Marlin 444 ?'s

[Tundra Monkey]

I was recently gifted a Model 444 in 444 Marlin.

I've never owned a lever action and am not too familiar with the calibre but it is a pretty lookin tool.

It is a 1970 rifle (I'm assuming this as the serial number starts with a 70) with a medallion on the stock that shows 1870 - 1970.

Can any of the Marlin nerds out there please give me some info on this rifle? Is it a user (I hope so)?
Similar to a 45-70?
I'm currently looking for a 375 H&H....would this replace it or is it for shorter ranges?

Any info would be greatly appreciatted

Respectfully,

tm

[Dick284]

http://oldguns.net/sn_php/marlinlookup.php
Will give the year of manufacture.

If it is marked "Micro Grooved" it will likley not shot cast bullets all to well (there are always exceptions)

Have a look here for some 444 ballistics.

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_ses...9ed8b329416eae

Or here for more:

http://www.remington.com/products/am...spx?data=R444M

240 grain loads are ok for deer sized game, but since those bullets are nothing more than a 44 mag pistol bullet doing almost 600fps more than it was ever designed to do, it's pretty violent for expansion.

The 265gr. loading are pretty stout, and preform mighty good on game, some fellers are even loading with some 300gr. bullets, but a lot of the older Marlin 444's with their 1 in 38 twist often wont adequatly stabilize that long of bullet. (exceptions do exist)

The 444 is a mighty potent caliber for most anything N. America has to offer, as long as the rainbow like trajectory is recognized for what it is, making it a maximum 200-225yd. caliber, if it is scoped.

[Tundra Monkey]

Thank you Dick,

It is a "micro groove" barrel????? Not sure what it means....gotta buy some weird bullet for it?

I'll go cruise those links.....thank you

tm

[Dick284]

Micro Grooved means it has many shallow grooves, nuttin too special, but likely a 1 in 38 twist, so 300's and cast might be dicey, all the rest of the stuff will work quite normally.

[Dick284]

Just did a goggle search for 444 Marlin, here is one of the links provided.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.444_Marlin

[Tundra Monkey]

Wow...thanx for the quick responses Dick!!!

240gr @ 2350fps.....3000ft/lbf

265gr @ 2200......2900ft/lbf


Me thinks my shoulder is gonna get a work out!!!! She's not scoped out yet but I think a 2x-7x might be in my future

thnx again

tm

[Jester]

I'm just curious,which has the worst recoil,a .444 marlin or a .45-70 gov??

I haven't shot either but would like to know..

[Young Eldon]

Its a great gun and calibre that will handily kill any critter in Alberta but as Dick284 says you will need to keep within 200 yds (100 is better). I hopped my loads up all I could and stopped when they got too hard to extract after firing. That long straight wall seemed to weld itself into the chamber and the lever did not have enough mechanical advantage to start extracting the empty cases. They are a bit brutal to shoot from the bench but no problem when standing up to whack the moose. Enjoy!

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by Jester

I'm just curious,which has the worst recoil,a .444 marlin or a .45-70 gov??)

Don't know about the 444 yet but I'll give you a shout once I try her out. The 45-70 was all good.....well except for the first shot because I was a "little nervous" No issues after I got through that one. I'd shot a 45-70 that was braked before that and it pretty much tried to jump off your shoulder.....no more than a 2 3/4" 410.

tm

[Jester]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

Don't know about the 444 yet but I'll give you a shout once I try her out. The 45-70 was all good.....well except for the first shot because I was a "little nervous" No issues after I got through that one. I'd shot a 45-70 that was braked before that and it pretty much tried to jump off your shoulder.....no more than a 2 3/4" 410.

tm

The idea of having a bigbore lever gun appeals to me..

You guys got me thinking now..

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Tundra Monkey

.....no more than a 2 3/4" 410.

tm

I think you mean a 2-1/2" 410ga.
And yes it will recoil more than a 410. more likely much like a 30'06 but with more muzzle jump (stock design)

[Tundra Monkey]

My bad....yes 2 1/2.....but nope....the braked 45-70 was light on the recoil to say the least. I fired an unbraked 45-70 last weekend from a standing postition and I would say that a 30'06 is a good comparison.

[hs4570]

Have a .444 marlin similar to yours... made in 1973. It too is "microgroove" barreled unlike the newer ones that have what is called "Ballard" cut rifleing.

This rifle will shoot Cast bullets just as well as copper jacketed ones..the only requirement is that all Cast anywhere between 240 to 320 grains in weight must be .431/ .432 in diameter rather than the usual .429 that most molds drop them out at. My NEI 315 gr cast (330 gr actual weight useing wheel weights)... will shoot about 1.5 inches'/3 shots/100yds at 2052 fpsecond avg. through the chrony with H335.

It also likes 300 gr Sierra bullets useing H335 at 2140 fps. and will cloverleaf on occasions. The 265 gr Hornadys useing Reloder 7 can safely/accurately be pushed to 2376 fps 3 shot avg. And 240 gr Rem. to 2480 fps 3 shot avg.

If you reload you can reduce your loads to that of a .44 mag for plinkng at 100 yds too and can load 123 gr. .430 round ball for plinking fun also.

As with the 45/70.. with the .444 ... you can also make and shoot shotloads useing your empty .444 brass shells and take grouse to about 25 feet while out hunting other game with your lever gun. Have been doing this in .444 and 45/70 for about 10 + years now.

Just like a 45/70 the .444 can be loaded from mild to wild recoil wise... and I doubt if you can tell the difference between the two when both are loaded with 300 gr bullets at 2100 fps.

....enjoy your new rifle...........

[Tundra Monkey]

Thank you all for all the input....ya got me all excited now to say the least.

That shot load is really Never woulda thought of that one!!

Loven this forum more and more.....thank you all again.

Respectfully,

tm

[sbtennex]

The original load for the .444 was a 240 gr all right, but the later 265 was an improvement adding more energy at a bit more range. I just acquired a .444 myself and started with a 300 gr Hornady (nasty looking thing) but only because I wasn't able to find locally the Nosler 250 gr Partition in .429, the hunting bullet I really want to try. (The Hornady says .430 on the box). Pistol bullets are comparatively cheap and will make great load workup and plinking fodder. Easy and fun to load and even though I'm gravitating more and more to the levers, mine will be simply a bush deer gun. With handloads even though the .444 can and will take down anything on this continent within it's effective range, I can still generate some 500 or so ft/lbs MORE with a 350 gr .45-70. That's not to belittle the .444 by any means it's simply a fact - one that will have me grabbing the .45 for moose in the bush. They both have their place and I still believe everyone who shoots and especially handloaders owe it to themselves to discover what all the fuss is about the classic levergun. They are just simply a riot to shoot, a dream to pack and completely underrated in the modern world of short. super-short, Ultra, SA or whatever magnum craziness. Speed ain't everything - just ask your wife!

[Tundra Monkey]

Originally Posted by sbtennex

Speed ain't everything - just ask your wife!