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I have a friend with 2 Marlins he no longer needs. Both are 1895 guide guns. One is a non-ported 45-70 and the other is a ported 450 Marlin. Both in excellent condition. Same price on both guns. I dont handload so I will be shooting factory ammo.
Here in Texas I will use it for Hogs, Deer and Coyotes.
Which one do I choose????????????

You can get factory ammo for the 45/70 in mild to wild.

.450 is pretty much loaded to the top end. There also may be an availability issue, I don't know.

Ports are loud.

Both are quite capable of taking very large game.

Anyway, those are my preferences.

I'm almost as old as the 45-70, so I'd prefer that one but the non-porting of the 45-70 cements that for me. Ported barrels hurt to shoot in the field.

Pard, The .45=70 has been around for a bunch of years. I figure it will be around for many more years to come. IMHO go with the .45-70.

45-70 in half a heartbeat and don't look back.

45-70

That sums up my opinion as well. Go w/ the 45-70 and don't look back.

This seems to be the choice of most on here. I like the 45-70 round but wonder why more people shy away from the 450 marlin?

If you reload or want mild ammo, buy the .45/70. If you shoot factory ammo and want power, buy the .450.

There really isn't a bad decision; and you shouldn't be shooting without hearing protection anyway.

45-70. 'Nuf said . . .

I've shot a few short barreled guns, and a ported one here and there. Its my observation that short barreled rifles are just loud, period. I've never been able to tell any difference in muzzle blast between ported short barrels and unported ones, but I can say heavy loads in either gun are going to recoil, and you will know when you light one off.
If you think you need maximum power, then buy the .450 M. Hornady is still the only SAAMI manufacturer to load the .450 M. If you would prefer a more modest approach, then go with the 45-70. Remington, Winchester, and when you can find em-Federal all load the 45-70.
.450 Marlin is loaded at 43,000psi., the .45-70 at 28,000psi. Yes, certain manufacturers exceed the 28,000 limit, and you will pay for this both through your wallet and your shoulder.
If you intend to primarily hunt large hogs, go with the extra stopping power of the .450, if you choose to mostly hunt lighter species, with an occasional large critter, you will be happier with the 45-70.

So does the extra 15K pressure in the 450 generate any substantial velocity difference using same weight projectiles?

Mak--A 45-70 will shoot through the largest hog that ever walked--including Hogzilla-- with a 520 grain 457125 Lyman bullet and 70 grains of black powder. That is 1200 fps give or take 10 fps.

Load a Lyman 457121 480 grain flatnose bullet and 66 grains of 3f black powder in your 1895 Marlin for 1250 fps and get the same result. Don't want to shoot black? Load 37 grains of IMR 3031 with either bullet and get the same result. Complete pass through and dead animals.

The 450 Marlin was a marketing gimmick, pure and simple. I can take my 45-70 Cowboy Marlin with ladder barrel sights and shoot through elk at 400 yards, no problem. And no, I'm not kidding about that. I can reach and kill anything with my 45-70 that you can reach with the 450 Marlin.

You don't have to load a 45-70 hot to get remarkable results. 1200 fps is plenty with 400 to 520 grain bullets, and the recoil is easy on the shoulder. All you get with the hot loads is an ego boost and a sore shoulder.

The 450 is your better rifle, Just do it. One Texan to another.

I would suggest that should you be using a lever gun, you probably have a bit of a naustalgia bent. As such enjoy the 45/70 round. I agree with sharpsguy that the 500 ish bullets under 70 gr equivalent is a comfortable round to shoot, and that six feet of penetration can be expected. That round repeats its flight characteristics round after round with an eirie accuracy.

I have never shot a 450 marlin, or a really souped up 45/70, as the original recipe has always been sufficient. I do confess to an affair with hot loading in my youth, but I returned to my love affair with the original, and have remained satisfied.

Randy

Johnny Loco--I'm a Texan, too.

I'd get the non-ported .45-70-- just cause I'm not crazy about ports. I also like the traditional .45-70 a touch better than the pretty much ballistically equivalent .450 Marlin.

Either gun would be great.

If you don't like tabasco sauce or spicey food, you'll probably stick with the bland 45/70.

You ain't going to shoot the .450 enough to worry about availability of ammo. You'll sight it in and think about it for a while.

Howdy Texans

Both of the rifles were sold before I could buy one but a LEO I know had a Marlin 1985 in .450 Marlin that he was not going to use so I jumped on it. Once I figure out how to post pictures on here I will post them up.

Johnny boy you have bought into the corporate sell of the 450. There is nothing bland about hitting every time and packing out big critters. Have at your 450 once in a while, I'll keep shooting my old bland 45/70, having fun and eating well.
Randy