Shoot it enough and know what to expect and it shouldnt prove prohibitive, except to the most recoil shy. (Well cover the .35 Remington or .356 Winchester another day.) vs. .340 Wby. Year-round, you can find ammo at less than 50 per round, which isnt 5.56 NATO cheap, but is thrifty. Or more other on Scopes & Sights Resource for other rifle. 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. 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. We know that Winchester has brought out a shorter-barrel version of this rifle, complete with ported muzzle, but we dont see a real need for it. The standard load will push a 240-grain .429-inch diameter bullet to 2400 fps for just over 3,000 ft.-lbs. 1.790 Case length. The .444 Marlin is on par with the 45 Bushmaster at around 2300 ft/s for a 250 grain bullet, but is easily outdone by the 45 Raptor For either cartridge reloading is the route to go if you're able. One would think that would have to play in to your decision making. However, it does make a small improvement over the .45-70 Government that may be appealing to some shooters. The Winchester, thought, had a superb ghost-ring aperture sight by Ashley, which we though would give it an advantage. The heavier bullets of the .450 Marlin might slow it down a bit, but they give a serious advantage when it comes to velocity. Mag. It was so far from the eye it was easy to see the front bead in just about any position within the ghost ring. The original loading used a 250-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps from a 20-inch barrel. In fact, with hot Buffalo Bore loads, the performance of the .444 Marlin would be ballistically better than ordinary loads in the .45-70 Guide Gun. 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. Buy From Opticsplanet Buy From Amazon Specifications: 3-9x magnification 40mm objective lens 12.6-34.1 ft field of view at 100 yds Bullet drop is an important factor for all calibers, but it can make a big difference for heavy, big bore bullets that are only meant to shoot in shorter ranges. All of these walnut-stocked rifles had iron sights only, which is how we tested them. Looking at this product line, youll be inclined to give the nod to the .444 Marlin, especially coupled with the Hornady Superformance load of the 265-grain InterLock at 2400 fps. Yes, the ported barrel helped cut muzzle flip, but our shoulders got sore from the too-hard pads on both Marlin rifles. 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. 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 So whats best, 450 Bushmaster Vs 350 Legend. However, the trigger pull was in desperate need of work. The rifle was fitted with a Pachmayr Decelerator stock but had no ports. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information -. Then the Marlin 1895 lever-action rifle came along in 1972 and changed everything. Rifle type is the major difference between the .450 Marlin and the .450 Bushmaster. The cartridges we tested include the 460 S&W Magnum, 444 Marlin, 450 Bushmaster, and 45-70 Government. Mag..243 Winchester vs. 6mm Remington7x57mm Mauser vs. 7mm-08 Remington.25-06 Remington vs. .257 Weatherby Magnum.338 Winchester vs. .375 H&H Magnum.30-30 Winchester vs. .35 Remington.257 Roberts vs. .250-3000 Savage.270 Winchester vs. .280 Remington.35 Whelen vs. 9.3x62mm Mauser.416 Rigby vs. .416 Remington Magnum.308 Winchester vs. .30-06 Springfield.22 Nosler vs. .224 Valkyrie.300 Win. 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. Bullet Diameter: .452 inches (All .450 Bushmaster) Shell Case Length: 1.7 inches (All .450 Bushmaster) Bullet Size: 250 grains (Bullets range from 245 to 300 grains) Muzzle Velocity: 2,200 feet per second. Hornady has included both cartridges in their excellent LeveRevolution line, with the .444 Marlin loaded with a 265-grain FTX bullet at 2325 fps, and the .45-70 Government loaded with a 250-grain FTX at 2025 fps. With a 150-yard zero, the bullet is 1.66 inches high at 100 yards, 4.37 inches low at 200 yards, and 11.9 inches low at 250 yards. Velocity from the 450 will be slightly lower due to the heavier weight bullets thus more of a rainbow trajectory but will give better stopping power on BIG game and more . I wouldn't fret over performance or availability in either case. Who needs more than 1 shot? 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. Straight-walled rifle cartridgesat least most of themare a lot more consistent. The .450 Marlin is just a bit bigger, with a bullet diameter of .458 compared to the .450 Bushmasters .452. Not only does it reduce the possibility of developing a flinch, but it also improves the ability of the average hunter to deliver an accurate follow-up shot. Factory ammo must be safe to use in them, so the .45-70 rarely reaches its full potential. In contrast, Marlin had another idea entirely with the companys new .450 Marlin, though we dont know why the company didnt just chamber an existing lever rifle for Wild Wests better cartridge idea. That size requires rifle, not pistol, bullets. Each cartridge has its own benefit and ultimately is your choice. The quality of bluing on the Winchester was excellent, in spite of the slight metal-polishing problems. I have two .444's and a .450. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Then somebody figured out that straight-walled rifle cartridges are just as safe as slugs. Introduced in 1964, the .444 Marlin was kind of a stretched out .44 Magnum. Also, a synthetic stock is available with Realtree XTRA camo finish. 45-70 vs 444 marlin vs 450 marlin | Gun and Game Forum The .350 Legend is a blue-light special (if you remember that analogy) in comparison. 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. 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. You have entered an incorrect email address! boar dead in his tracks erffortlessly. The weight of the present version was about as light as wed like to see a .444 rifle. 444 MARLIN 45-70 GOVERNMENT 450 BUSHMASTER 475 LINEBAUGH 500 S&W Magnum 6.5 CREEDMOOR [+] Show more. We fired one, and the second jammed coming out of the tubular magazine. By logging into your account, you agree to our. It retains 1,000 foot-pounds of energy to 399 yards. Velocity Tests and more! The cartridge has a cavernous case capacity designed to work with black powder of the era, and it used large-diameter bullets to compensate for the low velocity produced by that propellant. That is not a problem, the 45-70 is way to much capacity for smokeless powder. For $404, wed give it a Buy rating, being a better deal than the $550 Marlin. Were not sure, but we would guess that Wild West, in Alaska, had a lock on the idea. Benefits abound with a tamer rifle. Much of this is attributable to the Legend and Bushmaster competing for the same hunters. By the way, if you are using ar-15, the scope for ar-15 is the good one you should had. The buttpad was a ventilated hard rubber pad. The Best Black Bear Cartridges - Field & Stream 350 Legend vs 450 Bushmaster, Pros and Cons of Each Explained Mag. It served until the .30-40 Krag replaced it in 1892. On my chronograph. The Ashley was drift-adjustable using opposing screws, though we could see no easy way to adjust it for elevation. Marlin .450 Bushmaster Deer Slayer Legal for Michigan Hunter in Caliber Choice: Straight-Walled Cartridge Resurgence The slim forend had wrap-around checkering. 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. Though the .45-70 Government cartridge has been in production since 1873, there was a time when a new rifle chambered in that cartridge just wasnt offered. Toward that end, we obtained a pair of nearly identical Marlins chambered for the .444 Marlin, the Model 444P, and .450 Marlin, the Model 1895M. The front sight was a gold-faced bead on a ramp underneath a protective hood. 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. For some reason, the .450 wasnt as smooth as the .444 we shot. It goes so far as, previously mentioned, manufacturers offering the same model rifle in both .450 Bushmaster and .350 Legend. On the other hand, the .450 Bushmaster is primarily intended for use on the semi-automatic AR platform, while it can also be chambered in bolt action rifles. Sounds impressive. Since the topic is hunting, weve selected two respected hunting rounds in common weights for calibers and with similar style bullets to side-by-side the cartridges. Whether you are reloading for handgun, rifle, shotshell or muzzleloading we have what you need. Elsewhere, we noticed an anomaly between the two Marlins. And the .450 marlin used in its capacity for large game is exceptional. of energy. Offers more range than any commercial lever gun cartridge except the .338 ME So I switched to the 450 bm and never regretted it and it comes with me everywhere. Mag. This means theres precious little need for the .444 in our book. The wood-to-metal fit was again superb. Their 265-grain Superformance load ramps up the muzzle velocity to 2400 fps with a BC of .189. This is where the differences end, as the 45 70 and 450 are more similar than they are different. New Shooters Guide: What Is a Pistol Caliber Carbine? Marlin Model 444P Our recommendation: Marlin ought to know by now how to make a flawless .444 Marlin. 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. Precision Reloading: Making The Best Case Possible, Best 7mm Rem. It has been used for everything from deer to Cape Buffalo, and remains popular among the bear guides to this day. Heres a detailed look at each step of the process. One would think that would have to play in to your decision making. 350 Legend Ballistics - Velocity, Energy & Drop Data - The Lodge at Heres how to avoid the poseurs and choose the right one. 2.100 case length. It wont matter a lick how far a cartridge can send a bullet and how devastating its terminal ballistics are once at its destination if you develop a flinch and send it anywhere but the vital zone. STARLINE BRASS - Rusty Wood Trading Co. 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. We dug it out with a knife, reloaded two more, and again the second round failed to feed. The current Hornady .450 Bushmaster load uses a 250-gr. (450 Bushmaster) 397119 45 Cal .458" 325 gr. Today, there is no shortage of them, though the old-timers have mostly died out. 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. Can Coolers | An Official Journal Of The NRA, Find More Great NRA Publications Perfect For Every Interest, Discover Everything That The NRA Has To Offer. Bottles & 12-oz. The cartridge, introduced in 2000 by Marlin for its own lever-action Model 1895M, was designed to provide +P performance of the 144-year-old government round in a more modern case capable of. We've got you covered.7x57mm Mauser vs. .280 Remington.300 Win. 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. View Details at Brownells. This means Marlins, Ruger No. .350 Legend Vs .450 Bushmaster: Does One Win Out For Hunting? 45/70 or 450 Bushmaster for ohio big buck | Gun and Game Forum Cookie Policy - While the .450 Marlin sought to improve it with modern ammunition techniques while eliminating the chance that shooters would load high-pressure modern ammunition into vintage rifles and cause catastrophe, the .450 Bushmaster sought to translate the short-distance big game cartridge onto the semi-automatic platform. (460 S&W Mag) 397118 45 Cal .452" 250 gr. Hot-loaded .45-70 ammunition is currently available from Buffalo Bore in three different bullet weights. 444 Marlin VS 450 Bushmaster Ballistics (Trajectory, Recoil, History) A hard rubber buttpad doesnt help the shooter, it hinders him from getting the most out of the rifle. If you want a powerful lever-action .45-caliber rifle, you probably know what youre doing. Unless otherwise noted, these reviews carry the guns prices at the time of the original review. A straight-wall, .452-caliber cartridge with a rebated rim, it's capable of pushing a 250-grain bullet to 2,200 fps. They track closely in weight, thus when chambered Legend tend to be more pleasurable to shoot. We also used the data gathered to suggest optimum barrel lengths for each cartridge to help decide which was best. .451 Caliber projectiles While the .444 is near the bottom of the popularity list in current straight-walled rifle cartridges, I expect that will change as hunters discover the potential of this cartridge. Often overlooked, much to the detriment of the hunter, is how much kick theyll endure from a particular rifle-cartridge combination. 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. 1.690 case length, .458 Caliber projectiles Review: Traditions Outfitter G2 Break-action Single Shot Rifle Few rifle calibers carry as much tradition as the .444 Marlin, which originally hit the scene as a way to give lever-action rifles more of a punch around the ammunition manufacturers stopped commercially producing .45-70-caliber rifles in the 1960s. This fall will be the first deer season with this cartridge available to the public so we dont have a lot of information on performance on game yet. Wed like to see Marlin spend its efforts making great rifles perfectly, rather than expending energy on useless new projects like the .450 Marlin. 460 S&W vs 444 Marlin vs 450 BM vs 45-70 Govt Match Grade Machine 3.95K subscribers Subscribe 2.5K 209K views 3 years ago Match. Velocity (200 yards): 1,515 feet per second. Model: Bushmaster 450 Bullet Size: 250 grains Bullet Diameter: .452 inches Shell Case Length: 1.7 inches Energy (per 200 yards): 1,274 foot-pounds Velocity (per 200 yards): 1,515 feet per second Muzzle Energy: 2,686 foot-pounds Muzzle Velocity: 2,200 feet per second CLICK FOR BEST PRICE 45-70 Brand: U.S. Army's Springfield Armory Theres just no need for a new cartridge in this same performance range. Well, I gotta respectfully disagree with that statement. Head to Head: 350 Legend vs. .35 Remington - An Official Journal Of The NRA While it does not have the power of the .450 Marlin, the .444 Marlin is very similar ballistically to the .45-70, . 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. With a 2.260-inch Maximum Overall Cartridge Length, it fits well in the AR-15 platform. The rimmed .457 case is longer than the .45-70 but otherwise similar, its extra length keeping it out of chambers where it doesnt belong. This means that the momentum of a rifle's reaction will exactly equal the momentum of the bullet and powder gasses ejected from the barrel. All rights reserved. If you havent heard yet, be advised that millions of gun owners may soon be classified as felons if a new Bureau of Alcohol, Big-Bore Lever-Action Hunting Guns: Pass On Marlins New .450, SIG Sauer P365XL Spectre P365V001 9mm Luger, Springfield Armory Hellcat Pro HCP9379BOSP 9mm Luger, SHOT 2023: Savage Arms Introduces 1911 Government Model Pistols, 5 Best 9mm Pistols for Concealed Carry in 2023, New Shooters Guide: The Best Gun For Home Defense Isnt a. vs. .300 WSM.223 Remington vs. .22-250 Remington. 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 . Also, moose, elk size game out to about 175 yards. And truly, it is a pleasurable cartridge, very much akin to the .30-30, which by almost anyones standard is extremely manageable. Therefore, some might be stuck with the full Bushmaster tab. Shotgun slugs require a series of small miracles to happen for them to perform well. The forests around here are always thick brushed with all sorts of not only leafy brush but full of little twig saplings and raspberry bushes and the like. 1, the .45-70 can be loaded to impressive performance. For instance, Ruger chambers its American Ranch rifle for both cartridges, with few differences between the two. We hesitate to recommend this gun because of our rifles probably temporary, but very real, feeding problem that needed to be fixed. Offers more power than any commercial lever gun cartridge except the .450 Marlin. Newly Accepted Cartridge and Chamber Designs. I know at least one has built a prototype, and I am told its working well. However, the primer was apparently not struck soundly enough. The 2 deer ive gotten with it they made it less than 25 yards. While the 450 Marlin is definetly a more powerful cartridge the 444 certainly aint no slouch. 2.215 Case length, .451 Caliber projectiles Heres how they compare to each other. Yes, this includes the mighty .444 and .45-70, as well as the .338 ME and its bolt action analog, the venerable .30-06. .444 vs 45-70 vs 30-30 | Long Range Hunting Forum Rifle Ammunition :: Guns.com I have had good luck with the Hornady 250-grain Flextip load. 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. This means that it is still a niche cartridge offered by just a few manufacturers, and you might struggle to find it on the shelves of your local ammunition store. As it concerns .350 Legend vs .450 Bushmaster, the smaller-caliber cartridge has a decided advantage. The 350 Legend is also designed to work in AR-15 style rifles. 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. On the other hand, the Legend is available with thinner sporter contour barrels. We assume a clump of grease or a small burr slowed down the firing pin just enough to prevent firing. The decision may now be influenced by availability of both rifles and ammunition, with the breakup of the parent company which owned Marlin (thankfully Marlin has been purchased by Ruger). 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. Now I wont dissuade anyone from getting involved with reloading ammunition. Powered by UBB.threads PHP Forum Software 7.7.5. They have very similar ballistics, but the .450 Marlin is most frequently found in lever action rifles, while the .450 Bushmaster is intended for semi-automatic rifles on the AR platform. Even better, if you need a hot 45-caliber lever rifle you probably dont need that Trapdoor Springfield, so sell it. The .450 Bushmaster was developed for big game hunting with modern rifles. They were solidly made of steel and walnut, and looked like they would hold together for a long time. The overall length on the .450 Marlin is also just a bit longer, at 2.55 compared to 2.26 on the Bushmaster. Big-Bore AR Cartridges | An Official Journal Of The NRA Then, later in our testing, we again encountered this failure to feed, and not just from the last round in the magazine. Penetration, expansion, frontal area. 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. The Winchester had a 20-inch barrel. Our test .444 Marlin 444P was essentially a .444 Guide Gun, having the same ideas behind it as Marlins best-selling .45-70 version. The Buffalo Bore .45-70 load, same weight bullet, was faster than the .450 Marlin. The .444 felt noticeably smoother in its action than the .450. Adjacent to the hood were a total of 14 portholes in the barrel that did wonders to cut muzzle flip. Back in the day the only 444 ammo was Remington with a 240 handgun bullet. At this writing, ammo is available from Winchester, Hornady, and Federal. 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 .450 Marlin and the .450 Bushmaster are very similar cartridges: both are big bore cartridges intended for big game hunting at close quarters, and lose steam after about 150-200 yards. The choice between these calibers for many will come down to a choice between rifle platforms. The following ballistics tables show a side by side comparison of the 450 Marlin vs 450 Bushmaster based on bullet weight and performance metrics including velocity, energy, usage and recoil. The checkering was fully functional, well done, and attractive. We eventually decided there was something seriously wrong with this rifle, and though we liked its feel, looks, and accuracy, we wouldnt buy this one. Dont knock the 450 Marlin round. 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. But this problem never happened again. The inletting was nowhere near as good as on the Marlins. Check out the ballistics chart below for more information. 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. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. If youre looking to shoot much outside of 200 yards, youre looking at the wrong calibers. Our loaner was fitted with a ghost-ring Ashley aperture sight held to the receiver with two screws. 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. The overall length on the .450 Marlin is also just a bit longer, at 2.55" compared to 2.26" on the Bushmaster. Get the 76th edition of the World's Greatest Gun Book. My late Godfather Oren Mick DeCheck, my maternal great-uncleenjoyed a .444 Marlin as his deer/bear rifle, and my DadOl Grumpy Pantsstill reaches for his Browning 1886 centennial .45-70 Government, so both of these cartridges played a role in my shooting world. The 450 would do better, but, is it needed on deer? These four are the most popular. Being bracketed by the proven .444 Marlin and .45-70, the belted .450 Marlin doesnt fill a lever-gun niche any better than the other cartridges. It had a plain but serviceable checkered walnut stock with trestle-style buttpad made of black rubberized iron. Why dont manufacturers get the word here? The two Marlins had ported 18-inchers. As soon as the cartridge's proprietary status was lifted we ordered a reamer and started building barrels. 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. All Marlins. X-Vision Optics long-range ImpactThermal Scope (TS300) boasts a 640 x 480 thermal sensor that can detect big game well past 3,000 yards. The .450 Marlin will offer you better ballistics across the board and a lighter rifle that is very dependable and easy to manage, while the semi-automatic platform appeals to many and gives a range of customizable options. I use a 450 bushmaster ar-15 as my big bore brush gun for my up close and personal bear hunting and coming across a deer 25 yards away through the bushes.
444 marlin vs 450 bushmaster