Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire .450 bushmaster v. .45-70 govt

The Bushmaster in most of its factory configurations is a broadside cartridge, the 45-70 at inception and even better today, is an ass to front, front to ass cartridge.

The Bushmaster could be more than the improvised pistol bulleted rifle cartridge it is, but the world is rife with the "need" for concepts manufacturers need to sell.

Seen both in action and the 45-70 covers way more ground and cheaper for a handloader.

That's right and if the 7th Cav had not of traded their Sharps carbines in on trapdoor carbines with junk Benet primed ammo maybe they would have lasted longer. Who knows but not being armed with a dead reliable arm and ammo ain't gonna do anything good for your longevity. ...mb

FWIW...
I have a Marlin 1895G 45-70. Running the Nosler 300 gr BST at 2100 fps.
Best 3 shot group at 100 yds went 0.400" c/c and 2" groups on my 250 yard gong. Longest shot on a deer was a doe at 260 yards, DRT.
In a Ruger #1, a 45-70 would be one smooth shooter.

JD338

I have a CVA Scout .45-70 very accurate I can get 3 shots in bullseye at 100 yds. Don't have the Bushmaster 450 so can't comment on that one.

The only advantage I see given your situation is the .450 Bushmaster fits in an AR verses the .45-70 that's specific to Fudd guns only. Otherwise you can flip a quarter between the two to decide. I prefer the .458 SOCOM over the Bushmaster round and personally seen it used on bears to good affect, but being limited to straight-wall cases, you don't have that option.

You can load it just as wild for modern Marlin 1895s as you can the Ruger #1. Don't confuse modern Marlins with old Marlins.

The answer to the question is ... depends.

Full length 45-70 is still not allowed in Michigan although new dimension Hornady stuff is ... still, 45-70 is far more versatile. I love my 1895, it is one of the first things I grab for anything here on the farm.

450 Bushmaster out of a Savage or Ruger #1 is cool for whitetail hunting inside of 150 yards. 200 is stretching it imho.

I searched for, and found, a Ruger #1 Lipseys special in 45/70 . It's a #1C with the Circassian walnut and a 26" tube. I have both cast lead, and jacketed handloads for it and can cover ANY animal on the Continent that I wish to hunt!


Frog---OUT!

Does anyone own the Henry side loader?

I have never liked a powerful cartridge that headspaces on the mouth.

Many don't mind... that is my $0.02 worth.

I prefer the 458 SOCOM in an AR, but it is not a Straight Walled case so it’s out for the OP.

This...But I'll add both are way overkill for deer.

If I were determined to get a 45-70, I'd probably only be looking at the Winchester 86. With the Browning 86 as a second choice.

Dead is dead.

Most deer are are killed with cartridges that could be considered "overkill".

I'd get a .350 Legend.

(Crawling back under a rock now.)

OK....I do most of my hunting in Michigan we are limited to 35 caliber or larger no longer than 1.8"....well the 450 BM was my choice I also had Cutting Edge Bullets change there 160 gr. muzzleloading bullet for the use in the 450 BM.....I have no problem shooting whitetails out at 200 yards in fact only one walked a couple step all the rest were ....DRT....

This year I will be hunting Ohio there is no restriction on case length but must be 35-50 Caliber.....so I picked up a Ruger 77 458 WM and going to be shooting 250 gr Cutting Edge Bullets at close to 3000 fps....should be no problem shooting out to 300 yards.....

I would go with the Ruger.

Because if you reload you can make the loads fit the game.

Whatever load you end up using it will work on all of the critters you will run in to.

Good read!

I used to have a .450 Marlin, which is a hot version of the .45-70. Sold it to my nephew, who still has it. Ballistics approach the lower end of .458 Win Mag.

I got a good deal on a 50 Beowulf upper, I'm having a Blast with it! Mostly reloading for it but do have some factory ammo too! Plan on hunting deer with it this fall and if I draw a bear tag next fall, using it also! I'm a big fan of the 45-70s and have killed alot of deer, a bear and a buffalo with one!

In a #1 I'd go 45/70. I have ran 350g Hornady flat noses up to 2100 fps in my marlin guide gun. My gg is not ported though and as I've gotten older those loads are too much. Lately it's been cast and powder coated lee 340g at about 1600 fps which still kicks a bit but doesn't stand the barrel straight in the air. Generally I think there are more options in factory loaded 45/70 then the bushy although during this last shortage bushy was easier to find. If you handload the 45/70 is very versatile. There are some decent cheaper bolt guns available in the bushmaster that may be worth a look.

I fought with a 458 socom for years but always had some type of feeding or ejection problems. The dies and chambers of the socom are often spec'd different. Radical took my 458 upper back and gave me a 350 legend rifle upper along with a 300 bo pistol upper for my trouble. The 350 functions well but I have to watch for setback in an ar.

Lately I've carried my 444p marlin outfitter more than anything. Those ports really help for quick follow ups and my moderate load of 270g Speers at 2200 still seems like enough for most things. If 444 is an option the factory 265 Hornady flat nose does a lot of things well. I'm not sure if a #1 is available in 444 though.

Bb