.444 marlin ,.450 mrlin or 45-70 gov't

[JohnKSa]

444,

Need!? What are you some sort of communist?

No, you're right, a person really only needs one load for a lever rifle. It's not like you need one load for long range, one for target work, etc. These are relatively range-limited firearms that are primarily utilitarian.

Still, if you get a .450 or a .444, and don't reload then someone ELSE gets to decide what single load you'll use. In the 45/70 you can do some experimentation with off-the-shelf ammo before you decide which load YOU want to be your one-and-only.

P95,

Trapdoor/Cowboy loads
PMC 405 gr Lead @ 1350 fps
Remington 405gr Lead @ 1330fps
HSM 405gr lead @1300fps
Black Hills 405gr Lead @ 1250fps

I believe these were developed as deer loads. My understanding is these are also Trapdoor safe.
Winchester 300gr Partition Gold @ 1880fps
Winchester 300gr Super-X JHP @ 1880fps
Federal 300gr JHP @ 1880fps
Remington 300g JHP @ 1810fps

Midrange hunting type loads. I can't recall seeing any special warnings on these, but I wouldn't put them in antiques or replicas.
Corbon 405gr Penetrator @ 1650fps
Corbon 350gr Bonded Core @ 1800fps
Garrett 420 @1850fps
HSM 400 gr JFP @ 1800fps

Top-end (still modern lever action safe but most of these are marked +P or Magnum or something equivalent)
Garrett 420 gr HC @ 1850fps
Garrett 540 gr HC @ 1550fps
Garrett 350 gr JSP @ 2000fps
Garrett 500 gr JSP @ 1600fps
Garrett 500 gr Tungsten Solid @ 1530fps
Buffalobore 430 gr HC @ 1930fps
Buffalobore 405 gr JSP @ 2000fps
Buffalobore 350 gr JSP @ 2150fps
Buffalobore 500gr solid @ 1625fps
Buffalobore 300gr Bonded Core @ 2350fps
HSM 350 gr Bonded Core @ 2000fps
PMC 350gr Sierra JSP @ 2025fps

I don't think I got it all by any means, but that's a good start.

The trapdoor & cowboy stuff runs cheap--maybe $15-20 a box. This looks anemic, but is pretty close to a duplicate of the blackpowder loads that did in the bison.

The Federal/Win/Rem 300gr loads are a bit steeper--what you'd expect to pay for decent hunting ammo.

The HSM & CorBon breaks the $30 a box barrier.

The Buffalobore and Garrett are downright expensive--figure on 2-3 bucks a round. The tungsten solid by Garrett is way up at the top at $9 a shot!

The good news is that the PMC 350 gr +P load can be had for under $20 a box if you look around.

Good shooting!

John

 

[P95Carry]

John - thx a bunch for all that info - my - just had not looked around to see just what was on offer. The Corbons look well useful... and the Buffalobore.

Makes me glad I have all my brass and stuff - so much easier to ''tailor'' what I want for the gun in question. Not to mention - mega saving in $$$$'s too!

Again thank you - good shooting to you too and stay safe.

 

[444]

Keep in mind that I am talking about the non-handloader. The guy that is probably buying that big bore lever rifle for hunting. He probably isn't going to shoot it much and probably isn't real interested in trying a bunch of ammo. If his load knocks down a deer/bear/elk, it is fine.
I don't fall into that catagory. It might surprise you to learn that I own a .444 Marlin
I have handloaded ammo that you can barely hear. I have handloaded ammo that duplicates a .44 mag handgun. I have loaded ammo who's recoil broke not one but two Lyman receiver sights. I have loaded cast bullets, I have loaded jacketed bullets. I have loaded rounds with three lead balls in them. I have loaded buck and ball loads with shot in the case and a ball on top to seal it in. There isn't much I haven't tried.
But, I am a handloader.

 

[zeke]

444-have ya worked up any accurate 444 loads with the lighter Barnes Bullets, or seen how they work on deer? Tried one load with the 200 gn Barnes x, but the expense of these has kept me from trying too many. Currently have the Marlins in 375 Win, 444 and 45-70. Like em all.

 

[444]

No, I have never played around with the Barnes bullets. Nor have I ever shot a big game animal with the .444. In fact, I haven't shot the .444 in years.
I got one sort of by accident. A guy was selling a Ruger 77 in .22-250 real cheap and I went to his house to buy it. While I was there, he mentioned that he had some other guns for sale. A Marlin 444 and a Hi-Point 9mm Carbine. Just for the heck of it, I asked him what he wanted for everything and he said he would give me all three guns, reloading dies for all of them, a case of 9mm ammo, a few hundred various bullets, and some accessories for the 9mm carbine all for $350
I bought them.
At that point, I had heard of the .444 Marlin but didn't know much about it. So, I went home and searched the internet. I stumbled across my first on-line gun forum. Since I was looking for information on the .444 Marlin, I registered as 444.
I shot the rifle for about a year. I tried to take it elk hunting twice, but both times, the receiver sight broke while I was double checking my zero prior to the hunt. I ended up putting AO express sights on it along with an AO lever scout mount and a Leupold scout scope. I don't remember if I even zeroed the sights. By that time, I was off on some other tangent.

 

[P95Carry]

all for $350

What?? Heck - I hope that was lots of years ago - sounds like one heck of a nice deal!! If that was in recent times it'd seem like a ''giveaway''.

 

[Colt46]

Go for the .45/70

It's shown the test of time and if you reload will leave the others far behind. The .444 is the least desireable of the lot. Oddball caliber that doesn't seem to have a purpose. Why it has survived is beyond me.

 

[Okiecruffler]

My most accurate pistol load is a Hornady 200gr XTP with a good dose of IMR4198 to get it moving. It will shoot subMOA. In the rifle it doesn't do so hot, around 2.5", but that's a 2MOA rifle at it's best.

 

[12GA]

Get the .45-70

Mmmmm..... .45-70