I wonder what Marlin did to strengthen the .450, 1895 receiver/barrel at the weak spot. The .450 case may be stronger than the .45-70 case, but I don't see how the gun could be strengthened at that spot. The design is what it is and those two rounds have the same case body diameter.
DF
If you compare Marlin rifles in 450M and 45/70 side by side you will notice that the ejection port and load port are smaller in the case of the 450. The 450 has a smaller rim and the mag tube is smaller than a 45/70 tube mag, which leaves more metal in the critical area between the bottom of the barrel and the top of the magazine. Marlin also changed the thread type in the 450 (Vee vs Flat thread), again leaving more metal in this critical area. Most examples of blow ups of Marlin rifles as far as I can recall have been 45/70's and have given way at the bottom of the barrel and the side just like in the example posted earlier.
Loaded sensibly a 45/70 is fine but the 450 has more margin for error.
