Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Straightwall cartridge choice?

I currently utilize a 45-70 lever action marlin for a special regulations unit in PA and OH. I have noticed numerous new straightwall caliber offerings. The 45-70 has a pretty strong recoil and I am wondering if any of these new cartridges offer similar performance and knock down power. Can anyone offer anything on this?

The 450 Bushmaster is the only one that I would say offers similar performance. The 350 Legend is a smaller round that offers a good bit less recoil but won’t have the knockdown power of the 45/70. That said, it and the 450 are very adequate for any close to moderate range deer hunting.

I have found that the 350L is plenty for deer. Low recoil is the main reason why I have it. But the two deer that I have killed with it went down no muss, no fuss.

I shot a.444 marlin for a few years. I went with 350 Legend a few years ago. I have killed all three deer at. Two bucks and a doe.
This years buck was 230 lbs shot at 170-180 yards. The buck was DRT. The other two at the same ranges went only a few steps before expiring.
I wanted a lighter weight scoped bolt action with my mag flush with the stock. Similar to my rifles I shoot everywhere else. Winchester xpr checked the boxes. My first budget rifle and I am leased with it. What the 350 gives up on power it seems to make up on accuracy.
My other hunting buddies that are shooting them are impressed as well.

I had my doubts when I bought mine but dead deer are all the evidence I needed.

I am a member of a couple of 350 Legend Facebook groups. There are plenty of instances of those large bodied deer from up north and the Midwest being effectively dispatched with lots of reports of dead right there and short track jobs. It seems like a well designed cartridge that can be used very effectively out to 200 yards.

If the 45-70 kicks too much that is super easy to remedy. Stop running Leverevolution or whatever you're running and switch to Trapdoor loads. Remington has a 300 and a 405 grain and they're both pussycats but they kill game just fine. I myself have switched to blackpowder loads in my single shot. I still run Leverevolution in my Guide Gun

If I had to use a straight wall cartridge, I'd buy a 360 Buckhammer.

I love my .444 Marlin. Just don't shackle it with factory JSP (pistol bullet) loads.

Been using the 50 2 1/2” Sharps. Not cause I have to though.

No kill reports yet but if 700 grains at 1400 won’t work on a scrawny deer, I’ll try golf

I use two straight wall cartridges a 38/55 built on a High Wall action and a Ruger #1 405 Winchester.

I have a single shot rifle in 360 BHMR. I just wish I could get the deer to cooperate. They must have gotten "the memo".

Henry?

The problem with that is they have over a foot of drop at 200 yards. The idea is to get as close to bottle necked cartridge goodness as possible.

Same. But sadly, I don't think it will ever get off of the ground, so I'd say 350 Legend.


Okie John

A 200 grain Sierria bullet and H4895 gives me just under 2000 FPS in my 38-55. It's a capable 200 yard rifle.

Remington needs to step up (for a change) and support it more. Even if they made a few in a break action single shot it would be better than nothing.

Rem Arms has nothing to do with Remington ammo, totally separate companies since the split up. You’ll see several other brands chambering the 360 next year.

i use a TC Encore in 23" MGM barrel in 444 Marlin and 500 Linebaugh. the 500L with 450gr LFN GC and HS6 goes 1235fps that i have yet to kill a deer.

the 444 Marlin using 255gr Kieth type, 275gr Ranch Dog, 280gr WFN & LFN GC, 300gr SAECO FN GC and 265gr Hornady FN. at first, the 275gr Ranch Dog, 280gr WFN & LFN GC and 265gr Hornady FN were going 2300+fps and they were damaging the meat. when i took the powder charge down to 1900+/-fps, i could eat up to the hole. the 300gr Saeco and 2400/tuft of Dacron was going 1624fps and i could eat up to the hole.

where i hunt, 60 yards is considered a long shot. 30ish yards is my average. this year i shot a doe that was slightly broadside 40ish yards away. i used a 280gr WFN GC and Reloder 7 going 1937fps and it went behind shoulder about a 1/3 of the way up, wrecked the lungs and broke two ribs and went out (about 1 1/2 " hole) the doe. she ran, after the shot, about 15ish yards and then fell over. i could see the blood coming out when she ran.

the difference between hot load and a medium load is the hot load equals bloodshot meat and the medium load equals eat up to the hole.

Nice, beretzs! To quote Harry Callahan, "He shows a certain sense of style." You can tame recoil by going to a lesser cartridge - sure. Or, you can just add a little mass. Can't wait for the kill report!