bronko22000

I have the Marlin Guide Gun in .45-70. Short, easy to carry, surprisingly accurate. Using handloaded 300 gr Hornadys it has accounted for 2 black bear with 2 shots (one each). If you decide on one of these - see if you can get the older ported ones. I would hesitate to use it for moose but probably with a heavier bullet.

ColoradoElk

I'd go with the 1895 GG (.45-70) as well. Very short, light and easy to handle. Spend an extra $30 for the pre-fit Decelerator pad and you are good to go. I use the beartooth bullets (425 gr Pile-Driver Jr) and have never recovered a bullet http://www.beartoothbullets.com . There is a great variety of factory loadings, from the lowly Green & Yellow box up to Corbon, Buffalo Boreand Garrett loads. http://www.garrettcartridges.com.

CE

wjsmall97

I have a .375 win inthe winchester big bore that works nice,but of the three you are choosing from I would check to see which ammo is easiest to purchase and what size bullets are available in each.But I would have to agree with the others on the .444.
Bill

Duckbutter48

The balistics on that 444 look pretty good. Is the Puma top ejection?(I have no idea) but if it is and you want a scope then youd have to get a side mount which is a little funky to get used to if youve never used one.

My vote is for the 444. I thinks thats one of those-- can kill anything on the planet rounds.

VT_Hunter1980

Thanks for the feedback everyone. at a local gunshop, there is a used guide gun in .450 Marlin, as well as a new 1895 22" in 45-70.

The Guide gun has the ported barrel which scares me a little. How much muzzle blast results? I would rather have a bruised shoulder than a blown eardrum after taking a shot in the woods.

ray1301

Go with the 45-70. You will be very pleased. You will get used to the kick.

Duckbutter48

Ahh if its between those 2. Then the 450 should get it. Its the same caliber at faster speeds.

Although I think the guide gun is only an 18" barrel so itll be alot closer in speeds if the other has a 22" and if you dont like the muzzle break then it should be an easier decision.

ColoradoElk

HI VT:

Marlin discontinued the porting a few years ago. In shooting the ported and non-ported at the same time, I did not notice a difference in noise or recoil. I would say there was a bit less jump shooting off the bench with the ported version (which I purchased). If you aren't going to handload, or purchase a hotloaded factory round eg Corbon etc, you might as well go with the .450, if you will reload, get the .45-70. My GG shooting a 405gr Rem JSP (52gr IMR 3031) kicks harder than my .416 Rem with 300gr Barnes X at 2850 FPS (max load listed in manual). Amazing what a few pounds of additional weight does!

I have taken two cows (elk) with the .45-70 and not recovered a bullet, or heard/felt the shot. I'll save the details, but shot a few LARGE steers at close range and they would go completely through at any angle.

You can't go wrong with any of the three, byt the .45-70 has alot of history and nostaglia going for it.

CE

VT_Hunter1980

I do handload so I can tailor some loads myself.

Hoestly, most of my big game hunting will be for deer and sub 100 yard ranges. I like the idea of cooking up lighter loads for this purpose. Maybe a 300 grain bullet at 1700 or so fps.

I know that the 45/70 can be loaded up, but can the .450 be loaded down?

Also, what about the staying power of the .450. I would hate to invest in a round that will be impossible to find ammo and componants for a decade from now.

Duckbutter48

VT it seems like the 450 will stay. The reason I say this is that theres enough guns by other manufactorers then just Marlin that have it. Thompson Center is even making it a factory barrel now in an 18" length for the Encore and its offered in alot of different places. Browning has their BLR in it, along with Marlin and even Winchester has been making a guide gun in this caliber. I dont doubt I missed a few.

Also if you hand load then you'll have no problem finding casings there arent a whole lot of calibers they "used"to have and you cant get brass for it anymore. Im sure you can load the 450 down some but if recoil is an issue then neither of these will be that easy on the shoulder after shooting for awile.