re-loading questions about .450 Marlin in BLR

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loooongshotz

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In researching re-loading data for a possible purchase of a BLR in .450 Marlin I am coming up only with data for the 1895 Marlin.

Specifically I'm looking for data using the Barnes X bullets, particularly the spitzers. The BC's of some of these bullets is in the low .300's and I believe the 350 gr. TSX is .402 if memory serves correctly. These bullets, trajectory notwithstanding, at about 1800 FPS have impressive ballistics beyond 200M. Look out you magnum owners! Not concerned so much with powder/bullet combinations as with the COL to assure reliable feeding with the long for weight X bullets.

In any case, data that I you would be willing to share as a starting point would be much appreciated please and thanks.
PM if you chose.

Thanks again.
 
loooongshotz - May I ask you a serious question, please? You've obviously got some reason to go for the .450 Marlin, meaning that you must have done your research. (Unless, you're like me, with a locker full of "Now what in the Hell was I thinking when I bought that?)

Not mocking in any way, but the .450 Marlin seems to be yet another cure without a disease, an attempt to recreate something that already existed, the .45-70. So why not stick with the .45-70? What the fascination with shiny-and-new?
 
ATOM said:
loooongshotz - May I ask you a serious question, please? You've obviously got some reason to go for the .450 Marlin, meaning that you must have done your research. (Unless, you're like me, with a locker full of "Now what in the Hell was I thinking when I bought that?)

Not mocking in any way, but the .450 Marlin seems to be yet another cure without a disease, an attempt to recreate something that already existed, the .45-70. So why not stick with the .45-70? What the fascination with shiny-and-new?
Click to expand...

No problem.

As you know the Marlin round was brought out as a factory available cartridge that duplicates the modern (+P) 45-70 loads, giving those who don't reload, or otherwise have access to the various high pressure loads available in the US of A, a (factory) cartridge capable as a +P 45-70.

Only after Remington acquired Marlin, was the decision made to drop the cartridge from its line.

Hornady, who in partner-ship with Marlin originally designed the cartridge, still has a ferocious demand for .450M brass. This according to an email I recently received from Hornady marketing.

The BLR is far more flexible in terms of what it can "digest" with various .450 loads as compared to the Marlin rifle. This is not to take away from the Marlin, but as you know the BLR action is chambered for cartridges that far exceed the 42,500 PSI that the .450 is limited to in the traditional lever guns, albeit those same guns produced with better and stronger materials than yesteryear.

More of interest to me is the type of bullet designs that the box magazine allows to be used. IE spitzer bullets. Run the calculations through any on-line ballistics calculator and the figures for the Barnes X spitzer bullets put out some truly impressive numbers at ranges out to 250M, trajectory notwithstanding. Juice up those published max. data (calculated for the weaker 1895 action) by about another 100FPS, and coupled with BC's in the .300's and one of .402 (the 350 grn. TTSX), gives energies rivalling the high stepping magnums, with bullets that have much more mass and frontal area. Even re-loaded with Marlin 1895 data the .450, and likewise the high pressure 45-70 loads, can take anything on the planet that has 4 legs; and a lot of stuff that swims as well.

Flexibility written big. If you can use spitzer bullets, at perhaps higher than published velocities utilizing the inherent strength of the BLR action, you truly have a powerhouse.
 
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