444 marlin

LeftyBuckmaster · 01-05-2005, 10:52 AM

was looking at 444 marlin and was wonder what the maximum range would be on elk and mouse with this cartirdge

BareBack Jack · 01-05-2005, 12:05 PM

I would keep my shots under 200 yds with the elk and even that streching it for the Long 44 mag,for the mouse it might be a little much.

BBJ

oldelkhunter · 01-05-2005, 12:08 PM

If you load it up with 300 grain bullets it may be good for 200 yards and should pretty much smack something around . I think the 265 grain bullet is best left for medium game..

bigbulls · 01-05-2005, 12:49 PM

I have one myself and would feel super confident that should I need to shoot an elk at 200+ yards it is certainly up to the task. That is also assuming shooting the right bullets for the job. Elk hunting I would definetly use one of the offerings from Corbon or Buffalo bore. At a minimum the Hornady 265 grain loading.

Corbon has a 280 grain bonded bullet at 2200fps and a 305 grain solid penetrator tip at 2100 fps. With the 305 grain solid penetrator tip I would feel confident hunting anything in the world with it.

Buffalo bore loads three different loadings. A 270 grain jacketed H.P. at 2250 fps, a 300 grain jacketed flat nose at 2150 fps, and a 335 grain wide flat nose at 2025 fps.

THese two companies load them the way they should be loaded. They are a little expensive but they aint no sissy 240 grain Remington loading either

.

JeffS · 01-05-2005, 03:48 PM

If you haven't bought a new gun yet you may want to look at a Marlin .450. It would be good for anything you want to hunt out to 200 yards. It has pretty good recoil but if it doesn't bother you it is a really good gun. Mine shot groups of about 1" at 100 yards w/ factory loads.

redsox3624 · 01-05-2005, 03:54 PM

i wouldn't take a shot on a elk over 225 yard with it abd about 250 for moose.

i would say you can take a mouse over 5000 yards but you should be a good shot to do that

Smokem Joe · 01-06-2005, 10:18 AM

About two yrs ago I was back visiting the parents for christmas, My brother and I went to a coworkers house to burn some powder. He had a marlin lever gun in 444 marlin. We had a 12" gong set out at 200yds and they bet me that I couldn't hit it. The factory front post completely covered the gong at that range. I took a ranging shot and then simply held over. With his hand loads and no rest, I was able to ring the gong 3 out of five shots. With better sights and a good rest I'm sure you could do much better.

This is just my experence with it.

I wish I had one myself, I have a win 94 in 44 mag. And have always wanted one of their "big bores" maybe a 35 rem or something of the sort.

Sure do love the 405, just can't quite convince the wife.

Smokem Joe · 01-06-2005, 10:21 AM

I like the 444 marlin because of the fact the I have several 44 mags. However, it isn't the same as a 450 marlin, and might be slowly dying. I can't think off of the top of my head what else uses similar brass to keep production up.

The 450 has more potential in a very similar package.