Marlin .444 lever action Questions

Grimjaws · Sep 9, 2020

So my buddy asks me to be on the lookout for a Marlin .444 lever action. He is dead set on getting one so I’m curious

What is the allure of this model? This caliber?

He wants it for deer hunting and maybe black bear in the northeast.

Anyone own one? Anything to be concerned about? What to look for if I find a used one to avoid any headaches. Is it hard to reload for?

I told him you picked a lousy time to look for a new gun especially one in a non standard cartridge.

Thanks in advance

growr · Sep 9, 2020

They ARE a thumper!!

Randy

Hawkeye3844 · Sep 9, 2020

The attraction of a .444 Marlin is really about the big bore rifle.
The .444 can get impressive speeds for a big bore, to say the least. IMR 4198, and H4198 are the bread and butter powders for most of the bullet weights up to 400 grs.
You can use .429 cal bullets, but the 240 gr 44 mag bullets almost rip apart when they hit something substantial. 265 gr and up are meant more for .444 velocities.
With the .444, you can hunt anything from mice to moose with it, as my friend says.
They are delightfully accurate.
Now, the older ones, usually have the 1 in 38 inch twist, with micro groove barrels. These are, usually meant to be shot with 240 - 270 gr bullets. Most of the time, they won't stabilize the heavy bullets, 300 grs and up.
The newer ones have the Ballard rifling, and 1 in 20 inch, and they can handle all bullet weights up to 400 to 405 grs.
The older ones are a little pricey, because they were made by the actual Marlin company. Newer ones are made by the Remington owned Marlin Firearms Corp, and aren't as nice looking as the old ones, but still function as well as the old ones.
The only drawback I know of is lack of factory ammo made for it nowadays.
Marlin, a year and a half ago, just started production up again of the .444. Right now, it's probably hard to even find a new one with Remington going bankrupt, again, in 2 years time.
I hope this helps.

Hawk

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Rpg · Sep 9, 2020

In the late 1960’s, a friend got a job with an Alaskan outfitter and bought one to take to Alaska.

He shot some game with it in Alaska but found it lacked penetration on anything larger than deer and the bullets were quite fragile. He ended up trading it for a 30-06, which was much more effective for big game.

I think the early ammo for the 444 was loaded with the same projectiles as the 44 mag. At 444 velocities, these things didn’t hold together.

I’d be much more interested in a 45-70 than a 444 if I was looking for a big bore lever action.

Shark Bait · Sep 9, 2020

The Hornady Superformance 265 grain load is excellent, but I heard they aren't being made now. I just checked the Hornady website and they still have them listed. My rifle was made in 1968 and is of the first variant. It is very accurate and hits hard out 200-250 yards. I haven't shot game with it, yet.

The J3 · Sep 9, 2020

I'm a big Marlin fan. I own several and a 444 is on my list to own one of these days when I find the right one. Good luck in your search.

J3

TIMETRIPPER · Sep 9, 2020

The failings of the 444 were due more to the bullet than the cartridge. But whether old or new rifling, it is a rifle/cartridge combo that will shine will good hand loads. For years, the lack of a good jacketed bullet made the 444 a poor second to the 45-70. It's still harder to find good rifle quality bullet for the former than it is for the latter.

John

Golphin · Sep 9, 2020

I am a fan of Marlins and own a few. I stick to those that were made by Marlin and most of mine are pre safety the safety started about 1984. I owned a 45/70 but not a 444. I sold it as I built a 450 Bushmaster and didn't need either much less both here in Florida. I would try and find one built before 2008. If you go with a new one you better check it over good before buying it.

kraynky · Sep 9, 2020

My 444 Marlin is from 1970, and the 265 gr bullet is awesome on deer. Overkill really. The first deer I shot with it was a small 6 pointer, at about 80 yards. The little buck was walking towards my left when I fired, and when I got across the creek to it, it had spun it it the other direction.

It was down before the rifle's scope came back on target, so it didn't just turn to leave and fall over. I haven't had an opportunity to shoot it over 200 yards yet, but it out performed the two 45-70's I'd owned previously.

Mine's going with me to the "Happy Hunting Grounds" beyond.

RoyM52 · Sep 9, 2020

I have a early model , with the 24 inch barrel and the Monte Carlo stock. I'm not really sure why the 240 grain was ever used. It never fit the qualifications for this rifle but in the early '70's it was what Remington loaded for it. I have never used that round and have always reloaded for my 444. The Hornady 265 was designed for the 444 and it is what I have always used. There is really no need to go bigger.
I have shot deer at 300 yards and had them drop.

I have also shot black bear {several} and the largest was 575 lbs. It has a much better trajectory than a 45-70 and delivers a ton and a half of energy .

It will be with me and is my go to gun for deer and black bear.

The 240 grain has the wrong expansion for velocity rating. the 265 Hornady is , perfect.

Buick · Sep 9, 2020

I have one made in 1975. It is an instant killer, plain and simple. Recoil is brisk, but not unmanageable. While much more accurate than one would expect, the .444 Marlins really shine for their power, reliability, and handling qualities. Sort of like a howitzer that swings like a good bird gun.

Hawkeye3844 · Sep 9, 2020

I bought one of the first new ones that was built a year ago.
It's a beauty, to say the least.
I bought Bear Tooth 300 gr WFLN gas checks to load in Starline brass.
I wish I could have found some of the 265 grs, but they weren't available back then. But I can 300 gr Bear Tooth bullets all day long, and even lighter ones that are hard lead. If you have hand loaded pistol brass, this isn't too much different.
They are right that the .444 does shoot flatter than the .45-70, and equal the power.
There was an article that came out last year that stated a man was out deer hunting bin Grizzly territory, and the bear had charged unexpectedly. The gentleman with the .444 Marlin had the Hornady 265gr flat nose bullets loaded, and stopped that bear at 50 yds. He shot the bear twice, but the first shot stopped it instantly. It acted like it was going to get up, and the second shot was for insurance, probably didn't need it, but what the heck.
So, if you want a big bore with fairly flat trajectory, and power, you should go with a .444 Marlin. Not saying a .45-70 wouldn't be as good, but the .444 is no slouch.
I put a Burris Fullfield II 1.75-5x20mm to go well with the round.

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Dieseltech56 · Sep 9, 2020

I was really close to pulling the trigger on a new marlin 444 about 8 months ago and I let it go for something else. Now that anything new from Marlin is hard to find I’m regretting it

dr. mordo · Sep 9, 2020

I was shopping hard for a good price on a used 444 before the pandemic. I ended up finding a Supergrade Winchester 70 in .458 Win Mag for only a little more than folks were asking for 444s, so I went for it.

That said, if I find a 444 for the right price I'm sure I'll try to scrounge the money together for it.

Hawkeye3844 · Sep 9, 2020

dr. mordo said:
I was shopping hard for a good price on a used 444 before the pandemic. I ended up finding a Supergrade Winchester 70 in .458 Win Mag for only a little more than folks were asking for 444s, so I went for it.

That said, if I find a 444 for the right price I'm sure I'll try to scrounge the money together for it.

If you can, get one!
They're well worth it.
Even the newer ones.

Hawk

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Squarebutt · Sep 9, 2020

A .444 is on my wish list, too. If the folks at Henry Rifles knew how many of us would buy one, maybe they would introduce it to their line. They already have the frame size for producing the .45-70.

smoothshooter · Sep 9, 2020

Grimjaws said:
So my buddy asks me to be on the lookout for a Marlin .444 lever action. He is dead set on getting one so I’m curious

What is the allure of this model? This caliber?

He wants it for deer hunting and maybe black bear in the northeast.

Anyone own one? Anything to be concerned about? What to look for if I find a used one to avoid any headaches. Is it hard to reload for?

I told him you picked a lousy time to look for a new gun especially one in a non standard cartridge.

Thanks in advance

With past ammo buying frenzies, ofter the non-standard guns and ammo are easier to find.

Mike SC Hunter · Sep 9, 2020

Around 1996 I bought a Winchester big bore in 444. It was JUNK. It spontianiously disassembled itself with the amount of shooting I was doing. It went down the road after Win. supposidly fixed it. In 1998 or 99 Marlin came out with the 444P Outfitter. Straight stock. Ported 18" barrel. I bought one and shot the heck out of it and it never failed. Bought a second one for a spare and its never been needed. I once shot a buck quartering toward me with my hand loaded 310 grain cast bullet. He was dead before he dropped. Found the bullet under the hide behind the left ham. Measured from entry hole to bullet. 37 inches of penetration!. On side shots forget it. That big bullet blows a hole going in and coming out....Causes LOTS of leakage. mine has by now a couple of thousand rounds through it since then and it's still good as new and takes deer every season. The spare? It just there awaiting it's turn one day.

BigMuddy · Sep 9, 2020

Fantastic cartridge. Never thought I’d have a use for a triple 4 until I shot one owned by my brother.

Often they are compared to 45-70’s. I own Marlins in both and while their effective use can overlap, they are also different. 444’s are at their best when loaded to near max velocities with 265-300 grain bullets. (This is for the older MG barrels). They definitely shoot flatter than 45-70’s with similar weight bullets. The 45-70 surpasses a 444 when bullet weights get over 350 grains and work well when real heavy weights are desired. Also loading 45-70’s down to around 1300 fps is easy on the shoulder and they’ll still be quite accurate. A 400 grain bullet at that speed is still very effective on big animals.

If i could only keep one, it would be the 444. It’s just that good.

Dan

ancient-one · Sep 9, 2020

dr. mordo said:
I was shopping hard for a good price on a used 444 before the pandemic. I ended up finding a Supergrade Winchester 70 in .458 Win Mag for only a little more than folks were asking for 444s, so I went for it.

That said, if I find a 444 for the right price I'm sure I'll try to scrounge the money together for it.

I hope that you have a sturdy shoulder. Back quite a few years ago a friend had a .458 that he took to Africa. He shot a elephant and I don't remember what else. He insisted that I shoot it. I did, twice, and for a long time when I moved the shoulder, you could feel the calcium deposits that it loosened just grinding away.
I was a lot more recoil sensitive than him. His idea of target practice was to shoot a Model 29 with heavy loads.

Marlin .444 lever action Questions

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