The Marlin .444 Club

[Alaska444]

Today, 07:29 AM #25
walker944
Member


Join Date: January 21, 2006
Location: Texas Hill Country
Posts: 543
Unofficial member...
I'll consider myself a "virtual club member"....I don't own a .444 Marlin, but I kick myself severely everytime I think of them. I had a chance a few years ago to pick one up at a local pawnshop for $150 out the door. And, that was only about 10 years ago. Then, again I passed on one, at a gun show for $225. I have never shot one, but would love to. In fact, the next opportunity that presents itself will likely result with me being an owner. Obviously, prices a higher now, but that's just the price of hesitating.

So, for those of us that don't have a .444 Marlin, please rub it in and post your pics!!! I need a slight bit of encouraging to officially join the club!
__________________
"One loves to possess arms, though they hope never to have occasion for them." -- Thomas Jefferson to George Washington, 1796.
"Those who hammer their guns into plows, will plow for those who do not." -- Thomas Jefferson

Hey, I think you qualify. I will check with the admissions committee but I think we can swing your membership. Thanks for the kind words towards this great rifle. Good luck finding your Marlin .444 and send us your pics when you get it.

God bless,

Alaska444

 

[LTR shooter]

One of the rifles I wish I had back. Bought a Marlin 444 new in 1988 for a "whopping" $239. Surprisingly good accuracy and very tolerable recoil.

Not long after I moved to Indiana from North Carolina and at the time had no access to an outdoor range. Ended up trading the .444 and got a TC to shoot in silhouette. I still have the TC but miss that .444. Will cost me a LOT more than $239 to get one now!

 

[Alaska444]

Mine cost me quite a bit new in early 2009. Still my favorite rifle, but yes, you will spend more than that especially if you buy new. You may be able to find one a lot cheaper in a gun show.

Good luck and thanks for speaking up for this great rifle. Welcome to the club. All it takes is a love for the .444.

 

[Paris]

I have an XLR .444 and love it.

 

[Abel]

People with 444's must not own digital cameras.

 

[kutz]

Sounds like i made a mistake when i bought my Marlin .450 + a BFR .450

 

[Alaska444]

Today, 02:39 PM #31
kutz
Member

Join Date: July 29, 2011
Posts: 15
Sounds like i made a mistake when i bought my Marlin .450 + a BFR .450

Not at all my friend. This is not a 45-70 vs .444 thread. This is I LOVE the .444 and are proud of it thread. The Marlin and Browning .450 are fantastic rifles. I hope you enjoy them as much as we enjoy our Marlin .444.

God bless,

Alaska444

 

[Alaska444]

Today, 02:39 PM #30
Abel
Member

Join Date: January 30, 2010
Location: Eastern CONUS
Posts: 1,271
People with 444's must not own digital cameras.

We may have to offer a remedial class on digital cameras as a benefit of membership in the Marlin .444 club.

 

[jeepnik]

Nope, I read the post. I did own a .444 at one time. So, my opinions aren't just my spouting what others have written. Your poll ask "How many people like their Marlin .444's". Well, I hit the post and said I didn't. Then I posted my reasons. So, you sorta were asking for folks with negative opinions to respond.

But since you want a private .444 club, just like they have/had at Marlin Owners, I won't post on your member's only threads. Just figure out your secret handshake, and pass out your decoder rings and go for it.

 

[Alaska444]

Dear Jeepnik, have a great day, sorry you are not a fan of the .444. Once again, thousands of threads on 45-70 vs .444. This is not one of those threads.

God bless,

Alaska444

 

[Jaymo]

I love mine. I bought it in 2000. It's the 444P Outfitter. IOW, a .444 vesion of the Guide gun. The Guide Gun is what made me start loving Marlins.
I almost bought one, but the 444 hold one more round than the .45-70 (even though the .444s are longer).
Also, I can cast and load the same bullets for my .444, that I do for my Marlin 1894P, IOW, .44 mag mini Guide Gun. 16.5" barrel. Shorter and handier than a Winchester trapper.
The only problem I've ever had with the 444 is with Remington factory ammo. It groups like buckshot through an open bore. Can't get it to group at all.
Georgia Arms 270 and 300 grain loads group very well and hit HARD.
I want a BFR in 444.
I need to put a limbsaver pad on it, because those 300 grainers give me purple shoulder after 6 rounds.

When I bought mine, I was going to get the standard 444 with the curved wrist and 22" barrel, but I couldn't seem to cycle the lever comfortably with it shouldered.
Plus, I knew the solid, thin red rubber buttpad would not be fun.
As soon as I picked up the 444P, I knew which one I would get.
It is to the 444 what the 1894P is to the 1894. Lighter and handier with plenty of power.

I don't live near Grizzlies, but feral hogs are mean as hell and get very big in GA.

I want a 336 in .35 Remington. A buddy of mine has a pre-safety 336 in .35 that he wants to sell for 200 bux. It's pretty nice, except he reblued it with cold blue (BC Perma Blue)

I may get it anyway, I could hot blue it, or cold blue it with Oxpho Blue, or get it Dura Coated.
It would be a great deer/hog gun.

 

[Alaska444]

I am a dialysis patient so I have limited recoil tolerance for obvious reasons. I added a pound and a half of lead in the stock and put a Limbsaver on it. I then added a Kick Killer leather cover/pad and the thing feels like 20 ga no matter how many Buffalo Bore 335's I shoot. Piece of cake.

Lot's of folks want a very light rifle but then complain about the recoil. I could care less about carrying a 9.5 pound rifle. Piece of cake for me since I don't hike 10 miles in the woods any longer anyway.

Between the extra weight and the double recoil pad, it is a real tame tiger for sure.

 

[Alaska444]

The .444 Marlin poll is still in effect for a couple more weeks. So far, 26:2 for the Marlin .444. That is nearly A 93% approval rating. The president and congress would love to have a rating so high.

Thanks for all the votes.

 

[PapaG]

Always wanted one and now I have one, though not the way I wanted it to be. I inherited my brother's original 336-444 with the straight grip monte carlo and half magazine.
I need a couple parts to get things going...the transverse screw that holds the front of the forend band on for one and a different magazine follower so I can try out the Leverolutions. I remember getting "trimmed" by little bro when we'd have our "big bore" shootouts..his 444 against my Win 94 in 44 mag (from the sixties).

 

[Old Time Hunter]

An excerpt from Paco Kelly's article at Levergun's.com "444 Marlin & Win-The Other Great Bone Crusher"

The Marlin is a fine leveraction so I’m not comparing good verses not good. I’m rating strength to withstand pressure over a sustained life time of active shooting with each design. The Marlin is rated at tops 45,000+psi and the Winchester 94 Big Bore (that’s the fatside action, not the common action 94) is rated at 55,000+psi. And that’s a big difference. In animal harvesting that means the Marlin is one of the finest 150-200 yard deer slayers of the leverguns available and an easy taker of elk. A good cool shot can stretch the range over 200 plus yards....and with the right bullet, you could even take moose. It is an excellent backup leveraction at close quarters for big bear country...it’s hard to ask for more. And 95% of American shooters don’t need more......

BUT there is that 5%. Those are the long range elk/moose/big bear hunters that hunt these beasts like the rest of us hunt deer...all the time. It is also the fella that is planning an African hunting trip with the right loads and bullets will take out dangerous game...and still be useable on plains game. Because most African countries won’t allow more than three guns in. These folks need the added power potential of the Winchester 444 leveraction. Short, powerful, accurate.....it will deliver even 400 grain bullets with power and accuracy beyond 200 yards. And I can make 400 grain plus solids on my lathes... when I go to Africa again next year the 444 Winchester and a variety of loads go with me.

Have a few of them, all in Winchester motiff. My favorite is the Timber Carbine..anything from squirrels to elephants.

 

[Alaska444]

Final poll results show a 90% approval for those that own the .444. It is a great rifle and has multiple uses.

 

[Sport45]

I missed seeing the poll when it was open so I didn't vote.

I do like mine. It's a '68 model straight stock. The old microgroove barrel loves Hornady 265gr FP bullets and does alright with 300gr FTX's.

 

[c01]

My dad got in his 70's and gave me his. I love it and it is an honor to hunt with it.

D

 

[T.R.]

I've always thought of Marlin's 444 as a rifle to fill the empty spot when Winchester 348 was dropped from production. That is, a well balanced rifle for shooting truly big game out to 200 yards or so. But the 444 has lasted much longer than the 348 which is a testimony to its success within the marketplace and with satisfied hunters.

This photo was forwarded to me by a friend. But I don't know any of the details of this hunt. Rifle is the mighty 444.

TR

 

[Reloadron]

I have one and I like it. However, I am also in the 45-70 fan club and hope to add a 45-70 soon. My wife bought me the 444 Marlin some time ago as a gift. It made for an excellent deer hunting gun in West Virginia in brush. Short and powerful 200 yard rifle and most shots were 50 or so yards. Small branches never deflected the rounds. So I like it as what I mentioned, an excellent brush rifle. I seldom hunt West Virginia anymore but the little rifle lives on. My 45-70 was an old Springfield Trap Door which sucked as to being able to appreciate the newer much more powerful 45-70 loadings. Thus, I figure soon enough there will be a 45-70 lever rifle in the mix. No shortage of loading components for either caliber.

Ron

 

[Alaska444]

Great photo

.444 Marlins are great woods guns with enough to be a true bear gun and the accuracy to hit what you shoot at. Not quite a 45-70, but more than enough for a woods gun. I have Skinner peep sights on mine and can put a 1.5 inch group at 100 yards with no scope.

Thanks again for the photo. Hopefully we can post more on the .444 Marlin Club.

 

[Alaska444]

I have one and I like it. However, I am also in the 45-70 fan club and hope to add a 45-70 soon. My wife bought me the 444 Marlin some time ago as a gift. It made for an excellent deer hunting gun in West Virginia in brush. Short and powerful 200 yard rifle and most shots were 50 or so yards. Small branches never deflected the rounds. So I like it as what I mentioned, an excellent brush rifle. I seldom hunt West Virginia anymore but the little rifle lives on. My 45-70 was an old Springfield Trap Door which sucked as to being able to appreciate the newer much more powerful 45-70 loadings. Thus, I figure soon enough there will be a 45-70 lever rifle in the mix. No shortage of loading components for either caliber.

Ron

Thanks Reloadron,

The Marlin .444 club is not your usual 45-70 vs .444 vs .450 thread. Many readily acknowledge the beauty and performance of the 45-70 as readily as we love our .444's. It is certainly not an exclusive one or the other issue.

I chose the .444 over the 45-70 in large part due to limiting recoil with the higher powered .444 loads. I feel the .444 is very easy to handle, but some of my friends feel it is a bit much. Nevertheless, the .444 compared to high end 45-70 loads is a piece of cake to shoot comparatively.

Good luck with the 45-70 and enjoy your .444, a great gun with much it can do.

God bless,

Alaska444

 

[jeepnik]

Dear Jeepnik, have a great day, sorry you are not a fan of the .444. Once again, thousands of threads on 45-70 vs .444. This is not one of those threads.

God bless,

Alaska444

Well, at least you didn't suggest a secret, members only .444 Club like another well known levergun forum has.

That whole issue ran me afoul of the net nazi running the joint.

 

[Alaska444]

My dad got in his 70's and gave me his. I love it and it is an honor to hunt with it.

D

I have had mine for about 4 years. It is by far my most favorite rifle I have ever had. I am sure your dad felt the same way.

God bless,

Alaska444

 

[BBDartCA]

Way back in junior high school I had the chance to hunt with a 444 and really liked that gun. The massive 444 cartridge really appealed to a pre-pubescent teen. Never could shoot a decent group with it. Since where I lived out west, exclusively hunting short range on big game was nonexistent, so I never could justify getting one. What kind of accuracy do you guys get at 100 yards on a bench with iron sights?