450 Marlin project

6MM

6MM

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Just for sh..'s and giggles, I would like to build a 450 Marlin on a bolt action platform. Would it be possible to take a Weatherby Vanguard in a 270 or 300 WSM and have it rebarreled? Would the magazine box need to be altered?

I am not worried about resale value down the road - I have enough boys that would enjoy such a rifle in their safe when I am done with it.

If any of you have a better suggestion for putting together such a bolt gun I would appreciate your input.
 
Brutus beat me to it with his suggestion. The .458 American (.458x2") will give you same or similar ballistics and source of brass is unlimited. With the .450 Marlin you will always be committed to using a proprietary case. I was going to build a bolt-actioned .458x2" but instead built a .416x2" on a Remington Mohawk action.
 
D-Man said:
Brutus beat me to it with his suggestion. The .458 American (.458x2") will give you same or similar ballistics and source of brass is unlimited. With the .450 Marlin you will always be committed to using a proprietary case. I was going to build a bolt-actioned .458x2" but instead built a .416x2" on a Remington Mohawk action.
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BINGO! D-Man has it in 110% financial reality!

Cheap & available brass, same bullets, virtually the same loading data, plus alot less cost to the owner.

If you invest in a few RCBS products, and can work a hacksaw & file, there are very few good reasons, for choosing the 450 Marlin & a Sisk built rifle, that will cost you much more cash layout.

PS: I must also add, to each his own! ;)
 
458 American, 416 x2 - does that ever sound like fun. Being a cheap Irishman I really like these ideas. The idea of reworking brass would be alot more fun.

I already have a Rem 722 in 300 Savage that could be the donor action for the 416 x2. What kind of work to the magazine box would be needed?

Thanks everyone for all the suggestions and advice. If anyone has more ideas, please chime in.
 
6mm.....I got the idea for the .416x2" from "Wildcat Cartridges, Vol 1&2" by Wolfe. If I'm not mistaken there is some info on it on the net. Call up "10.6x51" , the other name it is referred by. I ordered the chambering reamer from Pacific Tool & Gauge, and the reloading dies from CH4D. My 'smith did a very nice job on the metalwork, just getting some mods done to the original stock before heading off to the range. There was some magbox work required but it wasn't a big issue. You have the perfect donor action.....cheers.
 
I would grab some virgin brass of whatever you want to convert to and see how it works with your bolt and magazine.

Sounds like a fun project. Ive had a No.4 mk1 converted to 45-70
 
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what if you had the rifle chambered for .458 winchester , but kept the chamber and throat on the tight side so you could fire 458 American , acurately , in it too ?

458 winchester being nothing more than " .458 x 2.5 " .

this is assuming your action is long enough .
 
Burnt Servo, I see your point but I want to build on a short action.

Still thinking about the 416 caliber. Has anyone seen or heard of something this size built on the WSM casings? I was thinking about Pathfinder's comment about trying some casings in the action and thought something like a 416 WSM would feed slick through a rebarreled WSM action.
 
The only concern I would have is the availibility of .416 bullets appropriate to the velocity of the cartridge. Would .416 bullets work well at lower velocities?

On the other hand there is a large variety of .458 bullets.
 
6mm......a .416 on the WSM case will certainly work, probably already been done. However, unless you have a donor WSM action I would still opt for using the standard magnum case cut back to 2". Again, brass readily available. The perfect donor action is a short-actioned Rem 700 or Ruger 77 factory chambered for 6.5Rem mag or .350 Rem mag. Minimum mag box or feed rail work required. A Rem 722, 600 or 660 works too with bolt face, mag box and rail work. Mine is on a 660 with 23" #5 taper barrel. Compact length, great balance, 7-1/2lb. 300gr. @ 2300.
 
Chuck, I had not thought of terminal performance of a 416 at lower velocity.

D-Man what are your experiences with your 416x2? Any recommendations for bullets?

Thanks for all the replies and keep them coming. I am going to have fun on this one spending my children's inheritance! Knowing them I think they would rather have rifles anyways.
 
No experience yet, it's a new project and still in the shop. Anticipate another two weeks before test firing at the range. The 300gr. Barnes TSX should open up fine at velocities above 1800-1900, so should the Speer 350gr. I'm intending it to be a handy 100-150yd rifle, beyond that I have a .416 Taylor to use. I plan to shoot cast bullets in the x2" as well so I'm not too worried about finding something that will open up adequately and be effective on game out to 200yds.
 
I bought a 1895M Marlin (450) and have never felt I made a bad decision. I've fired several 1000 rounds out of it (HEAVY recoiling 420gr and light easy to shoot 300gr cast slugs) and have lost 0 cases from over 20+ reloads per case. I counted each time I reloaded a case and after 20 reloads decided to stop that project. I could have bought the 45-70 but when I read about the 450 being almost the same as the 458x2 I really wanted one. I shoot lots of cast with other guns so it was an automatic purchase of molds when I got the 450. There are lots of other calibers and cases to build on, I doubt you'd go wrong with any of them. All I can say is if I lost the 450 I'd buy another Marlin the next day. Good luck with your decision, if you need any other info you can PM me but mine is just the 1895M, not a bolt gun.
 
6MM said:
Just for sh..'s and giggles, I would like to build a 450 Marlin on a bolt action platform. Would it be possible to take a Weatherby Vanguard in a 270 or 300 WSM and have it rebarreled? Would the magazine box need to be altered?

I am not worried about resale value down the road - I have enough boys that would enjoy such a rifle in their safe when I am done with it.

If any of you have a better suggestion for putting together such a bolt gun I would appreciate your input.
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I know this is old , but did you ever try this. I'm wanting to build a 450 bolt action off a Tikka . Just have to find someone who can build the barrel.
 
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