.444 Marlin
Can anyone give me some details about the .444 Marlin? What are
the ballistics like on this cartridge and what animal do you typically hunt with it?
"Mercy is for the weak...and the unprepared."
the ballistics like on this cartridge and what animal do you typically hunt with it?
"Mercy is for the weak...and the unprepared."
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Pretty good short range ballistics, similar to a .44 Magnum out of a rifle barrel, if I recall. Good brush caliber for deer out to 100 yards. All the preceding is from my memory. I don't trust it, so you might want to check further. 0 -
I had a 444 Marlin... Great round, ballistically it is about like the WEAKEST 45-70 rounds. I used it for close up work for deer as Doug stated (out to 100 yards). The ammo isn't cheap but not too bad. I also use a .44 mag carbine and it shoots well out to 75 yards or so (then falls on its face). The .444 Marlin's weakest round might be as low as a hot .44 mag but in the field it yields little difference. I think the way to think of the .444 is to think of it as a "halfway" between a .44 mag and .45-70.
They are relatively light in recoil too. If you are after "knock it down where it stands" type of energy then check out the .450 Marlin. It is designed from the beginning to be equal to a hotloaded 45-70.
If deer hunting under 100 yards is your thing then you can't go wrong with any of these cartridges.
A side-story about the .44 mag...
A few years ago I shot 2 deer with one shot. I will make it brief, but essentially, the doe I was targeting walked in front of another deer (a yearling) and when I shot I spined the yearling and hit her in the heart/lung area. The yearling went down where I shot and the doe ran ~ 30 yards. I was upset because that was all the tags I had and I ended it with one shot. However, it confirmed that the .44 mag had plenty of energy. The shot was taken at about 10-15 yards.0 -
A 44 magnum pistol with a 4inch barrel only drops 8inches. Out of a 16inch barrel. I doubt it drops more than 2 inches. 125 yards is about tops. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by E.L.
Can anyone give me some details about the .444 Marlin? What are
the ballistics like on this cartridge and what animal do you typically hunt with it?
"Mercy is for the weak...and the unprepared."
I have owned a Marlin .444 for about 20 years now. It is a great brush gun for deer, elk, hogs, bear. about 150 yrds is the limit, because it strts dropping off a lot after that....but within that range, it will damn near stop a tank!
Jim Ragsdale0 -
Recoil is not light in a .444 with heavy hanloads it is more like a 3/4 full power 45/70 in other words 75% of heavy loaded 45-70's. A 300gr bullet can be pushed to 2200fps or slightly beyond. I have shot and loaded for one, it was a Winchester Timber Carbine nice and accurate. I would say a 200yd shot is feasible with a scope and careful sighting in. The 45-70 edges out 444 in power when the heavy bullets are compared. 0 -
It's a rifle round using the same bullet as a .44 Mag. Not a bad deer/bear round either. Go here for some ballistics info. http://www.remington.com/ammo/ballistics/centerfire/results.asp?cal=53 0
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