45-70 or a 444 Marlin, Which would you choose?

[Down South]

Hi folks, I’m going to buy one of the NEF Hindi Crack Barrels. It appears that this year we will be able to use one during the primitive weapons hunting season. I’m looking at the 45-70 and the 444 Marlin. Right now I’m leaning towards the 444. I’ll be casting for whichever one I get.
I’d like to know which one you folks would recommend and why.

Thanks, Sam (DS)

 

[stan in sc]

The 45/70 is a better cartridge.There are more bullet weights available for it and you will find the 45/70 is accepted in Mississippi as a primitive weapon due to the cartridge being accepted in the 1800's.
I have the Handi 45/70 and a Marlin lever action Model 1895 in 45/70.Loveboth of them.

Stan

 

[MASTEROFMALICE]

On the flip side, I have the .444 in a Winchester 94 Timber Carbine.

If you already load for the .44 Magnum you already have bullets. The .444 is capable of flatter trajectory and with the new LeveRevolution rounds drop at 300 yards is only about two thirds of that from the .45/70 (18" vs 26" with a 150 yard zero.?

You can hunt anything up the biggest bear with it, but I'd recommend stopping at Elk.

What do you plan on doing with the rifle?

 

[Down South]

I plan to hunt Whitetail deer. Plus do some plinking from time to time. I'll be reloading whichever plus casting my boolits.

 

[Seafarer12]

I vote for the 45/70, more options.

 

[gunnerh]

I have both in Marlin levers. The .444 is my favorite big bore. I cast hard and heavy 300 and 265 gr flat nose bullets that work well. Light plinking loads with .44mag pistol bullets are fun. You also load a shotshell with it. I taken an elk with mine. My 45/70 shoots almost as well , the differance is operator error. The 45/70 kick a little more then the .444 but not much. The price of commerical ammo is better for the big bore, more people using it make larger ammo runs. You can not go wrong with either.

 

[zulu6]

.45/70 Hands down. Choose from super light cowboy loads to 500 grain tungsten-core +P+ penetrator rounds. Good for deer, and just about everything else out to 250 yards and not to mention that .45/70 ammo has been around forever and isn’t going anywhere.

 

[sixgun MAK]

45/70

 

[Wedge]

.45/70

just because I want one...

 

[TheGrimReaper]

.45/70!!!

 

[Down South]

I ordered the 45-70 about 1/2 hour ago. It's in stock and I should have it around Tuesday.

Thanks for all of the knowledgeable replies.

 

[Quigley]

45/70 Fan

I had a 15" T/C Encore handgun in 45/70 and can not praise it enough. I shot 4 deer this year with it at ranges between 50-130 yards all dropped dead only one produced even a wiggle. The new Barnes 250gr triple shock bullet is unreal! We are a shotgun state for deer but can use straight wall handgun, half of our hunting party are switching over to handguns for next year after witnessing the power of the 45/70.

 

[Wedge]

I ordered the 45-70 about 1/2 hour ago. It's in stock and I should have it around Tuesday.

Thanks for all of the knowledgeable replies.

Awesome. We'll expect a range report on Wednesday

 

[Zundfolge]

Can you shoot .44mag and/or .44spec out of a .444 Marlin lever gun?

What about .45 colt and/or .454 Casull out of the .45-70?

 

[mainmech48]

I'd choose the .45/70 for several reasons.

First of all, there are so many more options when it comes to factory ammo. Since the rifle you've chosen isn't a LA, you have an even larger selection of viable loadings as you needn't worry as much about OAL affecting feeding or using pointed bullets.

As a handloader and bullet caster the .45/70 would also offer you a much greater selection of components, both ready-made and DIY. More moulds in more styles and weights, more brand options for cases, etc. and many more choices for jacketed projectiles. The only caveat I see is that some, if not most, manufacturers' .45/70 chambers are somewhat short-throated. Only a critical factor when very long, heavy bullets and stout loads are contemplated but worth considering before you start experimenting with them.

While I may never get to fully exploit the extra versatility offered by the .45/70, I personally like having the options. I ain't dead yet, and I just might get that chance at a bison before I go.

 

[Robert]

I'd go with the 45-70. I have the Marlin 1895G in 45-70 and love it. If you are serious about it, load your own 45-70... the stuff in the box is, in my humble opinion, downloaded to keep from blowing up antique firearms. The 1895s milled receiver is up to the task of 45-70 mag loads if you are feeling frisky. To my knowledge you can not fire 45 colt from the 45-70, nor the 44 mag in the 444... but I have never tried. Just does not sound like a good idea to me. 45-70 is a hoot to shoot and recoil, even in my little ol Marlin, is not bad at all. Hope this helps.

 

[Hokkmike]

In my early days I shot a .444. I handloaded with lighter .44 magnum bullets. I consider both calibers to be obsolete for my purposes now. Out of nostalgia and historical accuracy I would pick the .45-70. For flat trajectory and more effective hunting I would choose th .444.

 

[Float Pilot]

45-70. But I shoot Winchesters, so they can be loaded a little longer.

Once again photo no worky...

 

[Wedge]

Can you shoot .44mag and/or .44spec out of a .444 Marlin lever gun?

What about .45 colt and/or .454 Casull out of the .45-70?

No and No.

The .444 is almost an inch longer than the .44 Mag

The .45-70 shoots a .458 bullet not a .452. The case dimensions are WAY (slightly tapered) different and it is also about an inch longer than the .45 Colt. The NECK diameter is the same size as the .45 Colt base diameter (0.480"), but the base is .505".

Also, the OP already ordered the gun in post #11.

 

[K3]

I don't know anything about the .444, so I vote .45-70.

I have a trapdoor replica that I load for.

300gr JHPs at 1900+ fps and 405gr JSPs at 1400+ fps.

For reasons I can't explain fully, the .45-70 is my favorite cartridge to shoot. I like it more than any of the bottleneck rifle cartridges that I've shot.

My rifle is legal for primitive weapons season in Mississippi. Next year, regardless of which season I hunt, I'm going to take it.

I'll tell you one thing, a box of 50 405gr artillery shells is pretty heavy!

 

[Zundfolge]

The .444 is almost an inch longer than the .44 Mag

If it headspaces from the rim overall case length shouldn't matter (so I guess I'm asking if the .444 headspaces from the rim).

I know that in .44mag leverguns .44spec is kosher (same with .38spec in .357mag guns).

I would still probably go with the .45-70 over the .444 Marlin here because if I'm getting a levergun I want it for nostalgic reasons (otherwise I'd just buy a .458SOCOM or .50Beowulf upper for my AR or If "big bore power" was my goal, then a bolt gun in .458WinMag would be my choice).

 

[grimjaw]

Down South, you won't regret it. .45-70 Govt is one of the few things with 'government' in it that's worthwhile.

jm

 

[sachmo]

I like the 45/70. You can get some +p loads that really transform the firearm. In fact I would be willing to take on a Cape Buffalo with my 1895 guide gun using Garrett loads and an alert PH as backup. These Garrett loads are real thumpers using a heavy powder charge and hard cast solid bullets. Reportedly they can shoot threw a Buffalo end to end. You may never need that kind of capability but its a nice ace in the hole. Also take a look at the 450 Marlin its a newer cartridge and in the same range ballistic wise as the other two.

 

[Harley Quinn]

I'd say either one is a real good shooter, I'd go with the 444 because of bullet availablity (44) in the lighter bullets and the fun you can have with shooting at smaller game.

http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/444m.html

The 45-70 is a piece of history and if that was an issue I'd go with it.

 

[flatdog]

Hi, Downsouth?

I've had my Handi in 45-70 for over 10 years. The only thing I've changed is the hard butt plate to a Pacymayr recoil pad. Now it only thumps at the muzzle.

As your soon to see it's highly underrated. It's short, light, powerful, with a strong action and accurate. It can be reloaded rapidly from a butt cuff, or rounds held between your fingers... if that matters to you. Depress the action release and barrel weight will cause the action to open and eject both fired and unfired rounds... forcefully. Plus you can run it equally well right or left handed.

Pardon me if you already know this bit:
Don't close the action by flipping it shut one handed. While it looks cool, it will eventually spring it. Like flipping a revolver cylinder closed and springing the crane.

One other thing, if your not happy with the trigger pull the factory used to lighten it. Don't know if they still do.

Good luck and have fun with your new crack barrel.

flatdog