444 XLR

Buckeye · Post by **Buckeye** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 8:53 am

Maybe next on my list ,
Stainless Steel
24in. barrel,
.44 cal,300gr. bullet screaming down the pipe.

Whats not to love????

preventec47 · Post by **preventec47** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:05 am

I believe the 444 shooting pistol bullets designed to expand at pistol
velocities are probably the most destructive projectile ever fired
at deer. Probably should be limited to head shots only if intention
is to consume meat. There have been many vigorous discussions
about what a bad idea it is but it still boggles the mind that
approx five times the energy exists as rifle velocities to
expand the bullet. I bet if tests were performed the bullets
would act no different than the compressed metal powder bullets
used for self defense.

PaperPatch · Post by **PaperPatch** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 9:08 am

With a cartridge that has an embarassing quantity of 4's in its title:

Its got everything a man could love,

Everything a man should love,

Everything a man would love,

And......It packs a whole lotta spank too!!!

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 10:16 am

preventec47 wrote:I believe the 444 shooting pistol bullets designed to expand at pistol
velocities are probably the most destructive projectile ever fired
at deer. Probably should be limited to head shots only if intention
is to consume meat. There have been many vigorous discussions
about what a bad idea it is but it still boggles the mind that
approx five times the energy exists as rifle velocities to
expand the bullet. I bet if tests were performed the bullets
would act no different than the compressed metal powder bullets
used for self defense.

And your hands-on, actual shooting and hunting, personal experience with the .444 is?

The .444 Marlin was introduced in 1965 and when it first came out, it is true that some of the "pistol" bullets fragmented badly on deer sized and larger game. However, the advancements made in bullet production/construction (i.e., metalurgy, bonding of jacket and core, etc.) have made the so called "pistol" bullets more than adequate to use in the .444.

Speer (Gold Dot), Nosler (Partition), Swift (A-Frame) etc. are all pistol bullets that work superbly when loaded in the .444. You ought to see what a 280gr Swift A-Frame HP bullet does to an Elk. Great expansion with uniform mushrooming and very very little fragmentation. Try a Speer 300gr Plated SP. The .250gr Nosler Partition does fragment back to the partition in most cases but it is designed to do that. It is a tough bullet and is one of the best "pistol" .444 bullets around.

Next you get into the lead bullets. Belt Mountain, Hawk, Beartooth all make rifle bullets and of course they make pistol bullets too. But their pistol bullets are just as capable as some of their rifle bullets and in a lot of cases some lead bullets intended for pistol use are used in rifles (i.e., .444 Marlin) with great success.

If you ever get the chance to buy the book "Marlin Firearms a History of the Guns and the Company That Made Them" by William S. Brophy or even just read it, you'll find much information that will help you understand just why the .444 Marlin was developed and why it is such an effective round.

The Hornady 265gr FP jacketd bullet was developed as a rifle bullet specifically for the .444 Marlin and is a very good bullet. Yes, it was designed as a rifle bullet and is hard to beat but many of the pistol bullets made today are just as tough and effective as the Hornady bullet because of better metalurgy, etc.. I use the Speer 240gr SP "pistol" bullet in one of my .444 Marlin rifles for hog hunting and it's performance on hogs is awesome. Good penetration, even expansion, very little or no fragmentation.

Buckeye · Post by **Buckeye** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:49 pm

preventec47 wrote:I believe the 444 shooting pistol bullets designed to expand at pistol
velocities are probably the most destructive projectile ever fired
at deer. Probably should be limited to head shots only if intention
is to consume meat. There have been many vigorous discussions
about what a bad idea it is but it still boggles the mind that
approx five times the energy exists as rifle velocities to
expand the bullet. I bet if tests were performed the bullets
would act no different than the compressed metal powder bullets
used for self defense.

Oh boy....I'll look over most you wrote. (Head Shot ????) On whitetails????
I've always had great results with the 300gr. Hornady XTP ,,The bullet was designed for the 44 Mag. but still functions great at rifle vel.
And one of the best bullets is the 270 gr. Speer Gold Dot Bullet.

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:05 pm

Be careful when you take pics to post of yer new rifle the reflection of the flash doesn't over-expose and wash out the details!

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 2:07 pm

I haven't tried the Hornady 300gr XTP yet or the Speer 270gr SP yet but I'll get around to them eventually. Hell, I darn near went broke trying all the ones I listed above.

The two bullets I use the most are the Speer 240gr SF and the Hornady 265gr FP and recently the lead Beartooth 290gr LFNGC.

Wes · Post by **Wes** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 3:42 pm

I think experience tells a different story than preventec47 supposes will happen. Lot of critters have fallen to this cartrige. Lots of big critters. I think everyone covered the aspect of bullet performance with this cartrige well enough.
You will love that rifle. I have a 444 XLR and like it very much. I find this rifle/cartrige more shootable than some other big bores. It's plenty accurate and has all the power your'e gonna need for everything except maybe dangerous game (maybe).
I'm going to test it out on moose this fall (if I draw the WY res tag). I've seen the 444 work on elk and deer just fine.

Buckeye · Post by **Buckeye** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 4:16 pm

I have a 94BB in 444 and 15 other Leverguns.But the 444 is a fine cartridge , Its a step up in power from the 375 Win. and 356 Winny and has the hard hitting ability of the 450M & 45/70 & 454 Casell (levergun) with the ability to reach out for those longer shots if needed.
Its power & ballistics are similar to the 405Win. & 400 Whelen.
The XLR setup & the 444 M make a great combo.

allhands · Post by **allhands** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 10:39 am

This is probably not scientific at all, but my .444 with 240 gr hornady xtp bullets RUINED a 1/4 inch steel 12/12 ringer at 75 yards at my home range. The pistol bullet went clear through......