My vote goes to the .444 Marlin. I have one myslef and it is a powerhouse. Not quite a 450 marlin in terms of energy delivered but is more than enough gun to handle anything you would want to shoot with it.

My opinion of the 99 isn't nearly as high as the others here. I don't like them at all. Triggers are terrible, actions are not exactly smooth, and they are by far the hardest to take apart and give a thorough cleaning. The only thing they have over other levers is that they fire high pressure cartridges with spitzer type bullets. I think they are one of the ugliest guns ever made. If I wanted a lever rifle to fire a spitzer bullet I would buy a BLR.

In fact my other choice would be a BLR chambered in the 358 Winchester.