444 shooters
 

I am still hashing over the Big Bore Marlins. How many folks here shoot the 444 Marlin? It seems that the early problems of lack of tough bullets for this rifle have been solved by the Hornady 265 grainer and the 200 and 225 grain Barnes bullets. How is this gun for Moose and big Black Bears? Also what have you found to be the extreme long range of this one for deer? I would expect its ballistics are simular to the 47-70.

I don't here much about this cartridge other than its a 44 Mag case stretched out another inch.

RE: 444 shooters
 

I have seen a few .444's at the range before, and even shot a few, and, to be honest, the same rules that apply to the 45-70 also apply to the .444, in terms of type of game you can hunt, and ranges at which the cartridge is effective.

RE: 444 shooters
 

Unless it happens to be a Marlin XLR .444 with the 24" barrel, then you can add some significant range with an extra 4".

RE: 444 shooters
 

I can't find one in my neck of the woods. I tried about every gun shop in two states. Most said they could order me one.

RE: 444 shooters
 

I can't find any around here, either, everybody around here does either 45-70 or the .450 Marlin.

RE: 444 shooters
 

And, noone sells ammo for the .450 Around here. So, the 45-70 was my natural choice for a big bore.

RE: 444 shooters
 

Don't forget about the 280gr A-Frame and the 250 gr NP, I think I saw someone with a stout 300 grainer also but can't remember. I used one a few times that belonged to a buddy of mine - awesome cartridge! Dropped two deer and three good boars in thier tracks! I love my 45/70 but the 444 is high on my list of gotta haves! My experience was that it kicked a little less than the govtwith a flatter trajectory. I doubt that anything in NA could withstand a 280 A-Frame or 300 SWC at 21-2200 fps! For the big bears though I think I would stick with the 45/70 and Hammerheads. JMHO.

RE: 444 shooters
 

Sportsmans Warehouse says the can get on in a couple weeks. I bought a die set foe one many years ago then the rifle didn't come in in time for my hunt so I picked up a 45-70 at the last minute. Got a really nice 500 + lb Black bear with it.

RE: 444 shooters
 

James,

I have a combo in 12ga./444 Marlin that shoots very good. I bought some 44/250NP's to try out on a deer this year, but somehow i never did manage to get a load worked up.

From what i've read on the net, they really penetrate well with very good expansion, so it looks to be an excelent choisefor the 444 Marlin.

DM

RE: 444 shooters
 

Its one I have not tried but I can't argue with the results od the 44 Mag on game and the 444 increases that punch by a good bit.

RE: 444 shooters
 

I've got a .444 Marlin with a FX4 fixed Leupold scope. I've not hunted with it yet, but it should bust piggy's or bears nicely. I've been shooting the LeverEvolution 265 grainers at the range. It's doing pretty good there... about 1.25-1.5 inches @ 100 yards. As a matter of fact, a fellow there wanted to buy it off me right then and there. Guess he couldn't get a Wally World special. I didn't sell then but who knows for later. $ talks. Got my eye on another Kimber. I'm addicted. Help!

RE: 444 shooters
 

Ah, the age old debate of which is better, the 444 or the 45-70. Always makes me smile. Being a 444 shooter mainly, I'll argue that the 444 will do anything the 45-70 will do, only it'll shoot flatter. Buy one, and you'll never look back!

RE: 444 shooters
 

But, the 45-70 can be loaded to higher energy levels, and it has a larger frontal area, which means, with the correct bullet, the 45-70 will kill larger and heavier game more effiecently than the .444 Marlin. I still wouldn't hesitate a bit to use either on a Grizzly.

RE: 444 shooters
 

I have used the .444 on several occasions. It has dropped everthing where it stood. No need for a scope I use it with open sites, recoil kept knocking the scope loose, still never missed a shot or kill. I love it, the rifle only weighs appoximately six lbs, and is a short lever action with a ported barrel,perfect in the thick woods. I have also found that if the round hits some small branches it stays on target. I have experience with both the .45-70 and .444, They are a lot alike but the .444 has the potential to 0 outat up to 200 yards and has more velocity overall; the .45-70 will be dropping at 100 yards. Needless to say I sold the .45-70.I am not a reloader I just buy my ammo off the shelf,so as far as that goes the .45-70 may be better for thereloaders. However my favorite rifle and roundis the .325 WSM

RE: 444 shooters
 

I like both but I have to say my 45/70 is my choice. It is a great round for reloading (dam them old rifles) I can make it be a plinker or a train. I had .444 for several years and it was also great I wasnt reloading then so I never really got to play with it much. Hey it could be an excuse to get another marlin lever !!!!!!

RE: 444 shooters
 

I think you should buy the 444 Marlin, the 45-70 government, and the 450 Marlin. I think you should test all three and report back to us. I think you should recommend that we also buy all three. Then I could use your reports as an excuse to buy a couple of new rifles. I have never owned a 444, or a 450 Marlin. But I sure love my 45-70's. Tom.

RE: 444 shooters
 

Sounds like a good idea. However that could get me hurt or single.;)My wife loves to shoot and hunt but she has the idea that her 250 Savage is the only rifle anyone should ever need.

I was suprised however that she test fired some 35 Whelen loads for me after I broke my foot and couldn't get to the range to try them myself. She didn't like the recoil much. She also shot a few 270 WSM's across the chronograph for me. She didn't care for that one either.[:@]

RE: 444 shooters
 

I found one. Our little local gun shup called a couple different wholesalers and found one that has three in stock. I gotta decide for sure and call him back.

I don't know who I am trying to fool, I just as well call him and get it over with.;)

I was looking at a 450 Marlin in that lite weight Browning lever in a shop one day. A guy that was looking at some other rifles told me that if I bought that rifle, I better get any loose filling fixed before I touched it off. I see that the 450 has one lb more recoil than the 375 H&H and thats in a 7.5 lb rifle.

RE: 444 shooters
 

The 444 Marlin is one of my all time favorite big bore cartridges. Out to 200-225 yards, it will definantly put a hurting on anything that gets in front of one of those big bullets. Now that Hornady has came out with it's new LeveRevolution ammo in the 444 Marlin with it's soft polymer tip, it offers an even flatter trajectory than before...

I see lots of T/C Contender and Encore handguns in 44 mag. every year to rechamber to the 444 Marlin and with good reason. This big bore round from these break open single shots will shoot around an inch or less at 100 yards and the bullet impacts with much authority. Also, the guys in Mississippi get to use the N.E.F. single shots in .44 caliber this year on deer during the muzzle loading season. As such, during the past 3-months I have received just over 100 of these guns to be rechambered to the 444 Marlin! Most of these guys don't reload and they all said their ammo of choice was going to be the new Hornady LeveRevolution. I have shot a couple of these guns after I rechambered them with the Hornady ammo and for one who does NOT shoot factory ammo, I have to admit that I was pretty impressed with it. It offers more than ample velocity for 200+ yard shots and the accuracy is the best that I've seen for big bore factory ammo....

DAVID

RE: 444 shooters
 

Well I'll chime in here. I have the only bolt action 444 I have ever seen. It is a custom build, Mauser 98 action, mannlicher stock, beautiful gun. I do use it to hunt deer/bear here in the east coast, I use the new Hornady ammo. The gun/round performs excellent, especially in thick cover. Shot several 45-70's and 444's, just really like the 444 caliber myself. It comes down to personal preference. Do a google search on these calibers, there is a wealth of info.

RE: 444 shooters
 

H&R is going to chamber 444 Marlin, starting next year.:D

RE: 444 shooters
 

i grew up in the woods of northern wisconsin with one of the early marlin 444. shot many deer and black bear with it and if i ever find myself in tight timber again, a marlin 444will be in my hands. it hits hard anchors with authority, is as quick as you can ask, tough as nails and reliable as anything manmade can be. one of the guide guns would be my choice if its tight dark woods hunting you find yourself in, i've got relation that lives in texas htat swears by it for hogs in the tight thorny stuff he hunts.