AJ Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Marlin wanted to create a new “woods gun” that was powerful enough to handle any of North America’s big game and fit their lever action rifle line. They beefed up their 336 lever gun to handle the new cartridge that Remington designed for them. The year was 1964 and a new big bore hunting gun was born. The new rifle wears the same name as the cartridge it digests, the .444 Marlin. The .444 Marlin cartridge is basically a .44 Remington Magnum with an extra inch of length adding powder capacity. That extra inch of powder buys you at least 600 fps more velocity when compared to the parent cartridge. In terms of muzzle energy, that extra inch causes .44 caliber bullets to be pumped out at .30-06 power levels. This extra velocity can cause problems with lighter, more frangible bullets that are designed for optimum performance at .44 Magnum levels. The Marlin 444SS lever action rifle has been accompanied by no less than 6 different rifles and believe it or not handguns, chambered for the .444 Marlin cartridge. The Magnum Research Lone Eagle cannon-breech single-shot handgun and their Biggest Finest Revolver (BFR), Beretta’s Silver Sable double rifle, and Thompson/Center chambered their Encore single shot handgun in .444. Remington also chambered their Rolling Block single shot rifle in .444. The US Repeating Arms Company (Winchester) also chambered their Model 94 Big Bore lever rifle in .444 Marlin. Over the past 10 years or so the .444 Marlin has taken second stage to its older bigger brother the .45/70 Government. While both are similar cartridges, the .444 Marlin always seems to be second best in popularity. The nostalgia of the older .45/70 made the .444 Marlin the bridesmaid, but never the bride. Since the .444 Marlin was originally chambered in a modern rifle, the pressure standard for the modern cartridge was set at 44,000 C.U.P. This allows the .444 Marlin to launch a 240 gr bullet 2600 fps and a 300 gr bullet 2150 fps. Today factory ammo is offered by Buffalo Bore, Grizzly Ammunition, Hornady, and Remington. This year Hornady has released a new bullet design with their LEVERevolution ammo using a 265 gr bullet. It offers an ever so slightly flatter trajectory compared to a flat point bullet of the same weight. Code: 265 FP 265 LE 100 +1.0" +1.0" 150 -1.1" -0.9" 175 -3.2" -2.9" 200 -6.2" -5.5" 225 -10" --9.0 250 -14.8" -13.3" Both loads start out with slightly over 3100 ft/lbs of muzzle energy and still have 1400 (FP) and 1600 (LE) ft/lbs of energy left at 200 yards. At the distances most deer and bears are shot this is more than enough umph to do the job. Popular powders for the handloaders are the faster rifle powders like Reloader 7, 4198, H322, and Accurate 2015BR. Handloaders can load bullets from 180 grains up to 300 grain jacketed bullets. There are some heavier cast bullets though. Some of the older guns had a slower twist rate of 1 in 38" which would not give the best accuracy with bullets over 265 grains as stabilization would at best be on the ragged edge. The current Marlin rifles have a faster twist of 1 in 20" which will stabilize just about any .44 caliber bullet on the market. As a fast handling woods gun, the .444 Marlin will handle any big game this country has to offer. It has ample power and penetration with properly chosen bullets and loads to stop the fight and down game with well placed shots. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
too_pointer Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Re: COTW - .444 Marlin Thanks bud, good explanation Do I want one, yes LOL too_ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shaun_300 Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Re: COTW - .444 Marlin Thanks AJ! That'd defiently be a good brush gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hoosierbuck Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Re: COTW - .444 Marlin Got one, haven't killed anything with it yet, tho. Thought it would be a nice black bear and hog gun. HB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest HOOP Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Re: COTW - .444 Marlin bought me the outfitter .444 about 5-6 yrs ago,shot a couple of does with it.did have a scope on it seemed like every yr when sighting in my dad would blast himself in the forehead with it,so i took it off and just basicaly use the gun for pushing the bush,or occasionaly used for clearing a path HOOP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Colorado Bob Posted March 26, 2006 Report Share Posted March 26, 2006 Re: COTW - .444 Marlin I've got a 444 Marlin. I'm hoping to use it on elk this year with the Hornady 265 factory load. I had it at elk camp last year but decided to hunt with my 30/06 that day. Don't you know that was the morning I got into elk---killed a 5point @ 60 yards. It would have been perfect for the 444. CB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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