Unique in a 450 marlin?

[DeanWinchester]

Been loading this cartridge for a friend and rx7 has dried up around here. I have a LOT of unique and was thinking about loading up some for fun and plinking. I've been using rx7 under a 450g boolit from an NEI mold with great results. Reckon Unique what charge of Unique would do well here? Nothing in my manual but I've been sorely tempted to run with 45/70 (standard NOT Ruger loads) data.

[waynem34]

I've been looking for load data for some cast with unique and the 45/70 .The 450 sure sounds like fun.

[gwpercle]

Checked Lyman #4 , it has 450 Marlin but heaviest boolit was 400 gr. # 457643 . no loads were listed with Unique with any of the boolits.
The 45-70 didn't show any loads with Unique either.

The #3 manual doesn't have 450 Marlin but does have 45-70 and Unique loads. The 45-70 load suitable for 1895 Marlin rifle with 420 gr. #457193 cast boolit shows a starting load of 11.0 grs @1006 fps . And a maximum load of 13.5 grs. @ 1163 fps. With a1/2 grain Dacron wad over the powder.

Starting with a 11.0 gr. load sounds reasonable.

If you are looking for load data for the 45-70 with Unique, Lyman #3 has it in two different load levels : 1895 Marlin and Ruger no. 1 and no. 3.
No loads with Unique are shown for the trap door Springfield's.

Hope this is of some help.
Gary

[DeanWinchester]

Thank you. That IS helpful.

[runfiverun]

10 grs same as the 45/70 with 405 gr bullets.
the 450 is a high pressure belted 45/70 modern iteration that never really needed to be, but since it's here treat it like a 45/70 as far as cast loads go.

[bigted]

I was going to add the same thing as runfiverun mentioned. the 450 marlin is the same capacity as the 45-70 ... when Marlin brought it out ... it was to be the 45-70 that COULD. this without the nervous lawyer promoted insanity from getting sued over some idjut cramming a ruger load into a roller or trapdoor. [altho I would bet that the roller wouldn't take as much as the trapdoor side by side]

so I would just go to the LEVER section of loading manuals and load that 450 up to some uncomfortable loads from that section and feel safe with knowledge that your 450 is just a lawyer induced 45-70 with an extra long magnum belt on the head of the case. the belt is longer so that you cant make 450 cases from 458 cases or allow the 458 case to be chambered in a 450 ... on and on and on ...

[DeanWinchester]

Yeah the belt thing sucks. Woulda been great to be able to blow out any belted mag case.

Thanks again guys.

[Grapeshot]

Been loading this cartridge for a friend and rx7 has dried up around here. I have a LOT of unique and was thinking about loading up some for fun and plinking. I've been using rx7 under a 450g boolit from an NEI mold with great results. Reckon Unique what charge of Unique would do well here? Nothing in my manual but I've been sorely tempted to run with 45/70 (standard NOT Ruger loads) data.

In my 1974 issue of Lyman's 45th Edition Reloading Handbook for a 482 grain cast boolit it gives a starting load of Unique of 13 grains and a max charge at 16 grains. This came from their section for the 1886 Winchester. Your Marlin .450 should handle this with no problems.

The other section for the Trapdoor gives a starting load of 9.0 grains of unique and a max load of 13.0 grains of unique for the same boolit. Good Luck with your shooting. I've used these loads in all of my .45-70's both in my Trapdoors, Rolling Block, Marlin 1895,(1974 issue). and my .45-60 Winchester using 350 grain bullets.

[DeanWinchester]

Very cool grapeshot. Thank you.