Marlin Lever Guns: .45-70 or .444 Marlin?

N

Nightcrawler

New member
I have a Winchester 94AE 16" in .357 Magnum. Because of it, I've fallen in love with the short, handy lever carbine, and am desiring one with a little more OOMPH than .357 Mag. I like the Marlins, and am interested in their models with 18.5" barrels in .45-70 and .444 Marlin. I can't decide which I would get though. .45-70 is more available, and therefore probably costs less. But the .444 has a magazine capacity of 5 instead of four, although that's not really important. I'd very much like to get Jim West's Co-Pilot (www.wildwestguns.com) but I haven't the bread to buy that sucker. (it costs over a thousand dollars) Any advice, or experience with either of these rifles? As I said, I'm interested in the 18.5" models. I like a short, handy levergun.
 
With firearms of this type of firepower, if you can't solve your problems with four rounds (it's really five, one on the pipe), you have no business shooting at it. Magazine capacity is a mute subject! Both guns have their advantages. If you already load for 44 Magnum, the 444 Marlin is the better choice. Both cartridges use the same bullets. The 45-70 has a more versatile bullet selection and better load data. Because of the new Barnes 250 grain 45-70 bullet, down range ballistics also has become mute.

Robert
 
Well,

I don't shoot enough to bother reloading. I'm thinking I'd go for the .45-70. .45-70 is tested and proven, and it's not going away. For all I know, .444 Marlin could be just another flash in the pan, a wildcat. There are plenty of interesting big bore cartridges out there, but .45-70 is the most common. There's .450 Marlin, .50 Alaskan, etc..
 
I think .45/70 has a wider array of loads. Even if you don't handload, there's a HUGE difference between .45/70 cowboy loads and Bufallo Bore's .45/70 magnums. That's the advantage of all that space in the catridge. I don't think .444 is as flexible, but I'm sure it isn't just a flash in the pan. .450 Marlin may end up that way, but .444 has been around for a while.
 
i bought a 444. i think the 45-70 has more versatility as far as custom ammo goes. you can get some pretty hot loads from garret. the 444 maxs out at 335 gr. hard cast from buffalo and 305 gr from cor-bon. i think in standard factory ammo the 444 beats the snot out of the 45-70 loadings.
i shoot the 240 gr. remingtons into a 2" cir w/ iron sights, so their is no debate as to inherant accuracy.
my hunting buddy bought the guide gun, ported, in 450 marlin. that sucker will turn a bolwling pin inside out but there is only 1 factory loading for it.
i think you wouldnt notice the extra few inches in a 444P and the longer BBL helps to generate more speed and more down range E=MC2.
 
I had a Marlin .444 and it was one of the most picky guns I ever saw regarding what load it would shoot. To the point of your question, the .444 has some better trajectory but the .45-70 has better versatility of loads.
 
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