A Comparison Between the 450 Marlin Revolver and the .500 Smith Wesson Revolver

When considering the power and practicality of two powerful revolvers, the 450 Marlin and the .500 Smith Wesson (SW) stand out as two distinct choices. The 450 Marlin is a modernized rifle cartridge, while the .500 SW is a traditional revolver cartridge. Let's delve into the factors that differentiate these two firearms, focusing on their power, size, and practicality.

Cartridge Development and Purpose

The 450 Marlin

The 450 Marlin ammo is a modernized equivalent of the .45-70 cartridge. This cartridge was developed by a joint team of Marlin and Hornady engineers under Mitch Mittelstaedt, who is well-known in the firearms industry. The first iteration of the 450 Marlin was launched in 2000 by Hornady, with rifles primarily from Marlin. Notably, the Browning BLR and Ruger No. 1 are also now chambered in .450 Marlin. However, the Marlin 1895M levergun, which was a popular model, was discontinued in 2009.

The .500 Smith Wesson

The .500 Smith Wesson is a traditional revolver cartridge intended for large-game hunting and is known for its extreme power and recoil. It has been a significant choice for handgunners looking for a highly potent round. Notably, Magnum Research does offer the Big [Fine] Revolver chambered in .450 Marlin, though it is not designed for regular use and comes with safety concerns due to its powerful nature.

Ballistic Comparisons and Recoil

While both cartridges are powerful in their respective categories, they perform differently due to their design. The 450 Marlin is designed for use in rifles, where barrel length plays a crucial role in the performance of the round. The .500 SW, on the other hand, is designed for a revolver, where the shortened barrel and different design characteristics make it inherently more challenging to carry and handle.

Ballistically, the two are quite close. However, if barrel length is a factor, the .500 SW would feel more powerful due to its shorter barrel length. Additionally, the higher maximum pressure of the .500 SW (60,000 psi) versus the 43,500 psi for the 450 Marlin makes it a more extreme cartridge. This difference in pressure and barrel length makes direct comparisons challenging, but in terms of initial muzzle energy, the 450 Marlin shows more due to its longer barrel.

Practicality and Carrying Ease

The practicality and ease of carrying these two cartridges vary significantly. Due to its design, the 450 Marlin is easier to carry in a rifle, whereas the .500 SW in a revolver would be more cumbersome and challenging. Also, finding ammo for the 450 Marlin is more challenging than for the .500 SW, which has a larger user base.

Furthermore, there are no commercially made 450 Marlin revolvers, and most of the 450 Marlin rifles were repurposed as lightweight, ported hunting rifles or guide guns. If someone were to convert a 450 Marlin rifle into a handgun, it would theoretically be more powerful than a 500 SW. However, this conversion is more of a novelty and would likely be difficult and less effective in a practical hunting or self-defense context.

Conclusion

In summary, while both the 450 Marlin and the .500 SW are powerful cartridges, they serve different purposes best. The 450 Marlin is more suitable for rifles due to its longer barrel, while the .500 SW is better suited for revolvers due to its cartridge design and handling convenience.

Keywords

450 Marlin, 500 SW, Revolver Comparison