Hello all I am new to the forum, great site wish I had found it sooner. I would like to know if anyone has had any experience with the Wild West .457 in a Marlin. I am boxing up my rifle to send to WW to have the work done and I am considering the .457, my rifle is in 45/70 and I will be having the barrel cut to 16.5". Any thoughs or opinions? thanks Jerry

The .457 Wild West Magnum is a superfluous cartridge, completely unnecessary. The Marlin 1895 45-70 can be modified to accommodate (cycling and chambering) up to a 2.7" round. With the Marlin 1895 45-70 so modified and loaded there is no difference in performance between the .457 Wild West Magnum and the 45-70, except that you will be using expensive proprietary brass with the 457. It is interesting that if you bring this up to WWG and say you just want the modification to cycle a longer 45-70 round they have refused and instead push the 457 WWG Magnum.

Pretty hard to beat the over a century old 45-70, ain't it? You can spend more money and burn more powder, but at the end of the day, dead is dead.

Thanks to all for the information, I am glad I asked the question.

If you want something that is not a 45/70 (God Forbid)...

The .457 Wild West Magnum performances does not seem any better than a 450 Marlin.

So why not a 450 Marlin?

Or go all the way and get the 50Alaskan. To me its not worth the money to go to 457 over the 45/70 for the little bit of performance gain.

Just go with the standard co-pilot. I love mine and for the last 9 years, it is my favorite rifle.

When both are loaded to their potential in Marlin lever guns the 45-70 Gov't and 450 Marlin are virtual ballistic equivalents.

Jackfish, that is why I bought the 45/70 and I do not own a belted magnum. Thanks guys this is a American web site, I like to hear all veiw points. To give some background I hunt the swamps of the UP of Michigan. I would be better off using a 12gauge with slugs but the way I hunt, I do get on occation a long shot (150yrd) accross a clear cut that a slug would be marginal at best. So thanks for the info I look forward to more discussion. thanks Jerry

Jerry, I've been loading 300 grain hollow points (Sierra, Hornady and Remington) for deer with my 45-70 for 30 years. I still have several hundred Hornadys from a Midsouth Shooters supply OEM seconds sale a few years back. However, the past couple of years I've been loading the 300 grain Speer UniCor hollow point #2482 (2.53" COL) over 55 grains of H4198 in Winchester brass with CCI 200 primers. Great deer, black bear and hog load. Cedar swamps or clearcuts, it will work.

1. Does anyone else modify the Marlins to handle a 2.7" OAL?

2. would you use a 300 grain on elk?

Thanks Jackfish I will give the load a try. take care

Brockman, Nonneman, Clements and Dave Clay will do the work.


300 grain Nosler Partition Protected Point at 2100-2350 fps. The 300 grain Speer #2482 will work but I'd be worried about it on shots with difficult angles like a front quartering shot.

I've got one in .457 WW, and agree with all others that basically you are pole vaulting over mouse turds.

lots of guys want something different so I guess this might fill the bill for them. I'm more into practicality, I bought this rifle used for $900 bucks, but I really wanted it as it's parkerized and I've always loved that finish.



I mainly use 45/70 rounds in it, but did buy a couple of boxes of the .457 as you can see it groups better with the .457, but not enough for me to keep buying the stuff, handloading you can duplicate pretty much what you see here.