TimM
Member
I have an opportunity to pick up a Marlin lever action in either 35 Remington, 444 Marlin or 375 Winchester. It will be primarily a brush gun for deer, with elk, black bear and possibly moose in mind. Which would you choose and why?
If You Had the Choice... Which Lever Action Caliber?
- Thread starter TimM
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Arkel23
Member
444 Marlin, and because I'd just like to own one.
Publius1688
Member
I just bought a .44 Magnum Marlin- and it's awesome.
For a brush gun, hard to dislike the .444, but consider a .45-70 guide gun. Shorter, with a heavy duty round. Don't be concerned about the recoil, it's not much more than an old school twelve gauge.
For a brush gun, hard to dislike the .444, but consider a .45-70 guide gun. Shorter, with a heavy duty round. Don't be concerned about the recoil, it's not much more than an old school twelve gauge.
MMCSRET
Member
Of the 3 that you listed I have used 2. The 444 and the 375 are great but you won't go wrong with any of them. Factory ammo is spotty for all three and expensive. All 3 are easy to handload for but there is not a large selection of bullets available for the 375 and only a couple for the 444. Take your pick or better yet; get all three.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
The .375 Win is a dying caliber.
It's not dead yet, but it's on life support with a DNR order.
The .35 Rem is great, as is the .444.
But for ammo you can buy at the corner gas station in hunting country, and a fantastic old caliber, you can't beat the 45-70.
rc
It's not dead yet, but it's on life support with a DNR order.
The .35 Rem is great, as is the .444.
But for ammo you can buy at the corner gas station in hunting country, and a fantastic old caliber, you can't beat the 45-70.
rc
Badlander
Member
Of the 3 I would choose the .444 but only if 45-70 is not an option
farscott
Member
I have the Marlin 336 in .35 Remington, and I have been pleased with its performance. I have been able to find factory ammo in Wal-Mart and most any gun store I have tried. It would be my choice.
That said, I am not using it to hunt elk, black bear, or moose. For those animals, I want more gun. So if you are set on the bigger animals, I would lean toward the Marlin 1895 in .45-70; however, that is not one of the choices. Of the two remaining calibers, I am not too fond of either. Factory ammo is hard to find or expensive, and the reloading choices are not great. If I had to choose, I would go for the .444 Marlin.
That said, I am not using it to hunt elk, black bear, or moose. For those animals, I want more gun. So if you are set on the bigger animals, I would lean toward the Marlin 1895 in .45-70; however, that is not one of the choices. Of the two remaining calibers, I am not too fond of either. Factory ammo is hard to find or expensive, and the reloading choices are not great. If I had to choose, I would go for the .444 Marlin.
Of the choices given, 444. But only because 45-70 was not on the list.
bigfatdave
Member
Will a .444 marlin safely fire .44mag/special?
MMCSRET
Member
Big: no!!!!! it is not a safe practice and is to be energetically discouraged!!!!!!!!!!!!!
bigfatdave
Member
Thanks, chief!
I didn't know, but if the answer was "yes" then I'd think it would make the OP's choice easier knowing that the more available .44mag/spl was an option for range time, at least.
I didn't know, but if the answer was "yes" then I'd think it would make the OP's choice easier knowing that the more available .44mag/spl was an option for range time, at least.
Plainsman
Member
.444Marlin hands down!
Sorry, double post see below!
Sorry, double post see below!
Last edited:
Plainsman
Member
.444Marlin hands down!
I own a .444Marlin and love it!
I also own an 1894S in .44magnum and love it!
I also have .44 revolvers...
Do you see a trend?
I use .44's for everything and can use many components interchangeably from one cartridge to the other, such as bullet molds, bullets and so forth. If you do your homework, you'd be surprised at how versatile the .444 is and esp. when you mate it with a set of .44magnums.
Check out these links for more on the .444!
The .444 Formula for Survival
Tech Notes #1 .444
Tech Notes #2 .444
Tech Notes #3 .444
Tech Notes #4 .444
Good luck!
I own a .444Marlin and love it!
I also own an 1894S in .44magnum and love it!
I also have .44 revolvers...
Do you see a trend?
I use .44's for everything and can use many components interchangeably from one cartridge to the other, such as bullet molds, bullets and so forth. If you do your homework, you'd be surprised at how versatile the .444 is and esp. when you mate it with a set of .44magnums.
Check out these links for more on the .444!
The .444 Formula for Survival
Tech Notes #1 .444
Tech Notes #2 .444
Tech Notes #3 .444
Tech Notes #4 .444
Good luck!
mgkdrgn
Member
If you reload, try 45 colt.
Plink with lead at 800fps, or hunt with big nasty hollow points at 2000+ fps, all depends on how you load 'em up. Nice big straight wall case, easy to work with, plenty of bullet/powder choices.
Plink with lead at 800fps, or hunt with big nasty hollow points at 2000+ fps, all depends on how you load 'em up. Nice big straight wall case, easy to work with, plenty of bullet/powder choices.
Marlin 45 carbine
Member
I know the .35 will be plenty for deer and black bear, and good placement on the bigger ones do well also.
TimM
Member
Why is it?
Thanks guys, To all of you that offered pertinent information and opinions. I have eliminated the 375 as a choice and am leaning towards the 444. I will let you know which I decide.
On another note: I see this all the time. Why is it when some one post on a forum (I gave three exact and specific choices) wanting an opinion between X and Y somebody always suggests Z. It is really irritating!
Thanks guys, To all of you that offered pertinent information and opinions. I have eliminated the 375 as a choice and am leaning towards the 444. I will let you know which I decide.
On another note: I see this all the time. Why is it when some one post on a forum (I gave three exact and specific choices) wanting an opinion between X and Y somebody always suggests Z. It is really irritating!
Eaglecreekbrewer
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I have all three, and my personal fav is the 375. But, like was stated above, it's on it's way out unfortunately. I have several thousand pieces of new brass for it, as well as several thousand bullets and molds to cast for it. So, I can keep mine fed for my lifetime anyway. But, it is something to consider in a new acquisition.
If elk and moose are a serious part of the equation, I would opt for the 444 over the 35.
If elk and moose are a serious part of the equation, I would opt for the 444 over the 35.
solvability
Member
I just got a 45-70 - like it a lot - nice rifles - handloading is key you want to be able to afford to practice and it adds up fast if you cannot load them yourself.
berettashotgun
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Gunowners are just like politicians
in the sense that "they" know what is good for you.
I was looking for a similar rifle and chose the Browning 81 BLR.( A 270 win.)
That was after looking for a Marlin in 35rem for 6 months. I gave up - everyone wanted more (used )than the rifle cost new - and I started looking in another direction.
I still want a Marlin in 35 rem. But it is way down on my list right now - a US Optics scope has my wallet dancing at the moment.
Had a chance to get a Winchester in 375 for $250 but J U S T missed out on the deal. I'm out of the market for this round, other chamberings appear to be redundant for this use.
I know little about the 444 round, but was under the impression it would chamber the 44mag - I guess I'll have to see the chamber dimensions for myself.
The Speer Reloading Manual No. 13 reports excellent accuracy with the 300 grain Uni-Cor bullet in their Marlin Model 444 rifle, which they say is adequate for elk, moose, and grizzly bear. This bullet can be launched at a MV of 2132 fps by 53.5 grains of H335 powder, and a MV of 2211 fps by 55.5 grains of H335 from the 24" barrel of a Marlin rifle
Favoring the .45-70: Stoutly constructed real rifle bullets available in weights up to 500 grains give excellent penetration. Favoring the .444: Shoots lighter pistol construction bullets faster for a straighter trajectory and devastating expansion. Factory loads for the .444 develop significantly more power. If you happen to get into the position of deciding between these two Marlin rifles, the rule of thumb is to get the .45-70 if you're a handloader, get the .444 if you're not.
in the sense that "they" know what is good for you.I was looking for a similar rifle and chose the Browning 81 BLR.( A 270 win
.)That was after looking for a Marlin in 35rem for 6 months. I gave up - everyone wanted more (used )than the rifle cost new - and I started looking in another direction.
I still want a Marlin in 35 rem. But it is way down on my list right now - a US Optics scope has my wallet dancing at the moment.
Had a chance to get a Winchester in 375 for $250 but J U S T missed out on the deal. I'm out of the market for this round, other chamberings appear to be redundant for this use.
I know little about the 444 round, but was under the impression it would chamber the 44mag - I guess I'll have to see the chamber dimensions for myself.
The Speer Reloading Manual No. 13 reports excellent accuracy with the 300 grain Uni-Cor bullet in their Marlin Model 444 rifle, which they say is adequate for elk, moose, and grizzly bear. This bullet can be launched at a MV of 2132 fps by 53.5 grains of H335 powder, and a MV of 2211 fps by 55.5 grains of H335 from the 24" barrel of a Marlin rifle
Favoring the .45-70: Stoutly constructed real rifle bullets available in weights up to 500 grains give excellent penetration. Favoring the .444: Shoots lighter pistol construction bullets faster for a straighter trajectory and devastating expansion. Factory loads for the .444 develop significantly more power. If you happen to get into the position of deciding between these two Marlin rifles, the rule of thumb is to get the .45-70 if you're a handloader, get the .444 if you're not.
out of those calibers i would choose the 444 mainly because there is a larger selection of factory ammo around here...if ur lookin for possible alternatives rossi makes the 92 in 454 casull..u can run 45lc's with cast loads for plinkin and use the 454's for hunting...just my $.02
I realize this doesn't go true to the OP's original intent.
However, the Savage 99 chambered in .300 Savage
Is, in my opinion,
One of the most useful and underrated lever guns of all time.
That is, unless you grew up in Wyoming/Colorado
And were accustomed to shooting mulies and elk.
isher
However, the Savage 99 chambered in .300 Savage
Is, in my opinion,
One of the most useful and underrated lever guns of all time.
That is, unless you grew up in Wyoming/Colorado
And were accustomed to shooting mulies and elk.
isher
woodycreek
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How about the 450 Marlin?
stonecoldy
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I already own a .30/30 336, and if I wanted a greater difference in supplied power levels for hunting bigger game than whitetail deer, would go the .444 Marlin route over a .35 Remington or .375 Winchester. I would love to own all three, and expect to add the .35 Remington and .444 Marlin eventually to the stable.
Oh, and .45-70 too. Lever actions have great charisma no matter what the caliber!
Oh, and .45-70 too. Lever actions have great charisma no matter what the caliber!
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