The .450 Bushmaster was designed by the Hornady Manufacturing Company for Bushmaster Firearms International when the latter wanted a .45 caliber cartridge that would work through the short AR-15 action. Its a belted case, not the usual rimmed type one normally finds in lever rifles. This is pure conjecture, but the outcome is notthe .450 Marlin is pretty much a turkey, as we see it. Does a belted case make sense for a lever rifle? Based on our test results, we dont think so. Your 450 will pick it up from there and range from 350 grains to over 500 grains. Different states hunting laws are slightly different and are subject to change so we included case lengths for each for you to use as a guide if they are legal for your hunt or not. One would think that would have to play in to your decision making. This advantage expands a bit as we cross more distance. The crux is terminal performance on game. RENE reports 6 different versions of the American Rifle in 450 Bushmaster and now the GSR makes 7. Hot-loaded .45-70 ammunition is currently available from Buffalo Bore in three different bullet weights. CVA Inc Scout V2 .444 Marlin Single Shot Rifle with Stainless Barrel and Dead-On Mount $349.99; Brand: CVA Inc; Item Number: CR4913S-NB; Thompson Center Encore Pro Hunter 500SW Mag Katahdin Carbine Disclaimer: Sportsman's Warehouse assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions of the information on this page. 450 Bushmaster can be found on the shelves at most large outfitters but don't expect to . The weight of the present version was about as light as wed like to see a .444 rifle. Their 265-grain Superformance load ramps up the muzzle velocity to 2400 fps with a BC of .189. 5,270. Designed and developed by Winchester, the 350 Legend is the first new introduction to the market aimed specifically at straight-walled hunting regulations. The .450 Bushmaster was developed for big game hunting with modern rifles. We also got a Winchester Model 94AE chambered for the .444 Marlin. Contact Us - Of all the ammo available, the highest muzzle energy of the Socom is 2380 ft/lbs of energy. Like the Marlins, the Winchester had a cross-bolt safety but the owner had locked it out so the rifle would fire every time the hammer fell. These are two very similar calibers, and indeed both the .450 Marlin and the .450 Bushmaster are seeking to imitate the classic .45-70 Government for different purposes. 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. The original rifle featured a 24" 1:38 twist microgoove (12 groove) barrel. Velocity (200 yards): 1,515 feet per second. First of all, theres no need for it. The finish was about average, we felt, for a modern rifle in this price category. At the range, the first shot told us that the Marlin .450 was a powerful rifle. Probably. 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. In our estimation, there is no need for the cartridge, and the rifle didnt work properly. These are lightweight rifles that are easy to handle and very fast to get a shot off, which can make them ideal for treks across the backcountry. 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. With a 150-yard zero, the Hornady ammo is 1.54 inches high at 100 yards, 4.68 inches low at 200 yards and 8.49 inches low at 250 yards. The Bushmaster got a major boost thanks to revised big game hunting laws in states like Michigan, Ohio and Indiana that allowed the use of straight-wall cartridges. boar dead in his tracks erffortlessly. and .444 Marlin provide enough accuracy (and their bullets retain enough energy) to confidently reach out across a cut cornfield and make a 200-yard shot. A heavier bullet will generally travel more slowly than a lighter bullet. It retains 1,000 foot-pounds of energy to 399 yards. Fastest cartridge of these options. The Marlins rear sight was a spring-loaded buckhorn with U-notch. Newly Accepted Cartridge and Chamber Designs. At the range the Winchester was flawless in function. It also told us that the brake did a lot of good, even though it was noisy. It drives a 350-grain bullet at 2,200 fps, about 150 fps faster than Buffalo Bores loads for that bullet weight in the .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 Well, I gotta respectfully disagree with that statement. He is a gun owner and avid reloader from Colorado. Hornadys 325-grain Flextip ammo has a muzzle velocity of 2050 fps and the bullet has a BC of .230. When not at his press or the range he can be found chasing mule deer around the Rocky Mountains. The same bullet in the 450 Bushmaster at 200 yards still travels at 1524 fps with 1289 ft/lb of energy. Big bore cartridges in particular can make lever action rifles a great choice for a bear defense gun. Buy it. Throw a moose in then I would lean to the .450 but realize that these lightweight .450 carbines kick like a .375 H&H. The plus side of this cartridge is that recoil is pretty mild, so its a good choice for shooters who need to take recoil into consideration. 444 MARLIN 45-70 GOVERNMENT 450 BUSHMASTER 475 LINEBAUGH 500 S&W Magnum 6.5 CREEDMOOR [+] Show more. This was adjusted by means of a stepped elevating slide, a design as old as rifles and still functional today. SAAMI Accepts 30 Super Carry As New Standardized Cartridge, SHOT 2022: Federal Premium Announces 30 Super Carry Cartridge. New Shooters Guide: You Have Your Concealed Carry Permit Should You Carry. Its been the hot ticket in town over the past few years, and new rifle and deer hunting ammo introductions are happening pretty fast. Marlin. Setting aside the dubious qualities of the .450 Marlin cartridge, we noted the rifle that shot the rounds was well made. Winchester Big Bore 94AE .444 Marlin, $404. We fired one, and the second jammed coming out of the tubular magazine. Its an interesting and unique addition and most are mighty fun to shoot. Obviously, many rifleman have voted yes, because Marlin has sold many, many .444s. But in my opinion, the sheer flexibility of the .45-70 Government in both rifles and ammunition gives it a definitive advantage. The 450 Marlin is rated at 43,500 psi compared to 28,000 psi for 45-70 Gov. The .444 Marlin is essentially a deer rifle that can be used on black bear. Its a great gun. The 450 Bushmaster is taking off and new ammo offerings keep popping up. (The .450 Marlin, by the way, is a ringer for the .458 American except for that longer belt. Marlin 1895M .450 Marlin, $560. Marlin 1895 (.450 Marlin) My uncle carried a .45-70 when he guided brown bear hunters, and several times stopped charging bears with it at close range. Mag. Privacy Statement - Item # 454 Casull 044588 460 S&W Mag 044722 480 Ruger/475 Linebaugh 044174 500 S&W Mag 044702 Sure-Loc Lock Rings . If you want a powerful lever-action .45-caliber rifle, you probably know what youre doing. Even despite this weight difference, the .250 Marlin manages to maintain a small advantage in velocity over the .450 Bushmaster. The Marlins, Winchester, Brownings and Henrys all handle those big-bore cartridges well, and among them the .444 Marlin and .45-70 Government are a pair of undeniable classics. That gives it an overall length of about 2.25 inches, so the length is close to the 450. There are lots of old Springfield rifles around, but its a weak design, and it cant stand a lot of pressure. It retains 1,000 ft-lbs of energy to just past 140 yards. Absolutely, it depends on what rifle you usemore exactly its weightas to how many foot-pounds of energy will jolt into your shoulder. Mag. Formally known as the .45-70-405relating caliber-powder charge-bullet weight specificationsthe cartridge was commercially known as the .45-70 Government, and that 405-grain lead bullet travelled at a muzzle velocity of just about 1400 fps, though a heavier 500-grain bullet was soon employed. All provide an increase in accuracythough there are some wonderfully accurate slug guns out therebut the trajectory of those . This means theres precious little need for the .444 in our book. Mag..404 Jeffery vs. .416 Rigby.243 Winchester vs. 6mm Creedmoor.300 PRC vs. .300 Win. There are a few single-shot rifles out there as well, but this cartridge needs a modern repeating rifle. By and large, .450 Bushmaster rifles are outfitted with medium to heavy contour barrels, a function of its large bore. The 450 Bushmaster was developed for use in AR-15 rifles. Pick the. This was largely because of the slim forend wood. We tried a different brand of ammunition and the rifle worked fine for awhile. In the shooting sports we call that reaction recoil or "kick." It can be measured or computed empirically and has been for this recoil table. Winchester has also chambered their XPR line of bolt-action rifles for the cartridge, and other major gun manufacturers are producing rifles for it as well. The .444 Marlin was available in a svelte Marlin lever-action riflethe Model 444 and proved to be a thumper on big game from whitetails to moose and bear, though like the .45-70, the range was limited by the low velocity and bullet profiles. By comparison, a 250-grain .450 Bushmaster factory load generates 22.99 foot-pounds of recoil, and a full-power 12-gauge slug generates 45 foot-pounds. For $404, wed give it a Buy rating, being a better deal than the $550 Marlin. Big Bore Cartridges Compared - 460 S&W vs 444 Marlin vs 450 BM vs 45-70 Govt | Match Grade Machine Big Bore Cartridges Compared - 460 S&W vs 444 Marlin vs 450 BM vs 45-70 Govt Match Grade Machine did extensive testing with different barrel lengths in some of our most popular cartridges. The Wild West version ($100) has steel wings to protect it, and would a better aperture choice. For the moment, the .450 Bushmaster seems to be the most popular deer hunting ammo for states that allow straight-walled cartridges. The .450 Marlin was designed as a competitor to the .45-70 Government, so its ballistics are highly similar. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. It is on the wane and has long ago been supplanted by the resurgent 45-70. At reasonable straight-wall cartridge hunting distances, for both velocity and trajectory, there is no real out-and-out winner between .450 Bushmaster vs .350 Legend. Right now, hunters can find the .350 Legend chambered in semi-auto AR-type rifles and bolt guns. Wood-to-metal fit was truly outstanding on both Marlin rifles. Velocity Tests and more! The 2 deer ive gotten with it they made it less than 25 yards. Both are straight walled cartridges, but the 45-70 has a longer overall length, a longer case length, and a larger diameter case than the 450 Bushmaster. .451 Caliber projectiles The muzzle velocity is 2200 fps, and the bullet carries a BC of .210. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. On the other hand, the Legend is available with thinner sporter contour barrels. But in all honesty, it isnt for everyonebe it due to tight quarters or time constraints. The case length for both rifle cartridges is virtually identical, with the 45-70 measuring 2.10" compared to 2.105" for the 450 Marlin. All rights reserved. Sign up for Field & Streams newsletter to receive the latest and greatest gear reviews and expert hunting and fishing advice. 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. 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. The .450 Bushmaster has gained more popularity, especially in regions (such as several Midwestern states) where this caliber is legal while bottlenecked cartridges are not. More power to them. I have a very accurate marlin with the 1/20 twist. Which of these big cartridges makes the better choice for the prospective lever gun buyer? That is not a problem, the 45-70 is way to much capacity for smokeless powder. Bushmaster asked Hornady to produce the .45 Professional, but Hornady wanted to shorten the cartridge case to accommodate their .452-inch, 250-grain pointed SST Flex-Tip bullet. Then it had a distinct hitch to a solid stop, then a hard pull of 5 pounds followed by lots of overtravelnot the sort of action we look for in rifle triggers. The .45-70 is far more versatile, and ammo is made by many companies. 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. We measured the .450 Marlins velocity at 2,045 fps with the 350-grain Hornady Flat-Point Interlock bullet. The current Hornady .450 Bushmaster load uses a 250-gr. We cant see the sense of a scope on a short, relatively light rifle, unless its done Scout-style like the Co-Pilot. from a 1.70 long cartridge case at velocities over 2000 fps. 350 Legend's 8.52 ft lbs recoil energy is less than the 30-30's 9.64 ft lbs and the 243 Win's 10.38 ft lbs. Our velocity charts are labeled with bullet weights and barrel lengths with velocities gathered. Why wouldnt they be in similar rifles? These comments also apply directly to the .450 Bushmaster 250 grain FTX load. The 450 Bushmaster is taking off and new ammo offerings keep popping up. This one didnt work. Its at the lower weight limit for maximum loads in the .444, and even with a muzzle brake we dont believe a shorter version would be all that good an idea. 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. It generates 21.34 ft-lbs of energy at 12.55 fps. Additionally, but not across the board, many are factory outfitted with muzzle brakes to help mitigate some of the angry mule in the cartridge-rifle combination. Because of its recoil, a .28 Nosler should generally only be shot out of heavier rifles, coupled with a brake or suppressor. It cant. The action was slick, about as good as the .444 Marlin. The Hornady bullets are heavier and have a higher ballistic coefficient. Here are four places to start, By Of course, if you are planning to shoot in very close ranges (within 100 yards), trajectory may be less of a concern that stopping power. flex tip Hornady's it shot 1'' at 75 yards - sighted in at that range since it's 65 yards to the hog feeder . The rifle was fitted with a Pachmayr Decelerator stock but had no ports. That size requires rifle, not pistol, bullets. Certainly, some pride themselves in how much recoil they can endure. The Winchester had a 20-inch barrel. Maybe the 450 Bushmaster is the next big thing? There is something almost magical about big-bore lever guns; to me they represent big-game hunting at close quarters. Much of this is attributable to the Legend and Bushmaster competing for the same hunters. bullets weighing 250 gr. The .45-70 Government is definitely the older of the two, having been released in 1873 in the famous Trapdoor Springfield. On my chronograph. Factory ammo must be safe to use in them, so the .45-70 rarely reaches its full potential. Links to technical data and drawings for the newly SAAMI accepted Cartridge and Chamber designs not yet included in SAAMI Standards are listed below. The checkering was fully functional, well done, and attractive. The 265 Hornady flat point bullet is THE bullet for the .444, The Hornady SuperPerformance ammo is very accurate in my .444 and the bullet performs great. Rifle type is the major difference between the .450 Marlin and the .450 Bushmaster. The concept of the fast, short, powerful lever-action rifle is probably best exemplified by the Co-Pilot, from Wild West Guns of Anchorage, Alaska. At 300 yards, drop is 15.8 and 18.8 respectively. The two most popular flavors are the .45-70 and .450 Marlin cartridges, both of . The .444 Marlin, .450 Marlin, and .45/70 are rimmed straight-wall rifle cartridges that are most commonly chambered in lever guns such as the Winchester 1886 and Marlin 1895, though there are single-shot options like the Ruger No. It costs less than the Marlins and delivered excellent quality and adequate accuracy for a big-game rifle. Shop for ammo available in all calibers for sale online from Guns.com. The Winchester, thought, had a superb ghost-ring aperture sight by Ashley, which we though would give it an advantage. This Marlin, as weve come to expect from Marlins (especially the new breed with real rifling grooves) laid em in there as well as we could hold with iron sights. There were no aluminum or plastic parts visible, though close inspection showed the magazine follower to be orange polymer. Generally the 444 uses bullets in the range of 240 grains through 300 grains. vs. .300 WSM.223 Remington vs. .22-250 Remington. However, we measured Buffalo Bores 350-grain .45-70 load at 2,058 from their Guide Gun (on a cold day, unlike the blazing heat in which we tested the .450 Marlin). 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. At this writing, ammo is available from Winchester, Hornady, and Federal. The recoil of the .450 was a bit stiffer than the .444 Marlin with Buffalo Bore ammunition. the 450 marlin, the 444, 38-55, 375 win, 375 super mag, 445 super, & the 357 maximum will all ruin a deer's day at 200 yds. 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. It produces 28.27 ft-lbs of recoil energy at a velocity of 14.72 fps. It is just basically a souped-up 45-70 with stronger brass and a belt to make sure it is not confused with a 45-70. But, the numbers say it should be a great little deer cartridge if you dont get stupid with the distances. Cooper was not only an icon of modern tactical applications; he was an serious hunter as well. The .450 Bushmaster cartridge was developed using a modified .284 Winchester case with a rebated rim. At 100 yards bullet velocity slows to 1,835 and retains 1,868 pounds of energy. Photo Gallery See all Photos I must report that right out of the box the Outfitter G2's hammer was hard to cock, and it was very gritty and rough. The idea took off, and now many of those states are allowing straight-walled cartridges to be used as deer hunting ammo. Straight-walled rifle cartridgesat least most of themare a lot more consistent. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. I've shot a couple whitetails now shooting through 1" saplings and when the bullet hits the deer it just destroys them. You have two cartridges that are headed in opposite directions. For 450 Bushmaster, AR 15 is always the best choice. .429 Caliber projectiles 1.690 case length, .458 Caliber projectiles In the .450 Bushmaster's corner is Hornady 's 250-grain FTX load, which has a listed muzzle velocity of 2,200 fps, is topped with a flex-tip bullet and has a ballistic coefficient (BC) of .210. You have two cartridges that are headed in opposite directions. Still, the clip each moves at this range is more than adequate to ensure satisfactory penetration, proper bullet expansion (if you are using such a projectile) and an ethical kill. A full-length 22-inch Marlin gave us only 2,064 with that load, so we doubt that youll ever see 2,100 fps out of the .450 Marlin. The Buffalo Bore .45-70 Magnum load will see the 405-grain jacketed bullet driven to a muzzle velocity of 2000 fps for a muzzle energy of just about 3,600 ft.-lbs. Like the .450, the .444 Marlin rifle was very well made. Its a great round in a Marlin lever action. One recurring problem, however, was the guns poor ejection. Your rifle is your most important hunting tool, and knowing how to properly clean and store it when hunting season comes to a close is critical in keeping it in tip-top shape. 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. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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