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What are the ammo capacities, and muzzle energy figures for both weapons? That would help me decide which one was best for ya.

From Squirrel to Elephant, the Shotgun is your gun.

PERSONALY, I DON'T KNOW TOO MUCH ABOUT THE 45-70 BUT, MY FATHER CARRIES A 444. I'VE SEEN HIM ROLL A 300# FERRAL HOG ON THE RUN AT 50YDS. HE USES IT FOR WHITETAIL ON DRIVES AND IN THE THICK STUFF, AND IT'LL STOP'EM. IF IT'S AN OPEN SITED BRUSH GUN MAKE MINE A MARLIN, IF I NEED A BIG BORE MAKE IT A 444.

CERTIFIED GUN NUT--

I have never used the 45-70 but,I do use the 444 and it works great for deer .I shoot handloads using the 265gr hornady rn.

The 444's most popular bullet is the 240 grain soft point. The 45-70 "normal" rounds are the 300 JHP and the 405 grain soft point. The 45-70 is pushing a lot more lead, but here are the #'s comparing the 240 grain 444 and the 300 grain 45-70.

444 - 240 grain - 2350fps muzzle, 2950 ft/lbs. Bulled sighted in at 100 drops 10" at 200.

45-70 300 grain JHP - 1810fps muzzle, 2180 ft/lbs . Bullet zeroed at 50 hits 17" low at 200. (2" low at 100)

Personally, I'd opt for the 450 Marlin. It pushes a 350 grain bullet 2,100 fps, with 3,425 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. The drop is similar to that of the 444. They make it in a guide gun, and I shot one this past fall. It packs a whallop, but is tollerable.

GOOD LUCK!

good suggestions so far, I shoot a .444 since 1972, I've not had to track anything that I've shot with it, I hunted pigs with a guy that shot one (249lbs) with a 45-70 and I didn't see any difference in how it killed the animal, he finished it off with his pistol, on many deer that I've killed the .444 leave a fist size exit wound and jells the lungs, in comparisons with my .338 and 30-06 shooting into dry telephone books at about 15ft , the .444 penetrated deeper than the .338 using 250gr noslers and the 30-06 with 180gr barnes, the wound channel from the .444 was awesome, probably twice the size of the .338 and 30-06. that was with 240grs, I also tested 265/300/335grs in .444 and got similar results, the .335gr is a hard cast bullet that I carry when I hunt in grizzly country, (loaded cartridges are available from Buffalo Bore in the above wts). The only problem that I find with the .450 is that its a new caliber and no one knows how popular it will become or if you don't reload what bullet wts will be available, good hunting usahunter

2-Gun