GENERAL TOPICS > The Shootin' Range
What do yiou guys think of .444 Marlin as a hunting round?
SFT:
Tornado, here are some links which will help explain the advantages/disadvantages of cast bullets, premium and factory rounds, meplats, and ammo and or bullet choices. Hope this helps.
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/meplats.htm
.444 Marlin
335 gr. W.F.N. (2025 fps / M.E. 3049 ft. lbs)
300 gr. J.F.P. (2150 fps / M.E. 3078 ft. lbs)
270 gr. J.H.P. (2250 fps / M.E. 3034 ft. lbs.)
45-70 "Magnum loads"
430 gr. L.B.T.- L.F.N. - G.C. (1925 fps / M.E. 3537 ft. lbs.) (Big game up to 2500 lbs. - Penetrator Load)
300gr. Speer Uni Core @ 2350 fps (3678 ft. lbs.) (Big Game up to 500 lbs. - Expander Load)
405 gr. J.F.N. (2000 fps / M.E. 3597 ft. lbs.) (Big game up to 1000 lbs. - Expander Load)
Now check out what the often overlooked .45 Colt can do in modern, and I do mean modern, leverguns and specific revolvers;
325 gr. L.B.T.- L.F.N. (1325 fps / M.E. 1267 ft. lbs.) (Big game up to 1000 lbs.)
300 gr. Speer J.F.N. (1200 fps / M.E. 959 ft. lbs.) Big game up to 800 lbs.)
http://www.buffalobore.com/ammunition/default.htm#4570
As you can see, you have a wide array of choices with which you can choose the right load for your type of game as long as you are willing to put up with the recoil, which even in .45 Colt loadings is noticeable, even substantial.
Even the .35 Remington is available in a heavy load form, which I have used to take deer and hogs with. I've even if though by accident taken two hogs with one round with this load.
220 gr. JFN 2200 fps 2364 ft. lbs.
This has roughly twice the recoil of the factory 200 grain ammo, but the 220 JFN also has nearly the same energy and more velocity at 100 yards than the factory 200 grainers do at the muzzle.
Here are some of the bullet choices you will have for the .444 should you wish to start reloading, which I highly recommend, and always save your brass no matter if you do or not. It can always be out to good use.
Beartooth bullets; http://www.beartoothbullets.com
280g WFN GC Gas Check gives ease of load development and higher velocity potential than PB. Potent bullet in .444 Marlin.
290g LFN Dual Crimp Groove. The long bearing surface of this bullet makes it very accurate. Wide meplat delivers huge wound channels and the long nose gives maximum powder capacity for this weight bullet.
405g WLN DC GGC Dual Crimp Groove Design. Fine for Redhawks and Anacondas, and in .444 Marlin with neck-turned cases
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm
.444 Marlin- America's Most Versatile Big-Bore Part I
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17
Hope this helps you make your choice easier.
Hank Dodge:
I'll just chime in to say that I really like the .45-70. Marlin makes some nice guns chambered for that round and quite a few Winchesters and Brownings can be found on the used market. There is nothing in my mind wrong with the .444, just that it's not as versatile or readily available as the .45-70. I'd strongly consider the .45-70 over the .444.
Hank
fourfingersofdeath:
Right now I don't have a 45/70 lever, but have an old 444S. Both are fine calibres, but the 45/70 has the upper hand with heavy bullets. Then again the 444 has the uer hand with lighter bulets. Depending what you hunt, either one is good, you just have to choose. If you don't want to fiddle about, the 45/70 would probably be a better bet. You can buy ammo most places, not so with the 444.
I also have a 375 Big bore, cooooool rifle.
Now if I could find one of those old Winchester Big Bores in 444 Marlin with the 1 in 20" twist Bbl, I'd be in clover.
I've been looking at a new 45/70 Cowboy at the local gunshop and a hadly used 45/70 Cowboy with scope fitted at a Sydney gunshop. I'll probably buy the one in Sydney as it has nice wood and the local one has very plain wood. Decisions, decisions!
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Delmonico:
--- Quote from: fourfingersofdeath on June 16, 2008, 07:35:56 AM ---Right now I don't have a 45/70 lever, but have an old 444S. Both are fine calibres, but the 45/70 has the upper hand with heavy bullets. Then again the 444 has the uer hand with lighter bulets. Depending what you hunt, either one is good, you just have to choose. If you don't want to fiddle about, the 45/70 would probably be a better bet. You can buy ammo most places, not so with the 444.
I also have a 375 Big bore, cooooool rifle.
Now if I could find one of those old Winchester Big Bores in 444 Marlin with the 1 in 20" twist Bbl, I'd be in clover.
I've been looking at a new 45/70 Cowboy at the local gunshop and a hadly used 45/70 Cowboy with scope fitted at a Sydney gunshop. I'll probably buy the one in Sydney as it has nice wood and the local one has very plain wood. Decisions, decisions!
--- End quote ---
I have a 375 94 also, love it. Shoots as flat as the 444 and penatrates as deep as a heavy 45-70, cause the 255 bullet has sectional density, goes in deep, tears up things inside, goes on out. Don't have as much on paper, but all paper will do is give you a paper cut. ;D
WyrTwister:
--- Quote from: Delmonico on April 27, 2008, 10:09:50 AM ---It may have been beaten to death, but why give up the option to shoot heavy bullets? The 45-70 will do both heavy and light, the old gunwriters dribble about wanting a bullet that stays inside the target to "expend" all it's energy inside is one of the many things these gun rag writers have brain washed the shooting public with for years, it's not the best idea they've ever came up with.
The 308 Marlin duplicates the 308, so not a problem, but as far as I know you can not duplicate the performance with handloads, and I bet the factory ammo is pricey, I like a gun I can afford to practice with at the level of the ammo I hunt with. Maube a cheaper bullet than the Barnes X bullets I love, but identical in velocity and trajectory, you only get good with practice.
--- End quote ---
And a .45-70 with a 405 grain home cast bullet will kill anything that walks , in North America . And a whale of a lot cheaper to shoot ( practice or hunting ) than any kind of jacketed bullet .
And the .45-70 easily can be loaded from a cream puff load to a load hot enough to rattle your eyeballs .
God bless
Wyr
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