1895M Marlin Big bore Lever action 450cal.

I was asked to tell more about this gun and my exsperience with it. So here it goes! This is a fairly new gun and cartridge. The gun has an 18 1/2 inch ported barrel, and side exjection. I guess these are the two main factors why I like this gun for what and were I hunt, Black bear / deer. The side exjection in the rifle makes mounting a scope very easy which can be a problem on other lever guns becasue they throw the spent shell out the top and the ejection port makes in hard to get a scope mounted well. The adtantage of the short barrel on the gun makes it very quick to point and swing at moving targets. also were I hunt a 150 yard shot is almost never heard of. the thick woods of NY limits your shots. The gun is capable of taking a 200 yard shot but with the big chunk of lead comming out the muzzle you are better off keeping it to around 150. The ports that are on the top and sides of the barrle help control recoil which is great for follow up shots. and the lever action helps you to keep on the target while chambering a cartridge. and is quicker than a bolt action. The only thing I would change about the gun and did is the but pad. it needs alittle more than what come on it from the factory. There is alot of talk if the 450 cal is any better than the 45-70. they are really the same if you ask me. and most people say that is really isn't worth having the new round. I like the new round better because you can buy hard hitting rounds right from the store. reloaders can get the same proformace out of the 45-70. If you do reoad (which I do limited reloading) then you will find the wall thinknes of the 450 a little bit better and the belt helps with loading the shell a couple more times than the 45-70. you can use almost all the bullets that you would use for the 45-70. for hunting in NY a load my hunting rounds with a 300 grain hollow point so it handles dear well and if a black bear walks by it handles that very well also! if you are in the woods for bear alone use the 350 grain flat point off the shelf and you will realize a one shot drop him where he stands black bear round.

I don't like porting especially on a hunting gun where you probably will not be wearing hearing protection. I find the blast from the porting more disturbing than the recoil. You may need your hearing after a shot?

I had a 45-70 Contender barrel that I sold because I would never have shot it without hearing protection. A friend has the ported Marlin 450 and I would not shoot it without hearing protection (hunting situation). I have permanent hearing damage from shooting without hearing protection (stupid youth) and have had many bruised shoulders. Shoulders heal but hearing does not.

My $.02 on porting.

JS, I've got a Guide Gun but have used it only on whitetail. Please tell us more of your bear _hunts_ with the Marlin 1895M and the 450 Marlin cartridge; describe the difference in performance between the 300 grain JHP versus the 350 flatpoint on the bears you have shot. Shot placement, wound path, distance the bear traveled after the hit, etc. Good hunting! Michael

Sorry it took me so long to write back Michael. Really both rounds are good for black bear. The advantage of the larger flat point round is that it retains more weight while used on black bear. The bear can get up to 600 lbs out here so I like the bigger round pluss you are looking at about 100 yard shots. if you are shooting at shorter ranges you might proferr the hollow point so it will open up at that range. If you use the flat point at short range it might just cut right through without causing as much damage as you would like. many people that hunt bear don't beleave that this size gun is needed, but they very almost never realize a one shot kill. The ranges very greatly here in NY. some times you can see them comming other times the bear can sneak by at 40 yards and you never get a look at them. Not all bears are as cute as PooH Bear. This bigger round makes a perminent hole in the body of the bear. smaller rounds seem to me 'heal' after the round passes through. meening the round cuts through and the skin and fat quickly seal back up proventing blood loss. When I shoulder my rifle I know the bullet is passing all the way though causing great damage. even if it hits bone.

You might try the BarnesX 300 Grain FP for both. Great penetration and it opens up in the traditional Barnes fashion cutting a big hole. I've gotten 2100 fps out of my .45-70 guide gun using Reloader 7. Lot's of flame and noise though.

You know what John, you have a good point there. I have the 450 Marlin and love the gun. But you really can't shoot it with out hearing protection your right. I tryed it.... ouch! The gun really is a hunting gun. If you are not going to use it for that reason it isn't worth buying. The re-coil almost makes it not fun to shoot, almost. I couldn't imangin shooting it with out the ports, I think they do make a difference. Any how while in the woods I would recomend a game ear unit, which lets you hear perfectly and then when a shot is fired cuts off and muffles the report. or do what I do. I have foam plugs that are on a band that I keep on my head when a deer or bear walks by I slip them down raise the gun up and shoot. I know, I know who wants to take the time to do that 'what happens if you need to take one of thouse quick shots?' well honesty your out of luck. I guess that is where you would profer the game ear unit. I really don't like taking running shots at animals any how. I have taken animals in the past that way, but it just isn't worth it to me any more. I have taken my fair share of game and I would profer to spend my time in the woods hunting rather than trying to track down a wounded black bear in thick cover. know what I meen?

While I agree that porting can make shooting unpleasant

Ed, I like 'Mjolnir' my Guide Gun just fine too, but have only shot it with 405 and 300 grain factory loads. I too find the porting is not obnoxious with those rounds, but the Guide Gun probably does not need them at that power level either. Perhaps Marlin agrees, as they no longer port the barrels of their 45/70 Guide Gun. If I ever get around to boosting the

1900 seems like a good idea, for no particular reason - the brake will come in handy I suppose. Good hunting! Michael

Ya I just recently have been looking into differn't bullets for my Marlin Guide Gun. The problem I am running into more than anything is that because of the tube magagzine you have to be sure that the bullet will not hit the primer of the other cartridge while in the Magazine seting it off. that would be bad... the recoil on these guns are 'noticable' so you have to ba sure about it.