444 marlin

olympia

olympia

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thinking of trading one of my guns for a 444 marlin from a fellow i met on cgn, how would you say a 444 compares with 45-70 in performance? would you count on one in for protection in grizzly country if you had to?
 
The limitations of the 444 are in the bullets, [mostly designed for handguns] but if you load a 300 grain hardcast, you will flatten any critter in North America. On a side note google Mad Dog Jerry Shriver he was a legendary soldier of the Vietnam conflict who used one in combat as a bunker buster.
 
If you get one I have a set of Lyman dies /with shellholder I'm not using I would part with.Harold
 
At present, I have one of each
A Marlin 444S in 444 Marlin

Marlin444S444.jpg


And, a Marlin 1895GS in 45-70

Marlin1895GS45-70.jpg


Heaven forbid but IF I had to choose one, it would probably be the 45-70 . In my opinion, it's a little more versitile. Not so much on Deer but on decent sized Black Bears and Moose, I think the original 240gr Remington factory loads left something to be desired. I found reloads, using the Hornady 265gr FP to be the improvement in performance I was looking.

I haven't 'tried' them on game yet but the two cast bullets I have available look promising. A pair of Keith style SW's, one a 325gr SWGC and a 250gr SWGC.

44bullets.jpg
 
I bought one on a whim years ago. I had gone in to buy a 44mag trapper and came out with the 444. Wish I'd bought the trapper now.
I killed one black bear with it and it made a hell of a hole. IMHO it was just too heavy to pack so these days it spends it's days as a camp/bear gun when hunting or prospecting. It fills a function.

I like the idea of heavy hard cast, I may have to try that.

OP, I'd get the 45-70 if I was going to buy one now.
 
olympia said:
thinking of trading one of my guns for a 444 marlin from a fellow i met on cgn, how would you say a 444 compares with 45-70 in performance? would you count on one in for protection in grizzly country if you had to?
Click to expand...
I can think of several calibers that I wouldn't want to depend on for protection in grizzly country but the 444 Marlin wouldn't be one of them.A good stout handload with 265gr.Hornady FP bullets would be pretty potent at close range if it came down to it.Now,if I was going to go specifically for grizzly I believe I would choose another caliber but that is not really what you are asking here.
 
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