marlin lever gun for moose

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seanross

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I'm curently shooting a 243 but next year I plan on going for bigger game then white tails any thoughts on the 444 marlin or the 4570/450 marlin for elk and moose?
 
All three of the ctg's you mentioned are fine for Moose, just be good at range estimation as they are not as flat shooting as their spitzer pointed higher velocity bretheren.

If you want to buy a Marlin then keep your eyes open in the EE for an actual Marlin built example ( there has been horror stories with Remington built examples) If it was me I would look to the 45/70. Nowhere to go but up with performance from a factory load standpoint and lots of sage load advice here and elsewhere.
 
I was told that the 450 marlin was just a hot version of the 4570 and that most of the factory loads for the 4570 are wimpy due to all the old rifles out there? So if I handload I should be able to match the 450 if I'm shooting a new marlin?
 
As you have already been warned. The new marlins are junk. I had a 336Y and sent it back for service. They refused and refunded my money instead.

I have an old 1895 GS in 45/70. I would not be afraid to take on a moose out to 150. That is only because after that the drop becomes an interesting problem to figure out.

If you get a 444, 450, 45/70, practice at 50 yard intervals so that you know your drop. It will help in estimating distance to your moose.

My load is 405 gr lead at about 1400 fps. Not bad for recoil and strong enough to make a clean kill.
 
I've purchased a Marlin 1895GS in 45-70 a couple years back and while I've 'punched paper' with it, admittedly I haven't used it on game,;) yet.

Marlin1895GS45-70.jpg


I've had a Marlin 444S for many years and with handloads using the 265gr Hornady bullets, it's performed well on Deer, Black Bear and Moose.

Marlin444S444.jpg
 
I have a guide gun in 4570 that I use a lot when moose hunting. If the ranges are 200 and less it is not a problem. I reload mine and have it travelling at 1700-1750fps for 405g reminhton and recoil is not bad. I have also pushed this bullet over 1900fps with it and recoil is stout. Nice thing about 4570 is it can be loaded from 1000fps to 2250fps dependant on the gun
Keith
 
I would not hesitate for a moment taking a shot out to 200 yards with any of the three mentioned.
The key is to practice, practice, practice.
Know your trajectory at all likely ranges and you will be fine.
Eagleye.
 
The old buffalo hunters killed everything with the 4570 and they killed buff out a lot further then 200 yards. Yes it was flat land and they could watch them fall but the 4570 is a potent round if one knows the trajectory
 
Dont know about 45-70 but out of my Steyr BB 450M i push 350 gr interlock at 2350 fps, this is serious fire power and all under one inch... Cheers. JP.
 
Of all the rounds mentioned, the 45/70 has the most jam when reloaded, as it can be loaded to the same pressure levels as the others, and is the biggest and will digest the heaviest of bullets. It is easily a 200 yd. moose gun esp. with good irons(peep) or esp. scoped, however many times and places folks are better off with irons, so maybe some kind of QD. mount setup may be best if you want to stretch the range. Any of the cast flat points from over 400 grs. to 600grs. will be best on the big stuff....enjoy!!
 
I had a 444 Marlin SS (real Marlin) with an old 4x Weaver on it with an extra cross hair in it. Sighted it dead on at 100 yds and the other one was 2" high at 200 yds with a full load of H322 and a handloaded Speer 300 gr FP @ 2200 fps. 3 shot 1 1/4" groups at 100. I could hit a 4" steel swinger every time at 200 off the bench. Hammered a moose at just over 100 yds. I would have shot 250 without hesitation.
I use a BLR 358 and 225 Partitions now. it hits the 300 yd steel no problem.
 
seanross said:
I was told that the 450 marlin was just a hot version of the 4570 and that most of the factory loads for the 4570 are wimpy due to all the old rifles out there? So if I handload I should be able to match the 450 if I'm shooting a new marlin?
Click to expand...

Correct, just load up the Marlin 45-70. Regardless what you are going to shoot, I'll bet you don't load the 45-70 to it's maximum!
 
seanross said:
I'm thinking a range finder and a good 3-9 with mil dots might be an asset then
Click to expand...

You do not need a 3 to 9 scope on a 45-70.
The key is low power and wide field of view, like 1.5 to about 4 or 4.5.
Actually, Weaver at one time made a scope designed for a shotgun, which was 1X. In my opinion this would be great on a 45-70. The outstanding field of view and no magnification, would be ideal for shooting at a running animal in the bush.
On a 200 yard shot, if you missed, or made a bad hit, it wouldn't be because of lack of magnification, provided you have normal eyesight.
If you had time to range find on an animal, at say 215 yards, you would then just hold as high as your former tests for trajectory indicated you should hold. Magnification would have little, if anything, to do with whether or not you made a good hit.
 
moose and elk

Pick the 45-70. You will have trouble finding brass and factory ammo for the 450Marlin as the Chambering is being discontinued. There are vast bullet choices for the 45-70 vs the 444 and Brass is easier to come by. I shoot my 45-70 Giude gun out to 200m with the stock iron sights for silhouette shooting with no problem. With a scope and moderate hanloads it will shoot 1.5-2" groups at 100yds all day long.
 
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