Michigan straight walled "pistol" cartridges going to be legal in southern MI...

emtrescue6 · 07-22-2014, 03:10 PM

So it appears that MI has finally started making a few good changes (along with a few bad ones) and is now going to allow the use of straight walled "pistol" cartridges in rifles in the now Shotgun/Muzzleloader/Archery restricted lower portion of the state. The only requirements are 35 cal or larger....1.16" minimum CASE length and 1.8" maximum CASE length. Which means I NEED a new rifle (right?).

I actually do 99% of my deer hunting in the northern part of the state that allows modern rifles, but I do occasionally take a walk out the back door now and then where I live in the southern part...usually with a shotgun. But a new straight walled rifle would be a fun addition...I actually already have a Marlin in 44 Mag and have killed deer with it in the past out west, but the rifle is on what has turned into a permanent loan to my father...LOL. So I am asking for input, what should I get? My parameters are this, I want a lever gun (would consider a single shot in a Ruger #1 or Browning 78)...I own a 454 Casull so have some ammo for that and some 45LC....and I also have a couple 357's so also have some components there as well. I am leaning towards a 45LC in a Marlin....any other ideas?

**foxx** · 07-22-2014, 06:15 PM

I love my Marlin Guide Gun in 45-70, but I doubt that is allowed. Where did you hear about this? Where can I get info?

Oops! forgive my enthusiasm! I guess 1.8 inches does rule out the 45-70

emtrescue6 · 07-22-2014, 06:20 PM

Read it on the MI legislative page...house passed it a few days ago...off to the Senate and am sure the Gov will sign if passed.

**foxx** · 07-22-2014, 06:26 PM

now I am thinking 44 mag

emtrescue6 · 07-22-2014, 07:03 PM

Yeah...if I didn't already have a Marlin 336 in 44 mag I would...even though I don't actually have possession of it. I am leaning toward 45LC....BUT....Ruger made a few #1's in 460 S&W....if I could find one of those.....

**bootsmcguire** · 07-22-2014, 07:14 PM

EMT, You need a 450 Bushmaster. The case is 1.700" long, shoots .452" bullets, and if you build it with the 1:16" twist you can shoot the full range of available bullets. It is accurate and a nice thumper. It works perfectly and feeds and functions great from a Savage SA/CF. Jim at Apache Gunworks is the only one that I am aware of that is building them, and Jim makes great barrels. I have 1 and love it.

emtrescue6 · 07-22-2014, 07:32 PM

Yer killin me boots! I need LOTS of things already...hahhaha! This is certainly an option!

emtrescue6 · 07-22-2014, 07:34 PM

I just happen to have a SA/CF rifle I bought for another project....could simply make it a switch barrel.....hmmmmm

**foxx** · 07-22-2014, 08:08 PM

That's it! I knew there was something like that being flashed around here a while ago. I dismissed it hoping for a 45-70.

I'm geeked.

Hey, Jim, I need a "Boots Special, ASAP!"

**foxx** · 07-22-2014, 08:10 PM

What do you do for brass? Trim down 45-70 ?

Nope, it's rim-less

**bootsmcguire** · 07-23-2014, 12:29 AM

Nope. You need 450BM brass. the 450BM is basically a straight walled 284 brass. It was designed to be an AR platform round, but the beauty of this is that since it is in a tougher Savage Bolt action rather than an AR you can run it a fair bit hotter and still be well within the safety limits of the brass and the action.

All you need is a SA-CF with a .473" bolt face and a 308 size magazine, and a 450BM barrel and you are set. I did mine as a 16-1/2" Varmint taper (which is still light due to the large bore) with a threaded muzzle and then I built a brake for it. You don't really need a brake for it as it recoils about like a 308 but I just wanted the option, plus the threaded muzzle is a nice place for a "can" if you live in one of those states (I wish I did, but maybe someday). You could go longer on the barrel than I did, but I was going for a handy carbine kind of setup and the AR's are often built with 16"ish barrels so it seems right at home in a 16-1/2".

I wish I could use the 450BM on my Striker here in Iowa, but it is not an approved chambering for pistols on deer and we can't use rifles at all during the regular seasons so I had to build a 444 Marlin (which is too long to qualify for your rules up there) but really they are on about the same plane performance wise.

Be sure to tell Jim I sent you down, it won't get you a discount, and I don't get a kick back or anything, but Jim has done some great work for me and hooked me up in the past and people telling him I sent them is one of the ways I tell him thank you.

**foxx** · 07-23-2014, 12:52 AM

Thanks, Boots. I did tell Jim you were telling us about the 450BM and that he made good ones. I, too, want to help him out with as many orders as possible b/c he is a stand-up guy that does good work with the right approach. I know exactly where you're coming from. There are at least a few guys in business around here that have the same "old school" qualities I admire, appreciate and believe I can depend upon.

I was thinking 18.5" 'cuz I like the way my Guide Gun handles with it. Maybe could go shorter yet if you have had good luck with 16.5". Dang, I bet that's gonna be cool. Do you have any pics?

**bootsmcguire** · 07-23-2014, 01:02 AM

I don't, but I will try and take some here soon. I have been getting requests for pics of my Striker in 444, so I figured I'd take some of the 450 also. It is still wearing the Tupperware stock, but I figured for an off-hand carbine that is getting bounced around in the truck cab and the gun rack on the ATV, Tupperware just seemed appropriate.

I am actually thinking of picking up an AXIS as I have yet to own one yet and move the 450BM barrel over to that. I dunno.