I can't decide

[grubbylabs]

I just sold my Win 94 AE in .444. I am going to replace it with in the year but I can't decide between a 45-70 and the .444. I really liked the .444 and I have a great mold for it. But it seems that the 45-70 is more popular. I will mostly use the gun for hunting in heavy brush and bear defense and I usually hunt just outside of Yellow Stone National Park.

So based on availability of brass, and performance, is there really a big difference in the two?

From what I have been reading, used Marlin would be a better choice than a new one?

[Suo Gan]

I just sold my Win 94 AE in .444. I am going to replace it with in the year but I can't decide between a 45-70 and the .444. I really liked the .444 and I have a great mold for it. But it seems that the 45-70 is more popular. I will mostly use the gun for hunting in heavy brush and bear defense and I usually hunt just outside of Yellow Stone National Park.

So based on availability of brass, and performance, is there really a big difference in the two?

From what I have been reading, used Marlin would be a better choice than a new one?

If you handload there is not enough difference between them to make much difference. Buy the one that speaks to you most, it has always worked for me.

[NickSS]

The 444 is a great gun for close range deer and elk hunting and will work on Grizzly with a niche heavy bullet hand load. However, when facing a big mean bear I like as much power and I can stand so the 45-70 would get my vote for that reason. I once faced a Kodiak bear at close range when backing up a buddy who was actually shooting it. I was carrying a 338 Win Mag and can truly say that I did not consider myself over gunned at all.

[canyon-ghost]

If you like the 444, go for it. And, please, be outspoken about your results! You aren't the only one that would like to see more info about that caliber.

[725]

Get whichever makes you smile when you think about it. Both will work on big critters (although I've never used the .444 it sure looks like it will.) I like the .45-70. I have used it on very big critters and it simply "turns off the life force" for everything I've gone against. Big meplat, rather soft boolits in the plus 400 range -- oh my!

[white eagle]

I just bought a Marlin 45-70 so you know what I am going to
say

[largom]

I don't own a 444 yet but I have several 45-70's and I love them. You are correct in that 45-70 components are more available but I would not let that sway my decision. I will say that my 45-70's are not picky about what they shoot, all are very accurate. IMO the older Marlins are better, that is the ones made before Remington bought them.

Larry

[grubbylabs]

I was just looking on impact guns web site at the 1895CB in 45/70 and that is one good looking rifle. Not sure how I feel about a 26" barrel, but a very nice looking gun indeed.

[MGySgt]

45/70 gets the nod for me.

I know there are some big bears in the Yellow Stone.

The last time I looked at it - the 45/70 will handle much heavier boolits than the 444 and the 45/70 takes over where the 444 stops.

I feel safe with my GG in 45/70 with a 430gr FP at about 1900 FPS (by the way - that is not a max load with 4198)

[Snapping Twig]

As was said, a heavy bullet in the 444 is a light bullet in the 45-70.

There's more power available in the 45-70, but realistically, after a certain point it's all academic.

The 444 will do what you want and I don't know of any animal that can hold up with a well placed 444 in the engine room.

Go with what you prefer and never look back. :)

[TXGunNut]

I was faced with that decision several years ago and the answer hasn't changed much. There were few good j-word hunting bullets that were not designed for the .44 mag. Boolit mould selection isn't the greatest, but you already have one you like. If you elect to go with a Marlin in .444 you'll be stuck with a Micro-Groove barrel. I feel the .45-70 gives you a better choice of factory bullets, boolit moulds and the option to go with a Guide Gun with a Ballard rifled barrel. Brass for the .45-70 isn't difficult to find but I'm guessing you already have some .444 lying around.
Don't get me wrong, I like the .444. I'm a bigger fan of versatility and the Guide Gun in .45-70 gives me that. Good luck finding a good used one. New ones look good, local Cabelas has a few on the clearance rack.

[crabo]

The 45/70 and guide gun combination is so easy to work up good loads, cast boolits, and accuracy. Mild to all the recoil you want to bear.

[helice]

I've had a 444 Winchester BigBore like yours for a number of years now and have found that it is a wonderful rifle. My heaviest boolit is a 300 WFN-GC. That slug has been very accurate for me at varied velocities. I Like the 444 because of all the different moulds available. I have no feelings against a 45-70 but I doubt that I'll ever need more umph than the 444 can give.

[Wayne Smith]

Are you ever likely to be in the situation where you need to buy commercial ammo in a remote area? If so, go with the 45-70 hands down. If not, which ever one gets your juices flowing.