I picked up a 444 in the early seventies. It is the only big game rifle I have kept for all these years. I consider the traditional lever, tube mag, external hammer, and peep sight the ideal Canadian bush rifle. My 444 has been dependable and deadly. The slow twist is no problem for cast bullets that fit, .432 is often suggested, and the premium jacketed bullets recommended for the 444 up to 325 gr or more. Micro groove barrels have a reputation for excellent accuracy and mine is a shooter. The faster twist Marlin's are dandy rifles too but the MGs are cheaper because of the internet myths regarding it.
There are a number of myths for the 444. The current 240 grain Rem FN Corlok bullet is indeed a rifle bullet and very effective on deer and black bear. The first factories rounds I used were real good for deer but fragile for moose. The current 240 gr Rem 444 Corelokt bullet is a special production item not sold to reloaders by Remington. The confusion comes from folks who use Remington 44 bullets thinking they are 444 bullets. My all around choice is for the 265 Hor FN reloads for carry in moose or big bear country. The advantage the fast twist offers is in handling real heavy bullets at midrange power. However a 265 to 300 grain bullet well over 2000 fps is formidable enough for me at the muzzle and butt stock.
Many current big bore shooters have changed to shooting hard cast bullets with a large meplat. I realized early that the 444 killed well beyond what the stats and magazines said it should even at longer ranges. Once I studied the terminal ballistics coming from this recent trend for big bores I now understand why.
The 444 action, 336 style, is a great hunting rifle. The pistol grip and side eject make it a very easy and capable scoped rifle. I dropped my best moose with a 2.5X Leupold Ultralite scope on mine. I removed the scope because I treasure how well a lever hand carries with iron sights above the benefit of a scope. The side eject action also keeps snow, rain and crap out of the action when kicking brush. I do like Winchesters just as much and if I could find and afford a Big Bore 444 I would buy one.
Here are some links to get your interest. The first two are from a 444 forum, the last one from the Beartooth Cast Bullet site and is first in a fantastic series that addresses the MG barrel capability and heavy bullets with tested data.
http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/4...lin-bullet-test-heavyweight-championship.html
http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/444-marlin/42524-240-grain-shoot-out-results-pics-data.html
http://www.shootersforum.com/leverg...eneral/74336-444-remington-corelokt-ammo.html http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/444_misunderstood.htm
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17
Thanks Johnn for solving the mystery of the second cannelure!
There are a number of myths for the 444. The current 240 grain Rem FN Corlok bullet is indeed a rifle bullet and very effective on deer and black bear. The first factories rounds I used were real good for deer but fragile for moose. The current 240 gr Rem 444 Corelokt bullet is a special production item not sold to reloaders by Remington. The confusion comes from folks who use Remington 44 bullets thinking they are 444 bullets. My all around choice is for the 265 Hor FN reloads for carry in moose or big bear country. The advantage the fast twist offers is in handling real heavy bullets at midrange power. However a 265 to 300 grain bullet well over 2000 fps is formidable enough for me at the muzzle and butt stock.
Many current big bore shooters have changed to shooting hard cast bullets with a large meplat. I realized early that the 444 killed well beyond what the stats and magazines said it should even at longer ranges. Once I studied the terminal ballistics coming from this recent trend for big bores I now understand why.
The 444 action, 336 style, is a great hunting rifle. The pistol grip and side eject make it a very easy and capable scoped rifle. I dropped my best moose with a 2.5X Leupold Ultralite scope on mine. I removed the scope because I treasure how well a lever hand carries with iron sights above the benefit of a scope. The side eject action also keeps snow, rain and crap out of the action when kicking brush. I do like Winchesters just as much and if I could find and afford a Big Bore 444 I would buy one.
Here are some links to get your interest. The first two are from a 444 forum, the last one from the Beartooth Cast Bullet site and is first in a fantastic series that addresses the MG barrel capability and heavy bullets with tested data.
http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/4...lin-bullet-test-heavyweight-championship.html
http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/444-marlin/42524-240-grain-shoot-out-results-pics-data.html
http://www.shootersforum.com/leverg...eneral/74336-444-remington-corelokt-ammo.html http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/444_misunderstood.htm
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17
Thanks Johnn for solving the mystery of the second cannelure!
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