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444 rifle purchase?

alazys
Hi, I am trying to decide on the purchase of one of these two guns. The first is the Winchester 94 Timber Carbine, (444 calibre) the other is the Marlin 444P. Any experience out there as to which may be the wiser purchase? Thanks.
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Comments

11 comments

Date Votes
  • bambihunter
    I've always liked the solid top Marlin for any lever gun. I used to have a Marlin .444 lever and really liked it. Very accurate and never a problem. I have no experience with the Win. in .444 but I sure didn't care for the angle eject 30-30 that I have used extensively.
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  • DONDALINGER
    I own a .444 Marlin and highly reccomend it. I use it for whitetail and it has awesome knockdown power and is a accurate,solid rifle w/smooth action. I don't ever plan to part with it.
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  • gskyhawk
    If you are referring to the Marlin that has the ported barrel be advised that it will be LOUD but other than that its a very fine rifle , very accurate ,
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  • redice
    Be careful, don't buy one of the newer marlin's with the synthetic stocks that look like wood. They kick like a mule, a nice older one with real wood stocks you can shoot over and over and over without a problem.
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  • spasmcreek
    have a marlin 444... eats, chews, spits out factory or reloads, no problemo....265 flat point at 2200, hits like a buick in overdrive.....also consider a ruger #3 in 44 rechambered....neat....ahhh the winchester mystique lured me in purchasing a big bore 444....big mistake... would only chamber factory flat points....reloads still under sammi specs at shoulder & neck & shorter than book length would not chamber.. in fact ended up with one in chamber less app 1/8 " , one on lifter & one partially under lifter... took win back for refund...used same reloads in marlin & single shot a-ok
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  • alazys
    Thank you all for your input. It has come to my attention that Marlin has dropped the 444P and Winchester discontinued their 444 Timber Carbine and upsized it to the 450. Anyone know why? I can only find one Win Timber Carbine in all of Alberta, Marlins are gone. Thanks again.
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  • bambihunter
    The .444 is kind of an "in the middle" round as far as big bores go. It really falls right into the lower end of .45-70 loadings whereas the .450 was designed to be a full-powered option and is equivelent to the hottest factory loaded .45-70 stuff.
    I have used a .44 mag on countless occasions where close-in work called for a carbine. The .444 marlin would extend the range some over the .44 mag, but without all the harsh recoil of the high-powered .450 marlin.
    It doesn't suprise me that they dropped the .444. It was somewhat of a solution to a question that nobody asked since as I mentioned, the 45-70 already did what the .444 was designed to do.

    Personally, I wouldn't have the ported model. While I practice with hearing protection, I rarely hunt deer with it and the porting did in fact make perceived sound MUCH louder.

    If you can't find a .444 I'd sure look at the .45-70 since it would be able to be fed hot stuff or mild stuff to vary it to suit what you're hunting. I know there are a lot of used .444's still around this area so maybe you'll run across a new one or a gently used one.
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  • freemant
    There are still plenty of Marlin 444s around. Some in GB. I bought one about two months ago and like it very much. BTW it prefers the Hornady Light Magnum ammo. Just be sure to get youself braced before you pull the trigger. It really has a strong kick. I disagree that the 45-70 is an acceptable alternate. Check the balistics. The 444 is far superior at normal hunting ranges.

    Terry
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  • DONDALINGER
    I agree w/ freemant about the 45/70. I was looking at both guns and opted for the .444. Not that the 45/70 isn't a great round. The .444 has less recoil and from what I have seen at the range,is slightly more accurate than the 45/70. For what I use it for, the 240 gr. soft points are perfect for whitetail and very accurate. I plan on experimenting with the 265 gr. Hornady this year and trying them this upcoming hunting season. I guess it all boils down to personal preference. I am a .44 fan. .44 Magnum, .44 special and .444 Marlin. I even bought my son a .44 Ruger Deerfield and he took his first 2 deer with it.
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  • 1KYDSTR
    45/70 LESS POWERFUL THAN 444?!?! Check YOUR ballistics tables using Cor-bon, Buffalo Arms or good hand loads!!! The 444 won't take a 450 gr. + pill so you are squarely in the apples and oranges area here!MORE ACURRATE?!?! My peep sight equiped 1895 G will do honest"2 groups using my favorite load under 455 Gr. gas check lead bullets and it has at times done even better!!! A little tough to get that kind of pop from a triple 4! The 444 is a really good round but I fear no where near as flexible as the 45/70!! Perhaps I just got a really good one but I think there must be more of them out there in Marlins lineup. I will grant you the recoil consideration, but you can just load the 45/70 down or buy Springfield loads for it!

    "When I cease learning...I'm dead"(Me)
    "Power corrupts...Absolute power corrupts absolutely"(Descartes?)
    "History is written by winners"(Patton)
    "You get a lot farther with a kind word and a gun than you do with a kind word alone!"(Al Capone)
    "There is nothing lower than the human race...except the French" (Samuel Clemens)
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  • DONDALINGER
    I never said the .444 was a more POWERFUL round than the 45/70 and I don't read where anyone else said it. My buddy has a Marlin 45/70 and we both reload and my .444 consistently prints tighter groups at 100 yds. using sandbags. I agree the 45/70 will take heavier gr. bullets than the .444. Like I said before, the 45/70 is a great round but I prefer the .444. It is more versatile for ME. I reload 240 gr. XTP's for my Redhawk and can use the same bullet in the Marlin and in the .44 Special if desired.
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