So when it comes to the .350 Legend vs .450 Bushmaster, is there any discernable advantage of hunting one or the other? If you are looking for a caliber that can do on the AR what the .450 Marlin does on the lever action, then the .450 Bushmaster is the answer to this hope, though it loses a bit of ballistics in making the switch. Because of its recoil, a .28 Nosler should generally only be shot out of heavier rifles, coupled with a brake or suppressor. The ported barrels of these rifles worked wonders to keep the muzzle down, but the rearward kick was still significant. One would think that would have to play in to your decision making. It served until the .30-40 Krag replaced it in 1892. Plenty of fanfare and spilled ink has greeted the latest and greatest do-all deer medicine. The Wild West version ($100) has steel wings to protect it, and would a better aperture choice. The big difference is that .308 Winchester keeps at least 1,000 ft.lbf out to about 600 yards, 450 Bushmaster loses it by 300 yards. from a 1.70 long cartridge case at velocities over 2000 fps. 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. 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. It's my night hog rifle - 4x12-50 L VXR . The ammunition is madeso faronly by Hornady. The .450 Bushmaster was designed to operate in AR-15 platform rifles and is capable of delivering considerably more close-range punch than the 5.56 NATO. But the .450 Bushmaster and .350 Legend are chambered in very similar rifles, some from the same line with minuscule differences. When not at his press or the range he can be found chasing mule deer around the Rocky Mountains. Out of the muzzle, the .450 Marlin packs another 886 ft-lbs over the .450 Bushmaster, a significant difference. But does it deserve the attention? The 350 Legend is also designed to work in AR-15 style rifles. Wed like to see Marlin spend its efforts making great rifles perfectly, rather than expending energy on useless new projects like the .450 Marlin. Or more plainly speaking, youd dial a scope on a Bushmaster up .2-inch more than on the Legend when sighting in at 100 yards. Summary: Factory ammo is not a great choice for rifle length barrels, hand loading gives better performance. 1.690 case length, .458 Caliber projectiles I don't like the factory 450 loads though. Windage adjustments, though not needed, were done by drifting. The 450 would do better, but, is it needed on deer? Elsewhere, we noticed an anomaly between the two Marlins. Shotgun slugs require a series of small miracles to happen for them to perform well. Yes, the Legend does tend to shoot a fraction flatter at distance, but not substantially so. Get the latest news and reviews from Gundigest.com. 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 . 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. The .444 Marlin (10.957mmR) is a rifle cartridge designed in 1964 by Marlin Firearms and Remington Arms. The .450 Marlin has quite a bit longer case, at 2.10 compared to 1.70 on the .450 Bushmaster. Medium-bore lever rifles are made by Marlin and Winchester. The .444 Marlin is essentially a deer rifle that can be used on black bear. Ours didnt. 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. Muzzle Energy: 2,686 foot-pounds. The recoil of the .450 was a bit stiffer than the .444 Marlin with Buffalo Bore ammunition. The case can also be handloaded to impressive figures in a suitable rifle, and there are some excellent bullets like the Swift A-Frame which will further enhance the performance of this old design, yet the classic cast-lead bullets at low velocities are still fun to shoot. If the ring had been nearer the eye, the front sight would have been forced into the center of the ring, and we would have gotten better accuracy. Back in January we tested this superb rifle along with the similar Marlin Guide Gun, both in .45-70. This straddled the bolt, but was much too far forward for proper use by our test personnel. Mag. 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. The original loading used a 250-grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 2200 fps from a 20-inch barrel. 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. We assume a clump of grease or a small burr slowed down the firing pin just enough to prevent firing. The Winchester, thought, had a superb ghost-ring aperture sight by Ashley, which we though would give it an advantage. For a while, nobody was making rifles in .45-70 and the cartridge seemed doomed. Its an interesting and unique addition and most are mighty fun to shoot. is more comparable to the .350 Legend, but you're losing power and velocity. The only way to get near that with a Bushy is to load your own ammo. Penetration, expansion, frontal area. 450/460 same boolit dia, the 458 socom is bigger (45-70 sized boolits). These four are the most popular. We reserve the right to correct pricing errors. The weight of the present version was about as light as wed like to see a .444 rifle. .451 Caliber projectiles of muzzle energy, and that combo will handle any North American game animal. Precision Reloading: Making The Best Case Possible, Best 7mm Rem. Heavier bullets are available; they can run as heavy as 335 grains, though the 265- and 280-grain remain the most popular. Sounds impressive. Those ballistic tips expand way to fast for deer size game when backed by high amounts of kinetic energy. There were no aluminum or plastic parts visible, though close inspection showed the magazine follower to be orange polymer. The 44 Magnum and 45 Colt are 125 yard rifles. Both rifles had this exact same setup. 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 . Its therefore important to keep in mind that we are comparing a 325 grain .450 Marlin against a 250 grain .450 Bushmaster--which are the commonly used bullet weights for each caliber. 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. Copyright 2023 National Rifle Association, Women On Target Instructional Shooting Clinics, Volunteer At The Great American Outdoor Show, Marion P. 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The checkering was very well done, had a pleasing pattern, and it worked very well. But, load that bullet to 2300 fps, stick it in a rifle that can handle the pressure, and things change. In our estimation, there is no need for the cartridge, and the rifle didnt work properly. The models chambered for the .35 Whelen, .444 Marlin, .45-70, and .450 Bushmaster come with a muzzle brake to help dampen recoil. The idea took off, and now many of those states are allowing straight-walled cartridges to be used as deer hunting ammo. These two rifles were both light and, with outstanding Buffalo Bore ammunition, provided as modern and powerful ballistics as anyone could want. The checkering was fully functional. Collectors might want to pick up one and never fire it, plus some ammunition, because we believe this gun will be very short-lived. At 100 yards, the .450 Marlin is moving 52 ft/s faster. 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. I dont think anybody can say anything against the quality of marlin lever actions. 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. We also used the data gathered to suggest optimum barrel lengths for each cartridge to help decide which was best. Its the most powerful factory lever gun ever produced. 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. 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. 12 Gauge 1". A hard rubber buttpad doesnt help the shooter, it hinders him from getting the most out of the rifle. At the range, the first shot told us that the Marlin .450 was a powerful rifle. It retains 1,000 foot-pounds of energy to about 360 yards. Recoil was manageable thanks to the soft pad, but the rifle had much greater muzzle flip than the ported Marlins. The .45-70 Government is definitely the older of the two, having been released in 1873 in the famous Trapdoor Springfield. Powder Valley is your Ammunition Superstore . What kind of gun writer are you? I wouldn't fret over performance or availability in either case. Its great skill and potentially one of the best hobbies youll ever pick up. Is the any advantage. The parent case is a modified 284 Winchester, it's simply cut to 1.695 and also utilizes a small rifle primer. 450 Bushmaster 044176 Cartridge. The 450 Bushmaster was developed for use in AR-15 rifles. 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. The 450 bushmasters highest muzzle energy is 2743 ft/lbs of energy, 363 ft/lbs more than the Socom. Our only complaint, a mild one, is wed like to see a wood finish that fills the pores more completely while still letting the wood figure come through. The Winchester had a 20-inch barrel. Mag. Wild West was also the originator of the short, handy, powerful lever-rifle concept. Federal Fusion 450 Bushmaster 260gr is a bonded soft point ammo designed specifically for hunting. 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. They track closely in weight, thus when chambered Legend tend to be more pleasurable to shoot. The newer .450 Marlin is also frequently compared with it. Join F&S+ to read exclusive stories by your favorite writers. While .308 can reach out accurately to 1,200 yards (if you're pretty good), 450 . The checkering was fully functional, well done, and attractive. Of course, with the shorter barrels on the AR-15 and some other rifles, the muzzle velocity is lower, which changes all the other numbers. Copyright 2000-2023 24hourcampfire.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. 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. Save. It retains 1,000 foot-pounds of energy to just past 280 yards. It drops a bear at 100 yards like no ones business if you catch it from your tree stand and it puts deer on the ground fast too. SAAMI limits the MAP to 28,000 psi. The .450 Bushmaster was designed to work in an AR-15, but its also available in bolt-action rifles from Ruger, Mossberg, and others. Hornadys 325-grain Flextip ammo has a muzzle velocity of 2050 fps and the bullet has a BC of .230. Depending on the weight of the gun, recoil for the 450 varies between 15 and 20 ftlbs. Certainly, some pride themselves in how much recoil they can endure. It generates 21.34 ft-lbs of energy at 12.55 fps. Marlin. 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. 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. We are constantly adding new inventory and occasionally offer Free Shipping. However, the trigger pull was in desperate need of work. Adjacent to the hood were a total of 14 portholes in the barrel that did wonders to cut muzzle flip. The .450 Bushmaster is designed to be used in standard M16s and AR-15s, using modified magazines and upper receiver assemblies. Brands include Frontier, Hornady, Lapua and Prvi Partizan. 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. As soon as the cartridge's proprietary status was lifted we ordered a reamer and started building barrels. 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. Both of these big bore cartridges are meant for a specific purpose: to bring down large game at very close ranges. 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). Unless one lives in a state that requires a straight wall for hunting, then there is not much use for either unless it is to say you got one. Your 450 will pick it up from there and range from 350 grains to over 500 grains. 2.100 case length. Its big and powerful enough, and with good bullets, it may produce the best external ballistics of the bunch. 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. The .45-70 Government has quite the bullet range in comparison to the .444 Marlin; bullets will run from 250-grains all the way up to the behemoth 600-grain slugs, with a slew of choices in between. Save big on firearms, accessories, tactical gear, clothing, and ammunition from now until March 29. The .450 Marlin has ballistics almost identical to magnum .45-70 Government ammunition and the cartridge fires the same weight bullet approximately 600fps faster than lower pressure .45-70 ammo intended for use in the Trapdoor Springfield. For reference, a 3" 20 gauge load rattles your cage at 30 ftlbs. Eight major concealed carry insurance programs are now available to the millions of Americans who carry concealed. 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. On average, factory loaded ammo for the beast rings up north of $1 per trigger pull, which in a word is spendy. At 100 yards, that advantage is holding strong with the .450 Marlin showing an additional 701 ft-lbs of energy. 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. | You have two cartridges that are headed in opposite directions. 450 Marlin vs 45-70. 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. A behemoth by any standard, the large-bore rifle cartridge has been the go-to for many if not most hunters around the shores of Lake Michigan and Lake Erie up to this point. Cookie Policy - There are a few single-shot rifles out there as well, but this cartridge needs a modern repeating rifle. I have an H&R 444 with the 16tw barrel - loaded some 240gr. The overall length on the .450 Marlin is also just a bit longer, at 2.55" compared to 2.26" on the Bushmaster. GunnersDen.com ~ I live in the dense hard woods of new England where even walking up a tall hill will put you into the pines and out of any hardwoods. 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. 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. Follow along to see exactly how. The .350 Legend is a blue-light special (if you remember that analogy) in comparison. When it comes to .450 Bushmaster vs .350 Legend, is there a clear winner? The Wild West aperture rear sight costs $100 for Marlins, or $120 for Winchesters. One would think that would have to play in to your decision making. The only thing holding it back right now is the delivery system. There were faint instances of dished-out holes in the receiver sides, where the buffing wheel went into the screw holes. Thats the exact opposite of whats in vogue with modern rifle cartridges today. Eliminate trailing, disputes over the game, keep the deer on your side of the fence. Then the Marlin 1895 lever-action rifle came along in 1972 and changed everything. is even more expensive. Marlin .450 Bushmaster Lever-Action in 2017 A few months back, we had Michigan hunter approach us to build him a precision Marlin lever-action rifle in .450 Bushmaster. Shoot it enough and know what to expect and it shouldnt prove prohibitive, except to the most recoil shy. A .450 Bushmaster is .452 inches while the .350 Legend is only about .3570 inches, which makes it more comparable to a .223 Remington. Offers more range than any commercial lever gun cartridge except the .338 ME Ive used a 308 and hit a branch with it and the bullet broke apart and i thankfully got a lucky hit to the neck with about half a bullet tumbling through the air. You have to understand though I live within walking distance of the northern end of the white mountain national forest and the hills around here often get above 4000 feet in elevation. The 1895M was fitted with barrel-mounted iron sights, though it was also drilled and tapped for scope mounting. The Ashley was drift-adjustable using opposing screws, though we could see no easy way to adjust it for elevation. You may have a perfect group going on your target only to find the next shot is off in another time zone. Absolutely, it depends on what rifle you usemore exactly its weightas to how many foot-pounds of energy will jolt into your shoulder. We stock a full range of bulk rifle ammunition to meet . The inletting was nowhere near as good as on the Marlins. Ballistically, the .450 Bushmaster is close to the .45/70 in terms of velocity . We believe the development time used up by Marlin on that rifle could have been spent promoting the grand versatility of the .45-70 Guide Gun, letting folks know that it can handle good stout loads like those from Buffalo Bore, and making the Guide Gun exactly the way it should be, with an aperture rear sight right from the factory, softer recoil pad, and the slickest possible action. Big Bore Cartridges Compared! Why wouldnt they be in similar rifles? 1, the .45-70 can be loaded to impressive performance. Archive - In days past these included the .348, various wildcats on that theme like the .450 Alaskan, the .45-70, and numerous blackpowder-era cartridges modernized with smokeless powder. They were solidly made of steel and walnut, and looked like they would hold together for a long time. 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. 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. I am currently building a bolt action .444 Marlin that I am expecting good things from this fall. Velocity Tests and more! That size requires rifle, not pistol, bullets. 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. 444 Marlin VS 450 Bushmaster Which is Better. As it was, we liked the ring for its simplicity, but it was extremely vulnerable, sticking up in the breeze. 1s, new Winchester 1886s, and the like. Specifically, the hot .45-70 Buffalo Bore (BB) ammunition gave a 405-grain bullet the astounding velocity of 1,900 fps, compared to 1,200 fps with the ordinary loading of that bullet by Remington. Looking at the ruger American 22 inch bolt. RENE reports 6 different versions of the American Rifle in 450 Bushmaster and now the GSR makes 7.