45 Caliber
- Thread starter Creeker
- Start date
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
No experience with either. If I were to find a cheap beat up serviceable 458 Win, have researched and make it shoot Trapdoor to Elephant loads. Me - I would only ever shoot Trapdoor loads (much like my Win 1895 405 Win/cast - shooting 40-72 level loads). And sure it would be a ton of fun.
Had you said the 450 Marlin was in a lever gun - it would win HANDS DOWN - just because it is a lever gun!
Had you said the 450 Marlin was in a lever gun - it would win HANDS DOWN - just because it is a lever gun!
358156 hp
At large, whereabouts unknown.
I see that Starline has 450 Marlin brass right now. I think I'd still go with 458 WinMag though. Mainly because I've always wanted one. The standard 450 twist appears to be 1:20, and the WinMag is 1:14. The WinMag might be more appealing if long range shooting part of your plan. Since Mausers didn't originally come in 450, that rifle could have a fast twist as well.
oscarflytyer
Well-Known Member
Reason I said 458. Load it like a 45-70 Trapdoor. Can go wild if you WANT to, but why - Unless Africa!
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
Had a 450 Watts, before the 459 Lott, that shot great if you could stand the recoil. I shot 1100 f/s loads with SR4759 and enjoyed it . But not going to Africa, so sold to a guy who wants to go there!
Michael
Active Member. Uh/What
.458 Win is the logical/practical choice, if you have standard belted case and a hack saw you will have brass. My buddy that has a 458 Lott and was asking about data for reduced loads, I told him to go with data for a 45-110 (45 2-7/8) close enough for gov't work. With the .458 Win at 2.5", go with 45-90 (45 - 2.4) data for someplace to start, again close enough for gov't work considering the low pressure loads. That heavy case and low pressures will be a modern rendition of the old "Ever Lasting" cases of the late 1880's.
CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
Id say off shelf rifle 458 WM. 450 is like a redhead step child. Plus Microgroove rifling in some. ( A consideration W/cast bullets)
But if building, the 458 American 2"! Or might even look @ the 458 socomb in bolt gun.
CW
But if building, the 458 American 2"! Or might even look @ the 458 socomb in bolt gun.
CW
A retired fella at a show once offered me a ridiculous deal on a very nicely done, conservative custom 98 in 458W.
We talked Mausers and he suddenly got all serious and just cut the price about in half and offered it for $350 just to get it into hands of someone who understood what he had and would take care of it. It had been to Africa and he just wasn't up to that any more. I passed, as much as I hated to and I felt bad doing it because it was like he was trying to find a home for a favorite dog, which he could no longer care for.
On the two-hour drive home, it hit me - I'M AN IDIOT! I even said it out loud.
My dad looked at me like I really was an idiot and said "WHAT??"
I could have loaded it to 45-70 levels, using cast!
It was the nicest custom Mauser I'd ever had my hands on personally and I think I'd probably still be using it today, if I hadn't had my head up my butt THAT day. I still feel badly for walking away and leaving the guy to find someone to take care of his old friend too.
I started a 450 Marlin custom 98 once too, but brass dried up as did my enthusiasm and the project died.
We talked Mausers and he suddenly got all serious and just cut the price about in half and offered it for $350 just to get it into hands of someone who understood what he had and would take care of it. It had been to Africa and he just wasn't up to that any more. I passed, as much as I hated to and I felt bad doing it because it was like he was trying to find a home for a favorite dog, which he could no longer care for.
On the two-hour drive home, it hit me - I'M AN IDIOT! I even said it out loud.
My dad looked at me like I really was an idiot and said "WHAT??"
I could have loaded it to 45-70 levels, using cast!
It was the nicest custom Mauser I'd ever had my hands on personally and I think I'd probably still be using it today, if I hadn't had my head up my butt THAT day. I still feel badly for walking away and leaving the guy to find someone to take care of his old friend too.
I started a 450 Marlin custom 98 once too, but brass dried up as did my enthusiasm and the project died.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
I was at a Phoenix show 30 years back. Was looking for a caliber .50 rifle or carbine. Nice older feller showed me a well carried 50-70. Ratty wood and pitted outside. But a great bore. "$175 young feller".
Well I said "let me ponder this". Off I went, got side tracked and off went the Sharps 1874....
"Strike while the iron is hot".
Well I said "let me ponder this". Off I went, got side tracked and off went the Sharps 1874....
"Strike while the iron is hot".
I have had a 458WM for years ,have never seen a450 marlin , but have shot hundreds of cast bullets thru the Win Mag over the years.It surprised me(in good way !)From 317gr. to 535gr grouped from average to really good, to me anyway. Loaded down the grand children even enjoy shooting. Very easy to load for, Even tried trailboss and it shot great. here in eastern ky the range can be close, step out the back porch is 17 yds. By the way rifle is a No 1
Joshua
Taco Aficionado/Salish Sea Pirate/Part-Time Dragon
Similar story. Fifteen years ago I was prowling around our small town LGS. The owner had taken his friends estate on consignment.
I noticed that he had a bunch of old ammo. I saw some Norma 7.7 Jap that I wanted. We got talking about old military bolt action rifles. He showed me a K98 in 458. He had been friends with its owner, had hunted for Elk with his family. The guy who had owned the K98 had been a fisherman up in Alaska. He told me the rifle had been used to hunt Brown Bears and Moose in the 70’s and the 80’s.
So, the tag said $350. He told me to make him an offer. He said he was gonna have a hard time moving it because anybody who could afford to buy 458 Win Mag ammo wanted to shoot it in an old Mauser.
Well, I wasn’t reloading then. I couldn’t afford to feed it. I was also afraid of the recoil, so I passed. I regret passing on it today.
Ian
Notorious member
I'd go for the one that would enable me to use up all the random 300 and 7mm mag brass I've accumulated and have no use for otherwise. A Marlin GG in 45/70 would be the other obvious choice. Due to eye problems I'd keep the loads very sedate in either, no shame in that. 350-500 grains at 1500 fps is nothing to sneeze at.
Rockydoc
Well-Known Member
A famous author, whose name escapes me at present, said:
"Never regret your economies."
I believe that speaks well to this issue.
I was a victim of advertising...
A long time ago, Midway had a sale on a complete Savage LA barrel swap package (barrel, barrel nut wrench, headspace gauges, and lube) from E.R. Shaw. It was just over $100 shipped, and the only one I was interested in was a barrel chambered in .458 Win Mag.
I assembled it on a rifle that was previously chambered in .300 Win Mag, and then loaded some cartridges with Remington 350gr. jacketed bullets and 5744. I don't remember the charge, but they were trapdoor level loads. 10 rounds at 50 yards from the bench, could be covered up with a silver dollar. And it was fun!!
Since then, it has only shot light cast bullet loads, and is a very capable rock buster out to 200 yards!
My vote of course, is for the Win Mag.
A long time ago, Midway had a sale on a complete Savage LA barrel swap package (barrel, barrel nut wrench, headspace gauges, and lube) from E.R. Shaw. It was just over $100 shipped, and the only one I was interested in was a barrel chambered in .458 Win Mag.
I assembled it on a rifle that was previously chambered in .300 Win Mag, and then loaded some cartridges with Remington 350gr. jacketed bullets and 5744. I don't remember the charge, but they were trapdoor level loads. 10 rounds at 50 yards from the bench, could be covered up with a silver dollar. And it was fun!!
Since then, it has only shot light cast bullet loads, and is a very capable rock buster out to 200 yards!
My vote of course, is for the Win Mag.
Missionary
Well-Known Member
Hard to beat a caliber .45 unless your into the .50's.
Get the .458 Winchester Magnum. The experienced reloader knows the powder measure goes up for lighter loads as well as down for heavier loads. The added cost of a custom chamber is better spent on lead and molds.
I've a Siamese Mauser in .45-70, my third. I was talked into selling the first two and will keep this one. This rifle has a Ruger #1 barrel and copies the English Safari rifle style. I use it for fun shooting with light loads since I'll never make Africa or Alaska. I also shoot up mistakes since I do not have to worry about pressure.
I've a Siamese Mauser in .45-70, my third. I was talked into selling the first two and will keep this one. This rifle has a Ruger #1 barrel and copies the English Safari rifle style. I use it for fun shooting with light loads since I'll never make Africa or Alaska. I also shoot up mistakes since I do not have to worry about pressure.
RBHarter
West Central AR
I was at a show in Reno .......
I passed on a pair of 45-70s in a #1 and #3 tagged at $450 ea probably could have cashed out at $800 .......
I picked up the 1895G for 500 a month or so later .......a week later there was the big rebates and sale prices on the Remingtons new for 275 after all the stuff .....
Apparently I scored a freak rifle , one of the very last Marlin parts guns and of the very first assembled in Illion ...... A Marlin know all told me it wasn't marked like it was marked ........ "I'd heard of them yours is the only one I've seen even a picture of"...... So probably as few as 10 of them not over 50 . RM sn double stamped barrel .
Whatever I bought it to shoot not look at .......still should have bought the Rugers .
I passed on a pair of 45-70s in a #1 and #3 tagged at $450 ea probably could have cashed out at $800 .......
I picked up the 1895G for 500 a month or so later .......a week later there was the big rebates and sale prices on the Remingtons new for 275 after all the stuff .....
Apparently I scored a freak rifle , one of the very last Marlin parts guns and of the very first assembled in Illion ...... A Marlin know all told me it wasn't marked like it was marked ........ "I'd heard of them yours is the only one I've seen even a picture of"...... So probably as few as 10 of them not over 50 . RM sn double stamped barrel .
Whatever I bought it to shoot not look at .......still should have bought the Rugers .