Unveiling The Hidden Gem: The Powerful Marlin .444 Rifle
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 พ.ค. 2024
- The Marlin .444 rifle should be considered when selecting a deer gun especially if you live in a state that requires straight wall cartridges. Explore the benefits of the .444 along with River's Gun Kingdom.
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I have three Marlins chambered in 444 marlin. It will take out much tougher stuff than deer but it is certainly a great deer cartridge.
My grandpa hunted Elk in Colorado for many years with a marlin 444 lever gun. When he was about 86 years old he quit going and died the next year. His son got the gun and probably sold it at a pawn store. Pissed me off big time, there is family history in that gun.
Sorry to hear that. I know I regret selling some of my firearms. Like for one of my dad's the Fox model B side by 12ga shotgun. I swear it was magic because he never missed a pheasant with that gun and after he died I went hunting with it and never missed a pheasant either! Thanks for watching and good hearing from you!
I bought a 444 marlin after shooting my buddys in 2006. It was in the local classifieds paper a guy in a wheelchair won it at a gun raffle and was asking $325.00 I called him and he gave me his address I paid $300.00 for it and looking back that was one of the best guns I have ever bought. He was a funny guy he told me he wasn't sure if the breaks on his wheelchair were strong enough for him to shoot it... lol
That was a great deal....glad it's one of your best you have owned. Thank you for sharing and thanks for watching!
Sense of humor, even in a wheelchair.
This is my go to gun from deer to moose. Just love that .444 marlin.
Glad to hear you love the .444....!! Thanks for sharing and thank you for watching!
Out to 200 yards, accurate enough with the 240 gr bullet to stop anything, I love the caliber!
240 grain is the sweet spot for sure, hand loads always help.
Me too, I bought one in 1993, be the last gun to leave my cabinet!
I love this rifle but I would have chose a different scope and I would have mounted it much lower. I think the 1 * 4 mounted low as possible would be perfect on this rifle. There's really no need for anything beyond 4 power with a 444 cartridge and a lower power would give you a much larger field of view for hunting close range in the brush. Thank you for sharing 👍
Yes I agree.....I have had one on backorder for some time now. Thanks for watching.
@@riversgunkingdom5360 👍
@@craigleibbrand7761 👍
Yes 👍 I have a leupold vx-3 1.5-5 power on mine. It works great 👍
@@jasonsimone3523 Nice 👍
I have an old marlin 444 from 1986 that I just adore, I found it in a pawn shop for a steal with a leupold 3x9 on it. I pulled the scope off and put XS scout rail on it and a leatherwood scout scope 2x7 on it. It is my favorite rifle
Glad to hear it's your favorite rifle! Thank you for watching.
Earned my subscription! Nothing more bad ass than pouring a cup of coffee from a classic thermos while speaking almost perfectly like Clint Eastwood.
I came into the possession of a .444 Marlin because of a bunch of circumstances I couldn't control. It is a CVA Scout II break action single shot. I hand load for it and my handloads average 2400 fps at muzzle with a 240 grain bonded bullet. It has a 4 power scope. In 2018 I shot my elk from 266 yards and the elk did not take another step. I shot from a ridge above the elk and the bullet passed through the animal from the top of the shoulder blades and out the chest into the ground. The big slow bullet caused little capillary damage so I was able to save the meat right up to the wound channel.
That Scout is very nice gun. A friend of mine brought one out to the gun club one day and I thought it was very well made! What a great story you shared with all of us about the .444, Thank you! Thanks for watching the video! River
I sent a 265 grain soft-point through a 1/4 in steel plate with a .444 Marlin cartridge out of my .410 shotgun. Ever since, I call it the .44 magnum-magnum.
Awesome! Thanks for sharing and thank you for watching!
Underrated? Who underestimates a .444? Haha
Comes into its own with 300 grain bullets
Sadly, too many people. It gets a lot of hate from the 45/70 crowd who really don't want to argue logic or facts, they just want to make themselves seem superior.
The 444 is a reloaders cartridge, and properly handloaded there isnt a single animal on the planet it can't take ethically and efficiently. It also yields more reloads for a given amount of powder. In strong single shots like the ruger number 1, it can be pushed just as high on pressure as a similarly chambered 45/70 with less recoil and will shoot flatter. The best bullets will be either hard cast with gas checks, or jacketed bullets from Swift or Hawk. Hornady's old 265gr FP was reliable but they aren't producing it right now. I cannot attention the current offerings from Speer since they did their redesign of them.
Usable weights for reloading will range between 180 to 360 grains.
I sadly dont have a 444 but i do have 4570 and a 4590 1886 winchester origanal jm marlin from the 80s . missed buying the 444
@Spectacular Spectacular i never buy factory ammo for any Rifle
@Spectacular Spectacular only people like buffalo bore. Sell hot 4570 loads not avalible in canada
River, We most assuredly enjoyed your video, your communication style and camera work create a positive atmosphere as around a campfire chat about you experiences with the .444 as well as historical references to limitations with shotgun projectiles. Especially smooth bore without telescopic or metallic sites other that front bead. Although I had experiences with fiber optic sites making shots near a hundred yards. With rifles we shown that the high shoulder shot was the most lethal dropping a deer where shot. So far none have traveled more than 10 steps before collapsing. ( None shot with 265 grain .444) .357, 44, 357 Maximum, 7x57, and .350 legend
have been the cartridges of choice with 180 OR .240 gr XTP. ( 139 gr with 7x57 )
As you have stated several times the straight wall cartridge is an excellent choice; however 1.8 inches OAL of case is the norm currently in most straight wall only states, so the .444 does not current qualify for deer hunting yet in previous shotgun, muzzle loader and handgun zones. Neither does the 45/70 as case length is over 2.0” and .444 at 2.225 case length. Your reference to the history of the .444 Marlin, as well as all the ballistic data on ammo being used; along with that fine marksmanship really keeps your story flowing.
We plan to view other video’s in the future. TRJM
Thank you for your kind words and encouragement and I always welcome comments and appreciate you leaving one here on this video. Best of luck with your future deer hunts and thanks for watching my channel. River
Theres nothing like operating the action of a leveraction rilfe along with the sound of the action . Makes you think of the wild west
That is so true! Thank you for leaving this great comment! Thank you for watching!
Always liked the .444, great bush cartridge.
Good to hear! Thanks for watching.
Nice channel! I have a 1895 Marlin in 45/70 JM love it. My friend has the .444 🦅🇺🇸
That's a great rifle which the cartridge has a lot of versatility and it's very popular. Thanks for letting me know what rifle you and your friend use.
Great intro! Congratulations on setting up this channel!
Glad you like it!
I would say that it's possible the .444 could be one secret deer hunting magic wand hiding in plain sight. We have really good bullets in .44 caliber these days. Henry and Ruger/Marlin need to jump on this cartridge and push it. It's very viable. I can see it easily being very popular in the straight wall hunting zones.
Hi John, thanks for watching! When I was younger I hunted with a Ruger Super Blackhawk .44 mag and had great success hunting deer. In Ohio now it's great we have an option to use the .444 now and for states that only allow straight walled cartridges the .444 is the best option. Thanks again for sharing!
@@riversgunkingdom5360 Those straight wall states need to just open it up and quit messing around. There is something eerie about that type of micro management.
@@johnnorman7708 I agree with you. The thoughts surrounding this issue are that the bottleneck cartridges such as the 30-30 seen in this video travel much further distances than a straight walled cartridge and if the terrain is mostly flat like in Ohio there are less chances of the bullet being stopped before ending up in a unwanted area. With the straight walled cartridge it starts dropping at a much faster rate therefore hitting the ground sooner. Hope this helps and thank you for your thoughts.
@@riversgunkingdom5360 I've seen Ohio. It does have those wide open farm fields. Last time I was there harvest was in full swing. More farm related stuff on the roads where I was than anything else. And yes, range potential is a product of velocity and ballistic coefficient. Mostly velocity from what I have seen. The slower it goes the shorter it shoots. And I can also agree that most deer get taken at shorter ranges unless you deliberately cultivate those bean field shots at hundreds of yards. Cartridges in the .444 class are really not a severe handicap in my book. I'm going to be hunting timbered edges and creek bottoms anyway.
@@johnnorman7708 I think they are afraid of a 12 gauge slug when they come knocking to confiscate said items one day, and maybe they want to faze out the slug. That's just a thought I have.... Because all the limits on straight wall cartridges is bs when the shorter case cartridges share damn near the same ballistics as the larger ones. Just compare a 444 Marlin to a 450 bm or a 350 legend to a 30-30 or even the new 360 buck hammer vs 45-70.
Good video. Had a 444 for years. Shot several deer and a couple moose. I had no issues with it. Good bear defence gun too.
That's great to hear.....yes it is a good bear defense gun ....I have taken mine along on fly-in trips to Kodiak, AK. Thanks for letting us know your thoughts and thanks for watching!
Great Video. I too love the 444 Marlin. I also think that so many people don't like it is because of the recoil. It seems there are a lot of wimps out there. Everytime I saw a Deer shot with that 350 Legend they bolted for at least 100 yards or more. Many times the Hunter couldn't find the animal. But with that 444 it dropped them where they stood like a freight train hit em.
Hi Dennis, Thanks for sharing this information with us! Thank you for watching!
The 444 marlin is good medicine for any North American big game from deer to coastal brown bears!
Nice job my freind! Lookin forward to more …
I shoot a 444 single shot. That's all you need
Do you have a cva scout in 444 marlin
14:57 @@brendenmilligan8739😊😊😊😊😊😊😊😊
@@brendenmilligan8739 I bought a cva scout in 444 a few years ago. 250 bucks. Now they stopped the caliber 444 in the scout. Your lucky to find any thing 444 in stock. Been like that for years. And if you do find one the price has close to triple.
I have a 444SS looks identical to yours, purchased in 1988. 22” micro groove barrel. For a long time you couldn’t get the Remington 265 grain loads and had to settle for the less than stellar 240 grain rounds. I have never used those spire point ballistic tip Hornady 265’s, but hear good things about them. They’re actually just 20 ft lbs away from 3200 ft lbs at the muzzle at 2325 FPS.
For the last couple of years I’ve loaded the 300 grain Hornady bullets using some faster AR-15 ball powder and have never looked back, as it’s increased the performance dramatically, hitting very hard and really opening up the bullets. In my opinion the .444 does best with bullets of at least 300 grains hand loaded to really bring out the rifles full potential.
I never put a scope on mine, sorry I just don’t care for one on a lever gun, but right after I bought it I installed a Williams FP receiver sight with a gold twilight aperture. Since then I changed the aperture to a Merit adjustable one, which allows me to dial the opening up or down depending on the light. Very accurate, and nothing to bump and keeps the already heavy rifle weight down.
I like the round enough that I’m considering getting a shorter barreled Marlin Guide Gun with Ballard cut rifling in the same caliber, but am suffering sticker shock looking at the ridiculous amounts they’re going for now. Thanks for the review! 👍
Thanks for the great feedback! I don't really care for the scope look on the gun either but my eyesight is not what it use to be. I do have mounts on it that you can sight in with the gun with the iron sights in case a deer is in really close range. Thanks again for leaving a comment and thanks for watching the video!
Good to hear your opinion
Very cool, I have the exact same year 444. Absolutely love the rifle, A piece of art
Thanks for the comment! I agree with you....it's a piece of art! Thanks for watching!
My "JM" 336 in .444 Marlin is a near twin to yours. If I were to find myself making a trip to any "straight wall only" state for a hunt, I would have no qualms about the power or accuracy of my rifle. It's a thumper sure enough! Only my old .35 Remington 336 runs in the same pack in my opinion but that caliber is, of course, a bottle neck round. Excellent video which I just stumbled up on. I immediately subscribed.
The 336 is very cool and I saw where one went for almost 3000.00 on Gunbroker. the other day. Thanks for the compliment and subscribing!
@@riversgunkingdom5360 Would you believe I paid less than $800.00 for my rifle just under five years ago? In unfired, like new condition? I don't think it was ever loaded by the original owner! Pawn & Gun Shops are wonderful places to find those firearms you SHOULD have purchased years before.
@@furmanmackey5479 I stumb.ed into a safe queen 35 remington 336 that had less than two boxes of cartridges put through it. It's a mid 70s model. It has a much shorter range than the 444, so it's a shame the short range states don't allow it.
Absolutely love mine... It was dad's and it's never missed an deer opener since 1972 and has taken everything it's been pointed at out to 300 yards she really hits the off button hard... I've been looking into solid copper bullets so I can take it out west on a black bear or elk hunt since they changed the rules regarding lead core bullets... Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated.
Great to hear from you and thanks for watching. Copper is a great metal and will give some more penetration and maybe be the best option since you may be shooting from further distances and thicker skinned animals. Thank you and good luck hunting!
Is there any state in the west other than Commyfornia that does not allow lead core bullets ???
Look at the anatomy of a deer , the front leg kicks forward to the shoulder blade , so the vitals are directly above the leg , so a shot directly above the vertical leg gets the vitals , where just forward of that gets the shoulder & blade & blows bone into the vitals . I have center shot deer above the leg with 308 -Federal 165 g , bold them strait over !
Great review, I bought mine new in 1972. Who made or where did you but your stock cover. Looks like it has a recoil pad built on it.
Thank you for the compliment! It's not good for a recoil pad but it does raise your eye level when using a scope! Let me know if you have any more questions? Thanks again for watching!
🤠
Thanks for watching! @@gwermsg
Thanks. I have a Handi-rifle in 444 Marlin, but would love and older Marlin lever action in that cartridge. Thanks for sharing.
You're welcome! Sometimes you can find the older models on Gunbroker.com for sale. Thank you for watching!
@@riversgunkingdom5360 Yes sir, I've looked at them out there. I just bought a new Marlin 1895 Guide gun in 45-70 Govt. Since the older Marlins in 444 cost about the same in price I need to wait until I save up some more cash. I'd love to find one someone is selling cheaply. That is how I got my 336 in 30-30. Got it from an individual at a gun show for $300.00. It is a 1970 year production. What a deal. Thanks again.
That's great deals you find at the gun shows! Thanks for letting me know and also I subscribed to you channel and watching your videos. Thanks for staying in touch.
@@riversgunkingdom5360 Very cool and thanks. I went to a gun show today and one vendor actually had a Marlin 444. He was only asking 1600 for it. I did buy a partial box of Peters 444 Marlin. 5 rounds and 8 pieces of brass for ten bucks. One guy had full boxes for $75 each but I didn't get any of those.
@@cervus-venator The Marlin 444 for 1600.00 must have been in excellent condition? I have seen them on Gunbroker in good condition for around 1000.00. And Fin Feather Fur has .444 for around 50.00 for 20 rounds.
I had a Marlin in .357 and when Ohio allowed straight case centerfires, the market value and demand went way up. So I traded for something I wanted more. The dealer was happy to get it.
Nice setup. Also liked the intro.
Thanks for the visit
It's a thumper, for sure. In my younger days when recoil wasn't a factor (I'm 76), I owned one of those. Like you say, they fell straight down, no tracking, however, I always center punched the front shoulder and not the boiler room. Gorgeous rifle. I have the Marlin 336 XLR stainless model in 30-30 with the 24" barrel. I shoot on occasion the Hornady Leverevolution ammo but where I hunt I get the same velocity with 150gr power points and they are just as dead. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for writing and a stainless 336 is a beautiful gun and the 30-30 has the record for sure! Thank you for watching! River
I do like the .444 for more than one reason. Though I no longer own a marlin leveraction version, I still own my custom made single shot. I'm just a big fan of single shots. With my little single shot I've taken pronghorn all the way up to elk with it. Now I have spent a lot of time in grizzly country and never felt under gunned. Took it on a moose hunt but ultimately didn't harvest with it. My moose fell to the. 35 Whelen instead that year.
Mountain man
That's a great story .....thanks for sharing and also thank you for watching!
My dad gave me his .444 in 1985 after letting me hunt with it for about 5 years. It has been my absolute favorite rifle my whole life. I have taken game with guns with a much longer reach, but almost never have I taken anything at a farther range than the .444 can manage. Idaho is a great short range environment.
Best gun ever! Very few people know this gun, thanks for the episode!!!
You are welcome! Dads are the best.....I know because my dad was always there for me and took me hunting and fishing all the time! Thanks for watching!
What bullets are you using in Idaho for your Marlin. I've been looking for some solid copper's and nothing is in stock.
@@normankaster917 I haven't
tried the monolithic copper bullets yet, they look promising but are scarce. I like the 260 grain composite tipped rounds for their better (slightly) ballistics
I have a JM model, I have harvested many deer, one shot kills. .444 is very strong, you do your part it will damn sure do its part.
Awesome! Thanks for leaving a comment and also watching my video!
I can attest to that as well, all deer I have shot with the 444 have been one shot kills that have not left where they were shot.. All have been with 265gr flat point handloads. I refuse to use gummed.
@@patrickhenry236 Thanks for sharing that with us! Thank you for watching! River
@@riversgunkingdom5360 you are more than welcome. I've had experience with the round for over 23 years. It was my first deer rifle, and I currently own a late 79 444S, and an earlier barrel banded 444s (for those who have only seen barrel bands on the first 24 inch model, there was a transition period on the first straight stocked sporter models that used bands instead of the end cap we know today.)
The 444 Marlin has been my go to rifle for, ELk, Muledeer, and whitetail for over 45 years! Under rated only in a sense of how IGNORANT people are about it!
Handloaded, you can go mild to wild, hunt darn near anything that walks!
One of my personal hand loaded favorite rounds is a Ranch Dog 350grain bullet, from the Ranch Dogs bullet moulds with GC, 2000fps with outstanding accuracy in a MicroGroove 1-38 barrel.
IMHO Marlin did not promote the 444 enough, they did not show the true extent of its capabilities, and gun rag writers back in the day did more to create myths more then facts!
“ The 444 does more with less, then the 45-70” always has, always will!
That is very well said! Thank you for telling us all your feelings regarding this great cartridge! Thank you very much for watching! River
@@riversgunkingdom5360
I’ve been a 444 junkie most my life, and have always argued favorably for it over the 45-70, there are so many good things about the 444 that never sees the light of day. Handloading and Hardcast bullets in the right diameter can take the 444 everywhere in the world!
I LOVE the 444, so does my wife, yes she has here own!
@@markoharoldoronearmedpoohb7816 That's great to hear! Thanks for sharing and watching!
Out of the straight walled, the 460 s&w is also worth a look. Unfortunately not many rifle options though.
Yes that's true! Thank you!
I have another great straight wall case rifle for deer hunting, my 1980 Marlin in 375 Win.
You don’t have to take the stopper all of the way out to pour coffee out. It’s a cool Stanley option.
Thank you for reminding me....I do keep forgetting that. Thanks for watching the video and I will try to remember in the next video. Thanks again!
I wish Henry would make a 444. Now I hunt with a my Henry 45-70 iron sites for the brushy stuff or my Marlin 45-70 with a Leopold 2-7 (I think) scope for the more open areas. If Henry was to manufacture one I would buy one in an instant.
I enjoyed the video. What is the reasoning for these states using only straight walled cartridges. Are they afraid of bottle necked cartridges going to far in a more populated state?
Thanks for bringing that up because you're exactly right. For example the popular 30-30 has a long range, it just keeps going especially in a state that is mostly flat like Ohio. Thanks again for leaving this comment!
Is your .444 Marlin lever gun a Remington made one? They are fantastic!!
Thanks for your question. This rifle was made in 1977 and has the "JM" stamp which indicates it was made by Marlin. Thank you for watching.
Similar in ballistics to 45-70, but harder to find ammo than 45-70govt. Amazing rifle.
Thank you for watching. I would check gun broker on internet and sometimes you can find some good deals. I hope this helps. Thank you for leaving the comment.
I have had a Marlin 444 since 1980. Love the gun but cannot find factory ammo anywhere. Any ideas?
Thank you for the question and watching the video! Gun Broker dot com has it right now in fact.....they have the Hornady LeveRevolution the one I fire in the video. Hope this helps! Thanks again for your support!
The 444 Marlin is built on the 336 weight frame. Some changes in recent years made some components like the loading gate and magazine tube interchangeable with the 1895 45-70 Gov't frame. The original barrel length on the 444 was 24 inches. My 1992 444 SS has the 22" barrel and the cross bolt safety. I would prefer the non-cross bolt version but I don't have any problem with it.
The Hornady LeverEvolution line of cartridges with the FTX flex tip bullet has extended the maximum effective point blank range of the 30-30 Winchester, 35 Remington, 444 Marlin and 45-70 Gov't and any other cartridge that a correct diameter and suitable weight FTX bullet can be loaded into.
The 444 Marlin may not be as well known or receive as much attention in recent years as the 45-70 lever actions from Marlin and Henry or Winchester, but it is certainly not underrated by those of us old farts (I'm almost 70) who know what the cartridge can do. Within its maximum effective point blank range it has plenty of killing power for deer, elk, caribou and moose. The 265 grain strong, well constructed jacketed bullet specifically designed for the 444 rifle, whether the flat nosed Remington or the pointed flex tip Hornady is the best choice for hunting versus the old 240 grain 44 magnum revolver bullet. Not long ago a friend of mine dropped huge Canadian bull moose with one shot at 200 yards. With that said, the 45-70 is still a better choice for the one gun hunter who may have the opportunity to hunt White Tails or Mule Deer and some of the larger species. The 45-70 has a wider range of bullets available from 250 to 400 grain weights.
Unfortunately it sounds like Ohio and some other states that were formerly shotgun with slugs only states have not progressed as far as Iowa when it comes to the use of so-called straight walled cartridges for deer hunting. Two years ago Iowa stopped requiring truly straight walled cartridges such as the 444 and 45-70 and switched instead to a minimum .350 to not over .50 bullet diameter with a minimum energy requirement for both hand guns and rifles. They have a published partial list of cartridges that meet the minimum requirements that include 35 Whelen, 350 Legend and 450 Bushmaster along with 444 Marlin and 45-70 Gov't. There is no minimum or maximum case length as far as I can tell from reading the regs. Although not on the published list, the 35 Remington, 358 Winchester, 358 Norma Magnum, 450 Marlin, 458 Winchester Magnum, 416 Rigby, 416 Ruger Magnum and 470 Nitro Express and some others will meet the requirements. The 30-30, 32 Winchester Special, 338-06 and 338 Winchester Magnum among others all don't make the cut. Then to confuse matters even more they now allow .223 Remington even in AR's for certain special segments of their deer seasons in certain zones. You can read all the details on the Iowa DNR website. I'm a former resident of both Iowa and Mississippi so I keep track of those regs for the occasions I some times get to go back and hunt with my cousins and in-laws. Then there's Indiana, where at last reading the only rifle cartridge allowed is 243 Winchester. Of course these laws are all written by state legislatures where probably half of the members don't know a damn thing about ballistics. I'm lucky. Here in Kansas we can use any center fire rifle cartridge or any shotgun 20 gauge or larger with slugs in any action platform with no magazine capacity limit. Our muzzle loader season requires 40 caliber or larger if I remember correctly. Happy hunting boys and girls!😄
@@russellkeeling4387
I think the 45-70 is not 'better', but just a more versatile round. When comparing similar weight bullets, the 444 is every bit as good. I have them both. The 45-70 round is available up to 500 grains, for seriously dangerous game. I'll never sell neither.
@@eddiejones-fm7pr I have nothing against the 45-70 but I just think of it as a pumpkin thrower. I imagine I can walk faster than a 45-70 can send a 500 grain bullet down range.
@@russellkeeling4387
😉
Well Russ, I frankly got tired or hearing all the back and fourth between these two contingents, and eventually got a Ruger built 45-70. I love Marlins and the new gun is a sight to behold.
That said, there is a solid case for the 45-70 over the 444 when hunting the great bears, and African big game. My question to you is, with a charging lion, which big bore would you rather have you finger on?? I thought so...
@@eddiejones-fm7pr There's no question the 45-70 is a very powerful firearm and lobs a heavy bullet. It just doesn't fit my situation anywhere. My .444 seems to shoot quit a bit faster and my point blank range becomes further and still using a pretty heavy bullet, 240 gr.
did you say its a JM does it have the micro groove ive heard they didn`t like the gummies it seemed to do well what was the distance
Thanks for the question. Yes this rifle has the "JM" stamp which the 22" barrels came with microgrooving. I always use Hornday 265 grain and it does very well with accuracy with this ammo. Thanks for watching!
Deep clean with a Foaming Bore cleaner, then you will see some accuracy!
I traded my 444 Marlin for a Chinese M-14 back in 93 when I was in the Marines stationed at New River/ Le june...big mistake...I still MISS that rifle..it was beautiful
Every time I sell a gun a few years later I wished I didn't sell it so I know the feeling. I would keep an eye out on Gunbroker.com for a .444 because sometimes you will find them there at a fair price. Thank you very much for watching and let me know if you buy another one? River
I helped a friend sight in the marlin 45-70 he inherited from his father. Another awesome gun.
I had my 444 from 1969 to 1984 I wish I still had it . I did chamber my Tomson & it is just as good if not better. Mark
What's the beef about bottle necked cartridges vs straight walled ones???
Thanks for the question. The bottle neck cartridges can travel much further distances than the straight walled cartridges. Thank you for watching!
I like your intro never shot a 444 you got my intrest up on it fer sure
Thank you for the compliment. You will love the 444 ...hope you get one! I subscribed to your channel...looking forward to watching your videos too! Thanks again for your support! River
@@riversgunkingdom5360 thank you I'm just a old man that builds , collects guns and still plays cowboy lol. Liked your 44 mag blackhawk video too gonna try to catch some more this weekend
Your videos sound interesting an looking forward to viewing your channel. I always wanted to be a cowboy! Keep in touch! @@A.R.American1
@@riversgunkingdom5360 will do thank you
Phil Robertson of Duck Dynasty has a .444 rifle.
Just a question, and please don't take it as a criticism. Doesn't the point of impact move when it's free to move and not in the holder? I no longer shoot BTW but used to shoot mainly what you'd class as varmint guns, 223, 22-250 here in Scotland. You obviously wouldn't do it if it moved much, I just wondered. Great video BTW, and I have fired a Marlin 444 but only on the range.
Hi Ian, Thanks for the question. Of course when not in the holder the point of impact would change and that is do to the shooter. When I hunt with .444 and take my shot I always try to rest it on a log or strong branch to hold it steady...but it is never really the same as the holder I used here in the video. The best thing to do in an actual hunting situation is to focus on your breathing (hold your breath) and concentrate on squeezing the trigger (it should surprise you when it goes off). The holder in the video has done it's job of holding the gun steady to a least get the scope sighted in at the distance you choose and I recommend 100 yards. Hope this answers your question? Thank you for watching! River
@@riversgunkingdom5360 Thank you.
Looking into a serial # on a JM stamped Marlin, I noticed even though it was JM stamped, its # indicated 2009 made, which means it was still a Remington made, as the buy out was in 2006 I believe. So, I'm guessing they were cycling through some older pre REM barrels/actions with older stamped barrels until stock was used up. Not sure how they did it in gun build, and serialization. Would think #s would be stamped before the build rather than after. I know they had a lot of lemons during the REM made time periods, and I seen many of the problems myself. I do think towards the end, before sold again, they ironed some of those issues out, but they did put some real junk out. I remember seeing a stainless 45-70, that was sent back with crooked sights. They sent it back to customer, with same barrel, re-dovetailed in another location, leaving the old dovetail on the underside. I'm guessing the barrel wasn't timed right, but that was some pathetic QC, and customer service on warranty. Stocks didn't fit right, actions were stiff and gritty. It was a real mess. Ruger has done a way better job, but the Marlin times of being a affordable common man rifle, is over. For most, you will have to save up longer to buy one, but doubt you will regret it, as they say the Ruger made are probably superior to the original JM Marlins is what I am hearing.
Thanks for letting us know the information! Thank you again for watching!
I'm researching bullets, and plan to do some muzzleloader tests with this same bullet. I've used the 240 grain XTP by Hornady for many yrs, and had mostly good, but sometimes not so good performance. Could be a variety of reasons why, as many things can affect consistency with a muzzleloader. Anyways, I'm looking for good upgrade bullet options, to up performance a bit. Not sure why, but my inline seems to shoot the 44 cal bullet/sabots better than the 45s I have tested. I also plan on trying the 300 grain xtp, it has a little better bc and sectional density than the 240, and then their is also the 225 FTX, I may try.@@riversgunkingdom5360
Great to hear .....please keep us posted on your progress!@@Hill_Billy_Without_A_Hill
I wrote a snail mail letter to my local Marlin representative asking about this gun, but he said they don't sell a 1080WebShareName variant of their .444 Marlin levergun. Maybe it's out of production, or perhaps judging by the resolution of the video, did you mean to type 480WebShareName? I believe I saw that one in their catalog, but I may be mistaken.
Thanks for bringing this to my attention. TH-cam automatically posted that "websharename" Here is a link to the new Marlin 444's from their store website: usamarlinriflestore.com/marlin-444/ Let me know if this is what your looking for? Thank you again for this comment.
The 44 isn’t in production. Hasn’t been for a little while and that “marlin store” is a scam.
Brush will deflect a 50 bmg brush guns are called brush guns because there short and easy to move in tiite spaces
You got that right. Old wives tale about big heavy rounds not being deflect by brush. Research proves just opposite. You have a better chance of getting a small bullet through small opens in brush with a scope. 444 still an excellent round. Mine has 22" barrel. With current powders would probably be just as effective with a 20" barrel like my 336RC 35 Remington. Same frame as 444 and easier to maneuver in tight quarters like when hunting in timber/brush.
I like the idea of a long barrel lever rifle. I would like it if they made a .30-30 lever gun with a 24 or 26 barrel so you could reach loading manual MV for a change. They have but seems to me they are pretty scarce.
Marlin is supposed to be making this caliber again in 444 good luck. 😊
Thank you for sharing this great news! Also thank you for watching the video!
i never thought id see the day when 444marlin is half the price of 35 rem i think i may have to get a marlin 1895
Definitely my next rifle.
Awesome ....you will love it! Thanks for watching.
Thanks River...
You're welcome! Thanks for watching
My dad left it to me i love it
The cost of ammo is the problem for the 444.
True and all ammo is expensive at this time. With the internet sometimes you can find some better prices. Thank you for your feedback.
I started hunting Indiana as a non-resident shortly after they permitted "short" straight wall cartridges .358" dia. Bullets or greater for deer.
Being from Pennsylvania, which is primarily a rifle state; I.wasnt much of a shotgun slug guy.
I was looking at H&R 1871 single shot Handirifles. At one point I was looking at .44 Mags. and .444 Marlin , but wasn't certain whether a slightly shortened .444 case would be acceptable for their 0.A.L. case restriction or. IF ... they went strictly by production dimensions.
Just to be safe I went with the .44 and have always regretted not getting the .444 ever since.
Thank you for sharing! The .44 mag is a very fine cartridge and I hunted deer with a Ruger Super Blackhawk for years and did very well considering it was a short barrel pistol. Keep an eye out for a .444 rifle and you will find one someday! Thanks again.
I thought those H and R could swap barrels. Or is rechambering an option? Same bore.
Straight walled cartridges are just cool.
.38-55 WCF
.350 Legend
.40-65 WCF
.405 Win
.444 Marlin
.45-70 Gov't
.45-90 WCF
.50-110 WCF
I would offer a little constructive criticism, that in general, these big bore cartridges DO DEFLECT in brush, especially with a bullet style that has a minimal or non-existent flat nose. The only conceivable bullet type that wouldn't deflect any significant distance is a full wad cutter. It would shear brush and branches like a hole-punch instead of glancing that branch with the ogive of the nose and veering it slightly off course.
@@doylethorn9251 Also forgot about the .32-40 Win....although obsolete pretty much. Also .458 Socom.
Very nice rifle
Thank you and thanks for watching!
Considering it'a a 1970's year model, I'm assuming it has a "Micro-Groove barrel" . I have a similar one, and I really love it!
Yes, Marlin started micro grooving the 444 barrel in 1968. Thanks for watching!
They say not good or accurate with lead bullets. Lmao shoots bullseyes for me at 75 yards
@@wilmamcdermott3065 Great to hear and glad you like the .444 Thank you for watching the video!
@@wilmamcdermott3065 That might be correct? But it seems to work fine with the Remington Core-Lokt 240gr bullet, and Hornady's 265gr.
@@dannyhullihen966 Microgroove barrels generally shoot cast bullets just fine and can be made at home for pennies, allowing for a lot more practice. They kill pigs very well too.
The .444 is extremely effective, but ammo is hard to find. If you have one you better be a hand loader. My favorite bullet for the triple 4 is a hornady 265 grain flat point. Thor's Hammer!
I agree! The 265 grain is perfect for the task. Thank you for watching!
Try the Cast Performance 320 grain wide flat point, very exciting!😁
@@marysumner2516 www.midwayusa.com/product/1010707533#reviews
@@riversgunkingdom5360 OH he'll no, 320 is more than enough excitement!
Had 1 years ago then I got married... the 444 was my go to... it would hammer deer 🦌 out to 150 yards... would always plant them... I loaded the xtp 240 grain.. it was devastating on deer...
Awesome to hear and with 240 grain! Thanks for sharing with us your story! Thank you for watching. River
My grandson has a .444 Marlin. Luckily we reload because finding ammo is damn near impossible. It does good where we hunt. It's a place where a 50 yard shot is a long one.
Gunbroker.com has .444 and they even have the Hornday Leverevolution at this time. Thanks for responding and thank you for watching.
We loaded 210gr hollow points. They work really good.
I like it to!.
I love my 444
Awesome! Thank you for watching....I appreciate your feedback!
I had an early 444 (monte carlo stock). It wouldn't shoot cast loads well at all and the only jacketed bullet liked was the 265gr Hornady. It had the slow twist rate of 1:38".
I dont think Microgroove rifling was a good choice for a 44cal that has a lots of cast bullets available for cheap practice or hardcast for hunting . I ended up selling it. I know they switched to 6-groove ballard rifling with a faster twist of 1:20" later on, but I never bothered to get another 444. Factory ammo is unicorn rare, and since Hornady discontinued the 265gr bullet, components are ALWAYS an issue. Brass is mythical at times. Reloading for it was mandatory and a bit of a pain compared to bottleneck rounds.
Thanks for sharing that information. Very interesting! I was at the gun store near where I live just a few days ago and found a lot of Hornady 265 grain ammo....seems like this store always have them in stock.....I bought a couple boxes. Thanks for the information and thanks for watching!
Using that type of scope mount. Out of that Marlin. At 200 yards that’s dropping a lot. The .444 Hornady Leverevolution is not dropping only 3 inches at 200 yards.
The .444 never caught on. In the Northeast, the .35 Remington is very popular. Plenty of hunters have extended the range using the Hornady Leverevolution ammunition. The problem with the FTX bullet is jacket separation.
I would re-visit this test out to 200 yards proving your accuracy and theory that it only drops 3 inches.
I have been shooting marlins for 40 years. 4570 hand loads are good for any animal on the north american contenet
Look at the anatomy of deer , the shoulder blade is forward of the vertical leg , vitals are directly above the leg , if you shoot for the shoulder you must shoot a little forward of the leg , a hit there puts bone fragment into the vitals . I have shot deer with 308 , 165 g federal premium center above the leg , blood them straight over, 3’ sideways no running
Only ones who underrated is are the ones who've never shot one!
You got that right...!! Thanks for watching .....and I appreciate the comment!
Zero 3 inches high @ 100 yds = -2 @ 200 and -8.7 @ 250 yds.
Thanks for your comment and thanks for watching!
I want a lever in .444 or 45/70 but finding ammo is the problem...
Thanks for the comment ......keep trying Gunbroker.com for the ammo. I find mine at Fin Feather Fur in my area. Hope this helps! Thank you for watching!
IN Michigan the straight walled cartridge case length of 1.80 max for hunting deer
the 444 Marlin case length is 2.225
Thanks for posting this info. Is that per zones and also does that include the UP? Thanks for watching!
@@riversgunkingdom5360 It's for the shot gun zone . The lower half of the lower peninsula
@@ricklevene6381 Okay. That makes sense! Thanks for the reply.
@@riversgunkingdom5360 Never heard that or read that before?
Mine hammers deer with Lever Evolution ammo. Mine is a single shot. I wouldn't be scarred of bears if I had a levergun.
I wonder what the reasoning is for having to use straight walled cartridges is, to me it doesn't make sense.
Thanks for the question. Straight walled cartridges don't travel as far as bottle necked cartridges travel. So the idea is....if you miss your target with a straight walled cartridge the bullet will drop fast and hit the ground before ending up traveling where it should not end up going. Thanks for watching!
I'd say the .405 Win is a better straight wall cartridge but the .444 Marlin is a very close second.
I like the 350 legend. Kansas doesn't require straight wall cartridges but it's a deer stopping round. So far I've dropped 2 right where they stood with the 350 legend. Ammo is cheap enough to afford and my rifle loves the 180gr soft points. (And it's inexpensive!!!)
This is a 444 video moron
@bradjr.6055 you're a bright cookie there turbo!
You won't sell many of them to the 444 crowd. We know what we have and we wouldn't trade them for anything. The 350 legend is a weaker round. I already know two people who've had it fail on them, one was a bullet failure in a deer that resulted in a lost animal, and another was a cartridge failure that cost an opportunity at a buck.
it's not as good as the .444 not even close. why are you on here talking about that thing?
Power doesn't necessarily make a cartridge better. If powers all that matters skip the 444 and get a 45-70!
Nice talk.
Thank you for watching.
I've been wanting a rifle in 444 Marlin
New or pre-owned both would be a great choice and you can keep an eye out on Gunbroker.com if you're looking for an older one. Thank you for watching.
@@riversgunkingdom5360 I already am looking at buying a H&R Handi Rifle in 444 Marlin. I like my single shot rifles
@@shaunsian977 Those are very nice guns!
If only 444 ammo wasn't so hard to find
Buy some RCBS dyes, and roll you own ammo. Save all your.444 brass, then get someone that reloads to fix you up.
Why only "straight wall cartridges"?
Ohio being a mostly a flat state they figure straight wall cartridges are safer since they don't travel as far as the bottle neck cartridges. For example: A 30-30 depending on the grain of the bullet could travel 1 mile. Straight wall starts dropping big time around 300 yards. Thanks for the question and thank you for watching!
444 is a BAD ASS round.. Kicks like hell
If you think the 444 kicks , Try the 45-70 properly loaded for modern lever actions. My favorite is the 35Reminton in a lever action.
@@44240xtp Have 45/70's they do not kick as bad as my 444 mag
The 444 is my Wife’s favorite rifle, and all we use are hand loads, our Whitetail load is the Speer Gold Dot, 270gr, @2200+fps, she shoots it great, and she’s not much over 135lbs!
stops deer faster than anything I've seen except for car
@@markoharoldoronearmedpoohb7816
I have a 444 Marlin...kicks like a mule...but 1 shot knocks deer flying off a ridge and dead...300 FPS and more penetration than 45/70...also reaches farther at 200 yds than 45.Hard to find ammo...I prefer Remington Core Lokt 240 or 265 Gr....huge mushrooming (twice that of Leverevolution).....Hopefully Remingtons new owners will make em again.....First time I put scope on..i had a black eye...lol Magnaporting helps with recoil too....Here in Canada its about $3.00 a shot...yikes..
Glad you like the .444 ....check Gunbroker.com for ammo. Thanks for letting us know and thank you for watching!
@@riversgunkingdom5360 I contacted Rem. to see if they are making any ammo...will post when hear back......cheers mate
Proper.
Thank you for your kind word and thank you for watching!
Try that .444 in an Encore pistol, its a definite "come to Jesus" experience lol. Just make sure you are wearing a good shooting glove, if not I promise you will bleed, that trigger guard bite is wicked.
Put the brain in park no tracking, no waste, no mess. I’ve seen many people mess up a body shot as well. If I can’t shoot head or neck I won’t pull the trigger.
There is no doubt this is a great gun , but ammo is so hard to find now. I live in pa and they just pass the use of straight wall cartridge where I live. I just have'en seen the 444 Marlin in a long wile.
Thanks for letting me know and I just checked Gunbroker.com and found some for sale ...there is one box of 20 for 3.25 per round. That's pretty close to what I pay at Fin Feather Fur outfitters. Hope this helps? Thanks for watching! River
Need a quality 2x7 scope in low rings.
Would you like to sell it?
Hi Jerry, I use this for deer every season and love it too much to sell but keep an out on Gunbroker.com because people are posting these rifles to sell and you can find some that are the older models. Thank you for watching.
I have a 444 Marlin
.444 rifles are hard to find. Ammo is easy to find compared to the rifle. I would love one but I haven’t seen a rifle on the shelf that shoots it in years
Cva scout can b had in 444 marlin. I have one in 450 bushmaster. It’s a accurate single shot rifle with a great trigger.
@@alanrothermel8195 I'll have to look into that one, I'm not familiar with that one
There is 1978 "jm" stamped on gunbroker.com now with a little over 1 day left from (10/22/22) very nice condition and it has a current bid on it at this time at around 1400.00. Thanks for watching!
I d take a 444 marlin over the old arm busting 45-70 any day. Bet it is more accurate. Should be the cats meow loaded with a 300 grain bullet.
Thanks for your comment and thank you for watching! Glad you like the 444.
I like the 444 I live in Ohio and that's what I use