For Fellow 444 Marlin Fans

[AJMD429]

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Ever since I saw the cartridges listed in the Remington ammunition flyer back in 1973 or so, it just seemed like the 444 Marlin was calling to me as a must have someday. It took a while, but eventually, I became the owner of a Marlin blued version and a stainless Marlin XLR.

I prefer to use the 45–70 with vintage loads and appreciate it for what it is, and use the 444 Marlin with more modern factory loads. Part of that is because of the necessary large openings required and the receiver and chamber when 45–70 is chambered in the Marlin. The 444 seems to be a little bit better in terms of margin of safety because of that.

If I want something really large diameter with a flat meplat and tons of energy, I will use a lever gun chambered in 500 Smith & Wesson anyway.

This guy is a fellow 444 fan…

https://youtu.be/rf60PnKKQKk

[Bill in Oregon]

The .444 is a fine cartridge. It did suffer from the early 240-grain load being likened to one of the old British express cartridges that sacrificed penetration for velocity. The 1:38 twist rate Marlin used in the beginning didn't help either. They changed to 1:20 sometime around 1998-99, which made a lot more sense for those wishing to go to 300-grain bullets and beyond. I briefly owned a .444 in a Ruger No. 1 and was surprised by the recoil.
Friend Pete Thorniley took his .444 Marlin to Africa with heavy cast bullets and a custom powder blend and hammered everything he shot.

[6pt-sika]

I’ve killed a pile of deer using the 45-70 , 450 Marlin and 444 Marlin and have no qualms with any of the three . In the 450 I only used jacketed bullets both factory and handloads . And as you would assume they did a very adequate job . In the 45-70 and 444 I used factory and handloads in both . My handloads for those two were both jacketed and self cast bullets . Without a doubt they all got the job done but in both cartridges for me atleast the bullets I cast seemed to have jerked the carpet out from under the deer a good bit better than the jacketed . In the 45-70 I used cast bullets up to 550 grains and in the 444 up to 450 grains , lemme just say it’s a bit easier dealing with overweight bullets in the 45-70 than in the 444 . But in both instances it can be done . Over the course of ten or so years I used three rifles chambered for the 450 Marlin , I think ten or twelve chambered for the 45-70 and thirty chambered for the 444 including a Contender with a 12” barrel and a Ruger #3 that started life as a 44 MAG and someone ran the chamber out before I acquired it . By far I out more effort in the 444 but while I enjoyed it I’m glad I got that out of my system .