .444 shoots much flatter than most folks realize. Buy it. Rifle Type Rifle type is the major difference between the .450 Marlin and the .450 Bushmaster. Its great skill and potentially one of the best hobbies youll ever pick up. Mag. There is a difference between the two, and the edge goes to the .350 Legend, but it doesnt have such an overwhelming advantage to say its hands-down better. These comments also apply directly to the .450 Bushmaster 250 grain FTX load. We stock a full range of bulk rifle ammunition to meet . In essence the rimmed .444 Marlin is an elongated .44 Magnum (the case length is 2.225 inches, with an overall length of 2.550 inches), as it uses the same .429-inch diameter bullets as the classic revolver cartridge, albeit at a much higher velocity. You have entered an incorrect email address! We started with 27 barrels for each cartridge and collected velocities cutting one inch off at a time and retesting all the way down to 13 using multiple loads of ammunition. This comparative cartridge information puts the performance of the new .450 Marlin in context, especially when the shooter considers how a slightly less powerful round, the well-known .444 Marlin, shoots. It retains 1,000 foot-pounds of energy to about 360 yards. 450 a bit better with jacketed, 1" vs 1.5". As far as trajectory, both start to drop excessively at 200 yards, 7.58 inches on a scope zeroed for 100 yards in the .350s case and 8.96 in the .450s. Heres how they compare to each other. 450 Bushmaster 044176 Cartridge. At 300 yards, it is moving 76 ft/s faster, as the .450 Marlin is able to hold onto more of its speed for longer than the .450 Bushmaster. . The metal polishing and bluing on both Marlin rifles was superbly done, dead-flat sides with semi-glossy finish, sharp but not offensive corners, matted edges to the all-steel action, all of the metalwork just plain nice. Marlins inletting has been quite good in all examples of the companys rifles weve seen. Your 450 will pick it up from there and range from 350 grains to over 500 grains. Copyright 2023Sportsman's Warehouse. Shop for ammo available in all calibers for sale online from Guns.com. Bottles & 12-oz. What kind of gun writer are you? In our tests, the gun was not as smooth as the .444, had less power than you can get out of a good .45-70 load, offered not a lot more power than you can get out of good .444 Marlin loads, and in short didnt offer us anything at all that we wanted. Recoil was manageable thanks to the soft pad, but the rifle had much greater muzzle flip than the ported Marlins. A good aperture sight would be lighter, just as fast, and nearly as effective in most conditions as a scope, assuming the shooter has reasonably good eyesight. There were two large panels of checkering on the straight-hand grip. We dug it out with a knife, reloaded two more, and again the second round failed to feed. 444 vs 450. Brass case webs on rimmed cases, like the .45-70 or .444 Marlin, are more than strong enough for whatever pressure the stout Marlin action can take. (Well cover the .35 Remington or .356 Winchester another day.) All rights reserved. Absolutely, it depends on what rifle you usemore exactly its weightas to how many foot-pounds of energy will jolt into your shoulder. Our shooting was hampered by the trigger and by the huge ghost-ring rear sight. Follow along to see exactly how. We are the largest provider of all brands of Rifle Ammo because we offer great service and wholesale prices. So whats best, 450 Bushmaster Vs 350 Legend. One would think that would have to play in to your decision making. Still, we liked the lively feel of the 94AE. The checkering was fully functional. The new Marlin .450 cartridge is supposed to be a hot choice for all medium-to-big game hunting. While I think the .444 Marlin is a sound design, there is such a diversity in the .45-70 Government makes it a logical and abundant choice for the hunter. Depending on the weight of the gun, recoil for the 450 varies between 15 and 20 ftlbs. 444 Marlin VS 450 Bushmaster Which is Better. I ended up just taking a lower I had and put a 450 upper on it with a vortex crossfire II 1-430 I think or maybe its 35 or something like that not sure but it will group at 2 inches even for an 10 shot group at 100 yards. I have used the cartridge with the 275-grain Barnes bullet designed for the .460 S&W to take a truckload of hogs and an Asian water buffalo. The .450 Bushmaster is capable of using any .452-inch bullet, which opens a lot more doors for handloaders with the wide range of bullets on the marketincluding some outstanding choices from Barnes. The 44 Magnum and 45 Colt are 125 yard rifles. Also, moose, elk size game out to about 175 yards. Those unaccustomed to hard-kicking rifles will find either the .444 or the .450 a bit much on the shoulder until they get used to it. Dont knock the 450 Marlin round. Its the most powerful factory lever gun ever produced. Heres a detailed look at each step of the process. 450 Bushmaster was the first big round to come out for bolt action and AR-style rifles, It opened up possibilities for hunters where shotguns and straight-walled cartridge. 444 Marlin VS 450 Trajectory Overall, the 444 Marlin is a slightly flatter shooting cartridge than the 450 Bushmaster is. It had a very long first stage, which wasnt a problem. However, the trigger pull was in desperate need of work. Right now, hunters can find the .350 Legend chambered in semi-auto AR-type rifles and bolt guns. 22 Nosler. Tim LeGendre of LeMag Firearms LLC developed the .45 Professional cartridge based on that criteria and licensed it to Bushmaster Firearms International for production and distribution. .444 Marlin for Grizzly Or Brown Bear Hunting? Best Ammo (Round, Load The .45-70 uses a straight-walled, rimmed case measuring 2.105 inches, and maintains an overall length of 2.550 inches. The .450 Marlin has quite a bit longer case, at 2.10" compared to 1.70" on the .450 Bushmaster. It is on the wane and has long ago been supplanted by the resurgent 45-70. All of it is excellent ammunition, and it is packaged in clearly marked boxes as to what it is, and in which rifles it can be safely used. For you Michigan hunters, there is a new kid in town called a 460 S&W that Is awesome in a rifle. Based on that flaw, wed have to say Dont Buy it. The .45-70 is far more versatile, and ammo is made by many companies. Accuracy was all that anyone would want. Each Marlin had a safety block, a device passing crosswise through the rear of the action that prevented the hammer from striking the firing pin. 44 mag, 45 colt, 444, 450 marlin, 45-70 lever rifles for More power to them. Caliber Choice: Straight-Walled Cartridge Resurgence Deer Hunting Ammo: The 4 Best Straight-Walled Rifle Cartridges To fill the void, Marlin Firearms teamed up with Remington to develop a cartridge which would see the light of day in 1964: the .444 Marlin. Pick the. At 100 yards, the .450 Marlin is moving 52 ft/s faster. It retains 1,000 foot-pounds of energy to just past 280 yards. On my chronograph. Although we strive to provide the most accurate information as we can the information contained in this page is provided on an "as is" basis with no guarantees of completeness, accuracy, usefulness or timeliness. When it comes to .450 Bushmaster vs .350 Legend, is there a clear winner? Lets see what we found. 450 Bushmaster can be found on the shelves at most large outfitters but don't expect to . It retains 1,000 ft-lbs of energy to just past 140 yards. They also have the .50 Alaskan, which drives a 450-grain bullet at a claimed 2,050 fpsif you want still more power. About half the time, the fired case didnt clear the rifle. First, the 45-70 Government is physically larger than the 450 Bushmaster. Both forend and wrist checkering had a darker finish than the rest of the wood, and it added to the looks of the rifle. Buffalo Bore also loads three different weights of bullets in the .444 Marlin, and they give much better performance than ordinary .444 loads, and do so safely. While the 450 Marlin is definetly a more powerful cartridge the 444 certainly aint no slouch. That BC may not inspire glee with long range rifle shooters, but in the world of straight-walled rifle cartridges, its pretty impressive. There are a few single-shot rifles out there as well, but this cartridge needs a modern repeating rifle. 1s, new Winchester 1886s, and the like. The .450 Marlin case is 2.1 inches long.). .350 Legend Vs .450 Bushmaster: Does One Win Out For Hunting? The old Trapdoor rifles are restricted to a lower pressure level than are the modern, strongly-built lever guns like the Marlin Model 1895 and Winchester Model 1886; though the case may be thin, it can generate impressive numbers in a modern gun. It had a red cast in direct sunlight and was very attractive. Its a great round in a Marlin lever action. Again, there isnt a bright clear advantage when it comes to rifles chambered for cartridges. The big difference here is the bullet diameter. It generates 21.34 ft-lbs of energy at 12.55 fps. In Ohio, can use 45-70 and 458 win. We also got a Winchester Model 94AE chambered for the .444 Marlin. The result of this collaboration is the .450 Bushmaster. It is on the wane and has long ago been supplanted by the resurgent 45-70. His Thumper concept was a semi-auto rifle larger than .44-caliber, capable of taking big game out to 250 yards. But the .450 Bushmaster and .350 Legend are chambered in very similar rifles, some from the same line with minuscule differences. 45-70 vs 444 marlin vs 450 marlin | Gun and Game Forum Muzzle Energy: 2,686 foot-pounds. A small point perhaps, but the action bottom at the balance point was squared on the Winchester, but nicely rounded on the Marlins, and that made the Marlin easier to carry. We hesitate to recommend this gun because of our rifles probably temporary, but very real, feeding problem that needed to be fixed. It might be a little too much for whitetails - it would be perfect on elk and moose. This advantage expands a bit as we cross more distance. Archive - Yes, the .444 Marlin is A GOOD CHOICE for grizzly or brown bear hunting, under average conditions, from a mid-range distance, with a medium grain expanding .