I will argue that 45-70 may top 444 in terms of maximum muzzle energy and bullet weight, but I really do think the 444 is the better all around hunting cartridge. Reason being is that it can shoot faster and flatter than the 45-70 with better ballistic coefficients and more manageable recoil. A 444 loaded stout with a 300+ grain bullet is very much manageable to shoot out to 300 yards. I guess I would have to do the math on it but I don't think there is anything you can load in a 45-70 that will shoot flatter or reach out any better than what you can in a 444, and you get less recoil in the 444 doing it. The furthest I have ever taken an animal with mine was about 250 yards which I did with a 320 grain cast gas check bullet leaving at 2300 fps. My drop at that range is just over a foot and the wind isn't bad either.
I did some research with the Hornaday Standard Ballistic Calculator and came up with these results:
B.C. for a 300 grain XTP / 300 grain / .444 Marlin = .245
B.C. for a 300 grain Interlock JHP / .45-70 = .199
So the .444 wins on BC.
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The maximum muzzle velocities listed for 300 grain JHP bullets with any Hodgdon or IMR powder were:
about 2400 FPS for .45-70
about 2200 FPS for .444
So the .45-70 wins on maximum possible velocity with a 300 grain bullet
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Assuming a velocity for each of 2000 FPS, and a zero range of 125 yards, the velocities and bullet drop was:
.444 Marlin
at125 yards: 1635 FPS and zero
at 250 yards: 1331 FPS and -19.1" drop
.45-70
at 125 yards: 1618 FPS and zero
at 250 yards: 1218 FPS and -21.3" drop
So the .444 wins because of a better BC, but not by much.
At 125 yards, the difference is negligible. With these cartridges most shots taken will not exceed 150 yards anyway.
The recoil impulse would be the same with both cartridges since bullet weight and velocity are the same.
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Also, since the .45-70 is a larger case, it can be loaded to higher velocities with the same weight of bullet.
And so, by loading it slightly higher to 2200 FPS without changing the other parameters:
at 125 yards: 1727 FPS and zero
at 250 yards: 1341 FPS and -17.1" drop
So with very little increase in velocity and recoil impulse, the .45-70 can exceed the performance of the .444 out past 150 yards.
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Also, since bullet weights of 350 grains and 405 grains can be used in .45-70 in the 1895 Marlin, but not in the .444 Marlin, it is clearly a more versatile and powerful rifle and cartridge combination.