Go with the 45-70. It will do everything from mild to wild and the brass will be available forever.

Welcome to MO

 

+1 I agree 100%

 

You didn't mention if you were going to handload for your new rifle, or not. I happen to own two rifles in each cartridge and here's the way I see it. If you handload, then probably the 45-70 would be the way to go. As already mentioned, brass is easily found and you can simply pick your poison for your shoulder. If you are not going to handload, and especially if you want some souped up loads for your bear hunting, then perhaps the .450 would be the way to go.

When you start to talk factory loads more powerful for the 45-70 than the 45-70 factory LE, then for the most part you are also talking more $$ and in some cases a lot more $$. The difference in performance with the reasonably priced Hornady loads for the 45-70 VS the .450 is fairly significant. As a matter of fact, in the rifle you mentioned with 18.5" barrel, the .450 will deliver pretty much full blown 45-70 LE performance from that short barrel, and be about 200 FPS faster than the 45-70 shooting the same factory bullet weight in the same barrel length and carrying 500 FPE more as well. I call that significant. Others may not. The 350gr/.450 load would also be a good bit more powerful out of that 18.5" tube than the LE/325 out of the 45-70. On the order of about 350 FPE more energy at the muzzle for the .450/18.5" shooting a heavier, tougher bullet.

So, whether or not you are going to handload for your new cartridge, might also help answer which one might be better for you.

 

450 and shoot the 325 gr or the 350 gr. If your loading and, you want something cooler just load down.

 

Howdy! An 1895M is a 450 Guide Gun, an 1895G is a 45/70 Guide Gun. I have both and wouldn't do without either. I would agree with 336ER with regard to reloading or buying factory.

ihunter338 may have my final answer if I could only have one.

1895M

1895G

 

336er has just about summed it up, as for brass 45-70 will be around forever, I believe the 450 brass will be around for quite a while yet, but albeit at a much higher price. Myself I have the 45-70 and load everything from 250gr Barnes to 570gr cast (CBE) and just about everything in between. Of course you can do the same with the 450 which I believe has the stronger brass. The answer in the final analysis, I believe is EITHER as they both will do the same job with the same bullets at hand. So in my opinion it all comes down to your own choice and what you feel you will be the happiest bet.
My two cents and hope this helps.

 

Thanks for the replies. I haven't had an opportunity to shoot either. My hunting buddies all shoot 30-30 or .35 and kill bear dead. We dog hunt and most of the time we have to crawl in the bay after him. I use a short slug gun now but I like the looks of the 1895M. Both calibers are probably overkill but when the bear is in your face you cant kill him too dead. I do reload so ammo prices dont really affect me as bad.

 

Howdy! An 1895M is a 450 Guide Gun, an 1895G is a 45/70 Guide Gun. I have both and wouldn't do without either. I would agree with 336ER with regard to reloading or buying factory.

ihunter338 may have my final answer if I could only have one.

1895M

1895G

Gee, I can't help but notice that your 45-70 seems to be a bit more balanced a rifle.. ;D..LOL!! Purty rifles, BOTH!!

 

Thanks 336ER, must of been the extended eyepiece on the 450's scope making it tip. Either that or the porting didn't really help the muzzle jump after all. ;D

 

The 450 is just so much fun to shoot!

 

That is a highly technical answer. Probably the best one.

Gun owners are like dogs, if it is not fun we ain't going to do it.

 

My two cents is either one is great but if you want a caliber no longer available and cause it's the biggest and badass then the 450 is the way to go. If you want legendary age proven then make the 45-70 choice, you can't go wrong either one.

 

I chose the 450M and never looked back.

Hand load or not.. it is the way to go.

 

450, 450, 450! Uuuhhh, did I say that out loud?

 

Here is some subliminal messaging.

Good Times.....

 

1895Gunner...that makes my shoulder hurt just looking at that line-up.

 

Go with the 45-70 more available brass and team 45-70 needs a few more members ;D

 

I lean toward the 45-70 simply because of the availability of ammo. I have never seen 450 ammo on the shelf at Wally World or the local hardware store.

 

Here is some subliminal messaging.

Good Times.....

Love it!
1895Gunner- what scope is on your 1895g?

 

Love it!
1895Gunner- what scope is on your 1895g?

Hey there Lil Bear, it is a 1.5 X 4.5 Bushnell Banner on Weaver medium Quad Locks. Same as on the 1895M. They look different because the adjustable eye piece is extended on the 1895M. It's the same as on my 444P and now my 336D. Next the 1894P.. Love this scope although the one on the 450 failed (glass separated). Sent it back to Bushnell and they replaced with new scope.

 

Excellent- glad they worked with you. I tried to get an older scope re-gassed and they wanted to charge me more than I paid for the scope. So I picked up a new Leupold instead. I found a Bushnell 3-9x33 in the back of my gun safe. Guess I will put it on my .450 until I get the Redfields in.

 

It has become appearant that you can't make up your mind. This because you need both. So you problem is that you need to decide which one to buy first. So you need to do so some shopping. Shop around for both gun and cartridges first and see which is the easiest to acquire economically and conveniently in your area. Then get that one. Later on you get the other one and now your complex is problem solved. You'll be much happier with both, you wait and see! Ask anyone here if I not be true.

 

I have both and the 45-70 is a good round. I perfer the 450 simply because the brass is better and feeds great. The ammo is great right the shelf and easy to reload. I reload for both and find the 450 an excellent choice. You won't go wrong with either. Unless you reload, the heavier 45-70 loads are too expensive as is most other things in life.

 

Or a bargain when dealing with the actual bear

 

1895Gunner...that makes my shoulder hurt just looking at that line-up.

City Slicker, I'm thinking that you really want a 450 cause you've been hangin out with us a bunch lately. Come on now - admit it.

 

I like the pretty pictures...but I think you fellas are too tough for me. ;D

 

I was looking at the Marlin 45/70's until I came across this Marlin 1895M .450 Marlin at a
local pawn shop, and after doing research on the cartridge I decided to go with the .450
Marlin, as I like buying factory high power ammo; I don't reload. I got this one for $300
out the door [it's like new] so that helped me decide too.

I'll put a "Decelerator pad", a "bullet stock band", a nice sling and leave the rest as it is;
I like to keep it simple and I can do pretty good with iron sights.

I found the cheapest ammo at Big Supply Shop; 5 boxes of Hornady 350 gr FP [with shipping]
for $157.66 which is a pretty good deal [$1.57 per round].

http://www.bigsupplyshop.com/Hornady-450-Marlin-350gr-FP-20-8250_p_567.html

I'll use this when I'm out in the wilderness hiking, camping, fishing and such to dispatch
any maniac animals with bad attitudes.

I also picked up this [like new] genuine US Army M9 bayonet at another pawn shop for
only $30 out the door, which was a steal. This bayonet makes a great hunting/fighting/
survival knife and I also have AR-15's to attach it to in case I feel the need.

 

CDMCKY, welcome to MarlinOwners. Great deal on the 450! Why don't you swing by here and join Team 450?

1895Gunner