Any love for the 444 marlin fellas

Not one I ever delved into myself but at several points I was almost tempted to pick one up. Not a lot on the ground these days. Anyone out there using/enjoying this calibre?

 

I had one, liked it, got an offer for it years ago that I couldn't refuse. Went looking for another and ran into a deal on a Marlin 1895 in 45/70 I couldn't pass up. Then I realized that with a 45/70, a 348 Win and a 358 Win lever action, there wasn't much need for a 444 anymore in my collection.

But I liked it when I had it, a thumper with a good deal less recoil than a 45/70 loaded to achieve 444 Marlin velocities.

 

When Hornady quit making their excellent 265 gr Interlock FP, I lost interest in 444 Marlin.

That bullet was most accurate in my rifle at the time and I was falling out of love with .429-.430 caliber so I walked away from it.

Nonetheless, it was a lightning bolt on deer up to 250 yds. It’s a good elk cartridge with carefully selected bullets. For most normal situations it gives up nothing to the 45-70. It only loses ground to the 45-70 when bullets over 350 gr are used.

 

Seems like we used 444 Marlin cases to make 338 JDJ #2 cases. Closest personal experience with 444 Marlin.

 

I like mine, but I never see any shoot-able deer while I'm carrying it. Of the two that I've seen, one was way too small, and the other was a buck...during anterless only season. I've taken 6 or 7 deer from the same locations while carrying my .35 Rem.

It's like they know when I'm bringing the Trip4.

 

Haven't had the chance yet, but I have brass and bullets, just need to find a rifle...

 

I love it..... Even though I've never owned one. Started getting real fond of it back in the 1980's when a buddy had a 444 Marlin barrel on a T/C Contender. Another buddy of mine has had a Marlin lever gun in 444 Marlin for about 6-8 years now. If he ever sells it, he has to call me first. I call it "The Hammer of Thor" on whitetails. The cartridge has always impressed me regardless of what firearm it's in. It also responds well to handloading, as I've been reloading for that Marlin lever gun for at least 5 years now. On woodland whitetails it's devastating, as I've seen many whitetails (and gutted a few in return for some meat) that have succumbed to the 444. By next month I should begin getting some 444's put together for his Marlin.. . Beginning to think he may never sell it to me, and I can't recall the last time I saw a used one for sale.

 

Big fan. Only have an H&R single at the moment and constantly looking for an affordable Marlin. Fantastic hog round. Good elk round for high pines. Doesn’t have the wallop, long distance chops, or storied history of the 45-70, but 325s at 2100 fps is certainly good medicine.

 

I have a combo gun in .444 Marlin, .444 bottom bbl., 12ga. top bbl..

I don't know that I love it, but I like it pretty good.

DM

 

My avatar might give you a hint...I love mine. Owned it for decades, reloaded for it almost as long. I, too, miss the Hornady 265 gr., but the leverevolution ammo is decent. I haven't reloaded any of those cases with the "new" leverevolution bullets yet, but they're "on the list". Only shot a cow elk and a feral hog with it, though both were about 500#. I've loaded some of the Barnes XPB's in it and they are accurate, and performed adequately on the hog. Shed the petals and kept on going as a copper solid. Have shot several bullets up to 300 gr. I have some 385 gr. hard-cast gas-checked pills to try, but just haven't yet. I do hope to use it to spot and stalk western black bears.

 

My buddy has one, he really likes it for sub 200-yard shots on mule deer in Utah. With two .45/70’s and a .35 Remington in the safe I haven’t had the desire to add another caliber to hunt ammo for.

If you get one I bet you’ll like it.

Stay safe.

 

My favorite cartridge. Mine is in a H&R handi rifle. I think it is an all around better cartridge than 45-70 for typical hunting uses. It can be loaded to shoot much flatter and less wind drift than 45-70 without as much recoil. The only thing it just can’t do is handle the really heavy bullets like 45-70.

 

With Ruger spinning up Marlin, and their relationship with Hornady, who knows…may be something happening in the future.

Total speculation on my part, but I think it would be cool.

 

Marlin 444 is awesome... Have one from 2000 ish (marlin lever gun)... I kept it stock... even the sights... just feels old school westernny.... It's hunted pretty much everything "larger" in south Georgia... Hand loading for it has save some on ammo... Uh... Probably not... Just get to shoot more for the same dollar.

 

I have two. Both are pre-safety Marlins. The only lever guns I truly love. One has a a Leupold 1-4x scope, the other has XS ghost ring sight. I like them, but much like @earlthegoat2, I prefer the 265 Hornady bullets. Matter of fact it was from one of his posts that I learned they were discontinued. When shoot them up, I’ve thought about parting with the .444.

 

If you're not shooting bullets 265 gr or heavier you might as well just use a 44 magnum. Marlin planned on discontinuing the 444 when they reintroduced the 45-70 back in 1972. In fact for a while they didn't make many, or even any for several years. The 240 gr pistol bullets they used really didn't offer anything over a 44 mag.

But when better bullets came out interest in the 444 picked up. A friend of mine has one of the originals from 1964, but I skipped right over 444 for 45-70. It can be loaded with lighter bullets and do anything 444 will do or loaded much hotter.

 

I looked at the ballistics of the 444 Marlin and the trajectory of the round was better than a 44 Magnum, but the 44 Magnum lever action could carry ten rounds. And I did not have a 444 Marlin revolver. So I went 44 Magnum.

I really think the 444 Marlin was another one of those cartridges that are thrown at a wall, to see if it sticks. Surely Marlin would have done better if they chambered their rifle in 348 Winchester, or 358 Winchester. But those cartridges have the name "Winchester", and there were probably money making licensing agreements that Marlin made with the 444 Marlin.

Surely more Marlins have been made in 45/70 than in 444 Marlin. A 45/70 can be uploaded in modern rifles, just below 458 Win Magnum levels. I think loading anything to 458 Win Mag levels is nuts, as the recoil is horrible!

 

45-70 will get to about 85% of 458 win mag energies in a ruger no.1, impressive but not sure if that is just below. Same difference as 30-06 to 300 win mag.

 

Eighty five percent of the recoil is enough for me! Especially in a lightweight lever action. That's got to hurt.

 

The 444 Marlin is one of my Biggest regret guns.I had one in my hands and let it get away!

 

I’ve always been a fancier of the 44 Mag and I have more 44 cal, 240-300gr projectiles than I’ll ever shoot and I had been wanting a 444 for a long time. So about a year ago I bought a CVA Scout 444 with a 25” fluted barrel and a muzzle brake. Then just recently I ordered a Boyd’s stock and forearm to get rid of the cheezy black plastic plus it gives it some well deserved heft and looks great in my opinion.It came factory with a Begara barrel and it is a moa gun.I’ve been nothing but pleased with the caliber in every way and reloading for it is a breeze. If Ruger decides to manufacture the Marlin lever in 444 I’ll try to be the first in line.

 

I still have the original, ugly as sin, 336-444 that my little brother picked up around 1975 or so. 24” barrel, half mag, straightgrip Monte Carlo stock. Shoots up to 265 grains well. I bought a couple boxes of leverevolutions, shot two rounds and put them away.
Thinking of plugging the mag to make a single shot for Illinois deer season starting in 2023.