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C/S,

You have to explain that screen name sometime.

I must say there are worse things (and better things) to keep you up all night.  

I don't know much about lever rifle conversions.  I do know who and on what action are normally considered for such conversions.  I don't know of Regen Nonnemand and don't know what he can or can't do.  I didn't think Montana Rifleman did work on lever guns so I called this morning, they don't, never have.  They referred me to Dennis Olsen (P.O. box 337, 500 First street, Plains, Montana 59859  406-826-3790) I called him. I does only lever guns but he has never done the 450 Alaskan on the Marlin and doesn't think it would work, the cartridge is too long.  Montana Rifleman also referred me to Wild West Guns in Anchorage, I didn't call them.

I don't normally mess with lever guns in terms of conversion but I do know a thing or two about cartridges and their dimensions, rim sizes, case lengths, ditance to shoulder, etc and have an enormous reference library at home.  I have handloaded for, had custom dies made for, and fired many oddball wildcat custom guns.  I have loading dies for about eighty different calibers, standard and wildcats. I see something new once in a while but, I still don't think this will work.

Now to clear up something.  The Marlin 1895, particularly the Guide Gun, is available in 45-70 and is quite common here in Alaska.  It is also available in the XTR with it's 24" barrel.  The 45-70 is 45 caliber and shoots the same bullets as the 450 Alaskan.  It has ample powder capacity to give the heavy bullets enough velocity to be all you or the Marlin will want to handle.  The Marlin is a strong gun but by design it is not as strong as a model 71 Winchester lever rifle. It's a design thing.  It is not as strong as a bolt action rifle of the 20th century either.  It (the 1895 Marlin) is used and handloaded extensively with very heavy loads in the 45-70 caliber and even then a steady diet of 450 grain bullets at 1900 fps will shake the screws out of the rifle. Lots of folks shoot such loads and I have shot many of them.  And I have given out the same cautions on here before about the loads for those rifles.  The limiting factor  always seems to be the shooter not the rifle.  Invariably, after someone gets a new Marlin in 45-70 and tries the very heavy loads, available in factory loadings, by the way, they then begin asking about better recoil pads and ask about using lighter bullets in the Marlin. Experience is a wonderful thing it just takes so long to get it.

I know that's really aside from the original point of wanting a 450 Alaskan, I mean it is an exotic wildcat and has very exclusive ties to Alaska, so I understand the draw.  But consider this, you can buy a Marlin XTR in 45-70 (or 450 if you prefer) and customize it and then when the opportunity to buy a M71 you can convert it to 450 Alaskan comes you can do that too. The 450 Alaskan and the 450-348 Ackley Imprroved can be chambered in the Ruger no. 1 and the last of these two calibers I saw were in this gun.  

I'm not a big fan of lever rifles as dangerous game rifles.  Some folks just like lever rifles and use them a lot and therefore turn to one when looking for a heavy stopper rifle.  That's not my trick.  There can be debate as to which is faster to use, bolt or lever, I know the bolt is faster for me.  I've seen that levers are faster for others. A lever gun can be reloaded with a round in the chamber and the hammer back and ready with a finger on the trigger, we can't do that with a bolt.  Another point I want to bring out, and again maybe way off the subject as I don't know your reasoning for the rifle, but there are several better stopper rifle calibers available if we go to a bolt gun. But, as I say that has nothing to do with wanting a 450 Alaskan.  I've been there, just wanted to have one, and for the most part have been fortunate enough to be able to get what ever caliber I could dream up.  Anyway good luck with this, it's fun to discuss isn't it.

I'm glad you made it home, I salute you and your comrads. To those who stood so gallantly, even to have fallen in the sand, we owe an enormous debt.  Thank you.

I had the dubious honor of watching from the inside as the last two non-Arab countries fell, Iran '78 and Lebonan '81. Not a pretty thing.

Good shootin'.

Murphy

Message Thread:

• XTPs and XDs CowlitzSteelie Feb 23 2006
  • XD .40 loads mauserboy Feb 23 2006
    • 2 cents CowlitzSteelie Feb 23 2006
  • XTP & XD's..too many letters... Murphy Feb 23 2006
    • Response for Murphy CowlitzSteelie Feb 23 2006
      • Your 40 load.. Murphy Feb 23 2006
        • I worked for a living.. CowlitzSteelie Feb 23 2006
      • Whait ifs' CowlitzSteelie Feb 23 2006
        • More 450 Alaskan news... Murphy Feb 23 2006
          • wow CowlitzSteelie Feb 23 2006
          • reason CowlitzSteelie Feb 23 2006
        • whatifs BrownBear Feb 23 2006