444 Fanboys, time to untwist your knickers and take off the rose colored glasses. I was completely objective in my comparison of thee two rounds, and cut the 444 some slack by going with a 300 gr load. I can't find any 400gr + data for the 444...
I do apologize however. The 300 gr at 2275 fps was data for a Handi Rifle.
A Marlin only load in Lyman 49 is 300 gr at 2038. Lyman maxes the 444 300 gr at 1838. As you failed to note, I said above, "not much difference".
We get it, you LOVE the 444. But the 45-70 starts where the 444 ends, at 300 grs. Add another 105 grs and you get to the 45-70 wheelhouse - at 1800 fps.
Nothing wrong with the 444. The 45-70 has the edge for big giant animals like camels (I can't believe we are having this exchange in any event, fairly surreal).
Enjoy the 444 Marlin. It's the greatest. Nothing else can touch it. Ballistics tables lie in a giant global conspiracy to undermine the greatest cartridge that ever was....
Relax, it's not like you're getting a commission on 444 Marlin sales, right?