If1HitU
Member
I have a 45-70,wish I could fine a 444.I agree the 45-70 is popular now.
.444 Marlin vs. 45-70 Govt in popularity
- Thread starter peacebutready
- Start date
- Status
Llama Bob
member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2016
- Messages
- 2,258
Like everyone else has said, the .45-70 is more popular. I think I like the .444 a bit more though. The .45-70 has always struck me as sitting at an awkward power level - too horse for deer, a little lacking for really big and dangerous stuff. That's why my big lever actions are .45-90s and .50-110s giving Africa-level performance. But if you don't need that, the .444 will serve you well with recoil in line with most other centerfire hunting setups and good ballistics on deer and elk.
Fast twist Ballard rifling is a must in .444.
Of course you can down-load the .45-70 for use on deer sized game but the trajectory (especially windage) gets very very bad fast.
Fast twist Ballard rifling is a must in .444.
Of course you can down-load the .45-70 for use on deer sized game but the trajectory (especially windage) gets very very bad fast.
dh1633pm
Contributing Member
When I got back from the war in 2003, I wanted to get a couple things with all my extra pay. My job had layed me off when I went but gave me a huge severance (to lesson their guilt), plus all the tax free $$$. Upon my return, I sat on the money until I got a job. New furniture for the wife and a new rifle for me. Wanted a 444 Marlin. So I called my friend who has a shop. He quoted me a price on a 444. Then he interjected "I have a find 1895G in 45-70 that I sold and the guy brought it right back". He couldn't handle the recoil. All for the low, low price of $350.00. I said I would consider it. I really wanted the 444. I considered that the 45-70 was almost as strong, brass was becoming more available, and bullets weren't an issue. I also considered that I would be able to load 45-70 down a bit more. Plus the low low price. So I called him back and got the rifle. I haven't looked back. Its what I take to the woods for White Tail. Heavier loads smack me in the cheek a bit, but otherwise, its accurate and handy. The 45-70 will kill anything that I might encounter from bear, moose, deer, squirrel, skunk, big foot, or pigeon.
No it’s isn’t.
This whole thing about micro-groove barrels being poor performers is hogwash. First it was “they are a poor choice for cast bullets but they work fine for jacketed”. Now they’re bad for jacketed as well. Fast twist or slow, if you find the right load, they work great for just about all bullets. Obviously most rifles don’t shoot all bullets well. But too much Kool-Aid being consumed sometimes.
Llama Bob
member
- Joined
- Feb 25, 2016
- Messages
- 2,258
Fast twist Ballard rifling lets your tailor your load to the application without worrying. Slow twist microgroove forces you to tailor your load to the sub-standard barrel.
So Ballard rifling shoots “worry free” with all loads and velocities? You just tailor the load for its intended purpose. Surely that’s not what you mean....
22250Rem
Member
Have never owned either one but I've always been impressed by the 444 Marlin. At least those owned by handloaders. Buddy of mine had a custom 444 Marlin barrel on a Contender years ago and it was a tack driving deerslayer. While both are good rounds IMHO I'd bet that the 444 will someday rise from obscurity just like the 45-70 did after being considered some old semi-obsolete cartridge by a lot of people for a lot of years.
peacebutready
Member
Thanks for the replies, all.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
It is if you want to shoot anything heavier than 300gr. I'd love to have a Marlin .444 but wouldn't buy one of the 1-38" guns.
adcoch1
Member
+1 i had a lever in 1-20 twist and it could stabilize 300 grn buffalo bore 44 mag, but a buddy has a 444 in 1-38 twist and even with the extra velocities of the 444 a 265 is all the bigger that will stabilize.
Side note, is 444 brass becoming more available? Every time I find a tempting 444 rifle brass is totally unavailable....
And that’s fine. But I wouldn’t hesitate to shoot one of those big bovines that you hunt with my 444 and 300gr Sierra’s. I have COMPLETE faith in it’s ability. Maybe not to go ent to end. But it will go far enough to get the job done quite handily.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
Nor would I but not with a 300gr Sierra. Or any other expanding bullet for that matter. The A-frame would probably work. The 300gr Punch bullet is an acceptable weight but it's probably too long to be stabilized in the 1-38" twist. At .444 velocities, you're seriously risking bullet failure with cast.
It's like arguing that a McDonald's hamburger is superior to roast pheasant because you can get the McD's stuff at about every other highway exit. Who even cares? How is this a measure of goodness?
Elkins45
Member
I have a Marlin 444 made in 1973, so I assume it is a 38” twist. I know it’s microgroove. I shoot 310 grain gas checked cast WFN bullets with it, and I can drive them faster than I am willing to endure with good accuracy. It’s a non-issue to me.
- Status
