[450 Sniper]

I've read this is based on the 336 action.

Does anyone on here actually have one? I did a search and found a few things, but nothing too much about them or pictures and a complete review including patterns, rounds and game taken.

I'm trying to decide if one has an actual practical purpose, other than the fact I want one!
Yes, I suffer severely from Marlinitus Leveritus.
Believe me, if I could I would have moved the old plant AND employees into my backyard. There would have been an employee gun made every day! ;D (of course, ALL of the Marlins ever sold from that point on would have been USED Marlins! 8))

So, back to my question: Who's got one? Other than the 'cool' factor, what good is it? I know it's a cylinder bore. I have hunted the crap out of rabbits (no pun intended) with a Mossberg 410 Home Security with a spreader choke - that little baby did great with #7 1/2 shot.

Here's what I am wrestling with:
I was looking for good shot loads for my 45 Colt.
Well, this little 410 lever gun kinda achieves what I had in mind, just from a backwards direction.
I can use shot for quail, rabbits or whatever small game/birds AND still have the option of some Federal 2.5" 4 ball 000 buck OR a 1/4 ounce 2.5" Federal slug for ???

I know, I know - the sidekick would have to be a Judge or a Bond Arms Ranger.

My 'custom options' I had in mind are:
1. Bore the inside of the barrel to .452" diameter and leave it a smooth bore (you know where that is headed)
2. Have the barrel threaded for chokes, including a custom rifle choke for 45 Colt - maybe even just use a T/C Contender choke system.

My minds not made up, so I don't need a push over the edge ( ) - just lookin' for some real world answers from those members that got one.................

I need an honest, truthful back woods review!!!

(can I sit up off of the couch now?) (don't worry - yellow doesn't make me sad!)

;D

 

[yukondog]

If they did'nt cost sooo much I would not mind having one but for the price I could get two reg. marlins.

 

[450 Sniper]

Their not THAT bad! All of the other Marlins are going up SOON! Once Dealer stock is out - who knows.
A Marlin might cost as much as a gallon of gas! (OK - don't go there. Let's stick to the 410!)

 

[big medicine]

I've got one. Marlin made them for Cabela's a few years back. The price was $499 IIRC. They are a nice little shotgun. I have killed doves and rabbits wit it.

 

[450 Sniper]

So it has a useful purpose other than a collector novelty?

 

[Plundering Bill]

I had one for a while - it was somewhat fun but I never got overly excited by the 410.

Note to file - I do reload the 410, it is the only economically feasible way to work with that round.

 

[Eli Chaps]

That just may be the one Marlin I never understood or at least had a need for.

It just never struck a cord with me and there are few folks who have Marlinitis worse than I do. ;D

As Bill pointed out, .410 is expensive as well.

 

[450 Sniper]

Yeah - I don't need it. I can't really find a useful niche for it to fill.

I suppose if Marlin had made it 45/410 compatible from the start and had some type of choke system it would have been more popular.
THEN it would have been a great cross platform.

I'll have to look into how much my 'smith will want to charge for my proposed changes. If it aint too bad, I'm gonna do it.

I'm cutting the barrel to 16.25", though.

;D

 

[milespb]

I shoot alot of skeet. So I bought one a couple of years ago as a novelty to shoot skeet with. I've done fairly well with it even though it doesn't swing like a skeet gun and I'm not very nimble with the lever. I've never regreted buying it, and have enjoyed it's limited use.

 

[Waldo]

I shoot alot of skeet. So I bought one a couple of years ago as a novelty to shoot skeet with. I've done fairly well with it even though it doesn't swing like a skeet gun and I'm not very nimble with the lever. I've never regreted buying it, and have enjoyed it's limited use.

You would want to be real quick with the doubles but it sounds like an awfull lot of fun!

 

[Time Bomb]

A guy I worked with 7 years ago won 1 at nwtf banquet inlayed with gold on the receiver and I could have bought it for $400 new.It was a nice gun and fed the few slugs we shot out of it good,come to think of it should have bought it but at the time I thought what would I do with a 410.

 

[jnicol6600]

I've got one that I got at cabela's for about 550. I hunt rabbits with it pretty regular and can get kills out to about 20 yards or so. If I stretch it any further than that the rabbit runs far enough before it dies the dogs get it before I do. I am saving up to send to brileys to have some choke tubes installed. I am very glad I bought it. We hunt mostly clearcut timber so the range really is not an issue.

I never thought about a custom rifled choke tube. Sounds like something I would be interested in.
If I get some time I'll pattern it and post some pics. Maybe get some slug shootin in also. I've always wondered about some heavier slugs in this gun. I would think It would take a bit more pressure than sammi specs for .410

The bolt on mine says 450 so 1895 series I guess?

 

[450 Sniper]

Wow! That IS an 1895 action. Cool!

I want mine set up just like a T/C 45/410.

Smooth bore @ .452" so I can shoot 45 Colt through it. That's where the rifled choke tube from T/C comes in.

But I want to be able to screw in a full choke to use the full potential of the 410 bore.

They did a test on the T/C on some gun destruction show. They fired a full house 45 Colt through the T/C shotgun choke to represent someone forgetting to remove the shotgun choke and firing the 45 Colt through it.
All it did was swage the bullet. It didn't damage ANYTHING so it was deemed safe to do. May not be as accurate, but in a pinch you don't HAVE to switch chokes.

That's why I'm opting for the T/C choke tubes.


I'm looking forward to some pictures and a range report.
;D

 

[jnicol6600]

You got me learning things my wife dont want me to know ;D. So let me get this straight. You have it bored rebored from .410 to .452 and have a rifled choke for the 45 colt and a set of 410 chokes made to normal .410 restrictions. Or restricted from 452 down to what ever works?
Looks like an interesting project. Off to see if mine will feed a short 45 colt case

 

[450 Sniper]

It will feed it, but don't shoot it!

Measure your bore - I'm pretty sure it is .410" diameter.

If you want to shoot the 45 Colts, you need to get it 'bored out' to .452".

Here: go to page 2 and read my build request information. It states EVERYTHING you need to know.
(it's my second long post!)
http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,88233.15.html

 

[jnicol6600]

NO SHOOTING ALLOWED. I just wanted to see if it would feed without any hiccups. I've slugged it and the bore is right at .410. I was playing around with .410 brass and .410 caliber bullets to get this rifle to another notch with slugs. but this sounds more fun 8)

 

[450 Sniper]

Sorry, Dude! You just never know any more.
;D

I'm ALL OVER this idea.

Oh NO! Marlinitus Leveritus Customitus!!!

 

[jnicol6600]

Oh NO! Marlinitus Leveritus Customitus!!!

Ha you forgot Expensivus
I tried some 45 colt and I got a double feed. I wonder if you could change the timing for the short 45 and the long .410 would slide by the cartridge cutoff to the next rim

 

[450 Sniper]

That sounds like a viable idea.

Oh brother....................I'm on my way to my local Cabelas to put one on lay away. They are $569.

They have 6 in stock - guess what? I'm looking at ALL 6 and picking the best one!

;D

Back in a few hours.

 

[jnicol6600]

Good luck. hope they got a nice one for ya