marlin .444 vs .375 marlin

[tommag]

Looking at want ads, I find both rifles for sale. Not sure why, but I have always preferred the Marlins over the Winchesters.
Both are in the $450-500 range.
If I buy one, it would primarily be used at the range, as hunting season coincides with my busiest and most lucrative time of the year. (I still dream, "maybe next year")
It looks like the downrange energy figures might favor the .375 (dreaming about hunting again).
Anyhoo, do either of these sound like a good deal? The .375 has pretty rough wood. I can remedy that, but if there was any collector value, I'm sure refinishing would diminish that.

[btroj]

I would jump on a 375! No question about it, 375 is the way to go.

[Mk42gunner]

Going simply by the numbers made; the .375 Winchester will be rarer, therefore potentially worth more money in the future (they aren't making anymore of them). The down side of that logic is that most collectors want pristine examples.

The .375 should be easy enough to load to light.38-55 levels for plinking and having fun without getting the snot beat out of you by recoil.

I am hesitant to comment on prices for a couple of reasons: 1. regional differences. and 2. I seem to live in the past when you could pick up about any lever action for around $100.00.

Robert

[Guesser]

I'm not sure I would buy either for range use. They are both "thumpers". I had a Marlin 375 some years back, good gun but in elk country the 444 makes a bigger hole and a 290 grain cast bullet has served well.

[smkummer]

Since I make ammo for all my guns including cast bullets, I would see what is easier to get cast bullet accuracy from. Later 444 guns had ballard rifling and a faster twist for heavier bullets. I don't know if any of the .375 guns had ballard rifling before they were discontinued so they may take more effort to get accuracy with a cast bullet. With any gun that has the potential to kick, I find the pistol grip Marlins such a pleasure to shoot. And while I like my 1962 Win. 94 in 30-30, I find it fully acceptable to also like my Marlins just as much or more.

[tommag]

I'm leaning towards the .375, if it's still available when I get back. Not sure why i want it, not enough time for what I've got, but that's never stopped me yet.:p

[bearcove]

Get a 35 rem

[wrench man]

The correct answer is "you NEED both of them"[smilie=1:

[helice]

I faced the same dilemma some years back. I was gainfully impressed with the .375 and I still am. I even like the 38-55 as my side picture reveals. When it came time to pull out the wallet, the 444 Marlin in the Winchester Big Bore won out. I got it mostly because of the moulds. Its easy to find the 44 moulds, even the big honkers. (I confess that I was unaware of this forum at the time and that this forum offers many options I knew zip about at time of purchase.) I have never been disappointed by the 444 Marlin or the Big Bore Winchester. The rifle and the cartridge are a good match and, lets face it, if a guy can't anchor most everything in North Amerika with a 444 Marlin, he shouldn't start out in the first place. I can't imagine that the 375 Winchester wouldn't do the same, but I have no experience with it (yet). If I had it to do over - I'd probably save my shekels and buy a 45-70.

[Lloyd Smale]

444 hands down. Tons more molds available for it from 180 grain plinkers to 340 grain molds that put it in 4570 territory for killing power on larger animals. Tons of jacketed bullets if you want to play with them. Ive got many lever guns but my 444 outifitter would probably be the last one to go.

[quilbilly]

444 hands down. Tons more molds available for it from 180 grain plinkers to 340 grain molds that put it in 4570 territory for killing power on larger animals. Tons of jacketed bullets if you want to play with them. Ive got many lever guns but my 444 outifitter would probably be the last one to go.
I agree, So much more variety to cast and reload.

[Canuck Bob]

The 444 is my advice based simply on personal prejudice. Both are fine choices and I would pick the best rifle. I buy to shoot used guns and don't worry about collector value rifles. I really like refinished and drilled and tapped rifles so I don't get the "its a collectable banged up old gun" routine.

The 444 is a fine cartridge/rifle combo. For what it is worth that is the value I put on my mid 70s 444S, good bore but well used bush hunting rifle. It is a lot of fun at the range and folks like to check out big bore guns. The 375 is unknown to me but it would not be a bad choice. Both of these cartridges do well with cast and reloading. It is my opinion that the Micro Groove barrel is no issue. Shooting 400 grain bullets at velocity is not a fun day at the range, 260 at 1600 is.

[EDG]

The .444 Marlin is a bastard cartridge. The majority of .444s will have that stupid 38" twist best suited for short light bullets. The Marlin case is too long for the 336 to accomodate those silly short 44 Mag. bullets. The 444 was designed to produce relatively high velocity for marketing purposes. It is better suited for use with a 20" twist in a strong single shot so you can use heavier bullets.

The .375 Win in the Marlin is little bit in the opposite direction. To use a longer ogive Winchester engineers shortened the .38-55 case and jacked up the pressure. But they also increased the twist 12". Pretty fast for lighter lead bullets. Heavier bullets would work better but again the .375 is packed into the 336.

All in all I prefer the .375. I have both a single shot and a Marlin.
I would own a .444 too if it were built in reasonable easy to find single shot. But it would not have a 38" twist barrel and I would probably shoot bullets heavier than 300 grains.

[Guesser]

My 1971 Marlin 444 seems to handle Lyman 429640 at 290 grains quite well. Game has fallen to it.

[starmac]

My take on it is some what different. If my use for it was hunting I would go with the 444, but I have others I prefer for hunting, so purely for fun I would go with the 375, just because, I don't really have a good reason. I would not turn down a good deal on either of them though.

[6.5 mike]

I have both, haven't started loading for the 444 yet just got the dies today. I traded into a 375 little over a year ago & have been very happy with it. The Lee 38-55 mold works really well both lubed & pp'ed in it, & have had no leading issues with the mirco- groove bbl. At 38-55 speeds it is very pleasant to shoot & would not think twice at popping bambi with it. Mine wears a 2.75 redfield & redfield rings & base. Got lucky, this one came with dies, brass, & two boxes of HSM loaded rounds.

Had always wanted a 444 so made another trade. Marshal Stanton on the Beartooth site has some very good info on these. If I lived where he does, it would always be close at hand loaded with at least 300 gr'ers.

[Lloyd Smale]

my favorite bullet in my 444 is the ballistic cast 340 lfngc. It has two crimp groves so it works well in the 444. I wouldnt be afraid to hunt anything in the US with that bullet out of a 444 and load it with 320 grain solid brass punch bullets and i wouldnt be afraid to hunt anything in the world with it.

[TXGunNut]

I've faced the "444 vs XXX" a couple of times, both before I began casting boolits. Once was 444 Marlin vs 375 in a Big Bore. 375 is still in my safe nearly 30 yrs later, it's my next CB project gun. To be quite honest it came down to the oddball ballistics of the 444 vs the beauty of this particular Big Bore. Next time it was 444 Marlin vs 45-70 Guide Gun. It came down again to 444's questionable parentage vs the grand old 45-70. Didn't hurt that the Guide Gun had a prettier piece of walnut. The 375 Marlin is a better gun than my Big Bore and refinishing the wood will be an enjoyable project. I don't much enjoy shooting my BB on the bench but haven't tried the 38-55 loads. I suspect either cartridge will be punishing at max loads and tolerable if not pleasant at 1600-1800 fps, even the mildest loads will suffice for medium game.
Short answer: go for the 375 and take it hunting. Life's too short to not work in a hunting trip or two each year.

[Artful]

I have to say when I was looking for a thumper I went to 45-70 in a Marlin lever gun - after cranking up the power I was looking for something pleasurable to plink/shoot and have a 375 and 30-30 for that - nothing wrong with 444 but my 45-70 can do pretty much anything a 444 can and my 375's are loaded up enough I don't have a problem taking any animal I have aimed at.

As far as cast in 375 - you can go as light has .375 round ball or 130 grain round nose Lee black powder mold http://leeprecision.com/images/P/p-85.jpg
up thru 335 grain http://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/440/440353.jpg
but I find 220 to 255 grainer's the best all around.

[MT Gianni]

As far as the buy 'em both camp goes Ken Waters had a wildcat 375/444 that would be great in either if it fed.

[btroj]

You can find a 444 far easier than you can a 375.

I would buy the 375 and never look back.

[williamwaco]

Go with the .375.

I have a .38-55 Winchester 1885 single shot.

It is my number one favorite cast bullet rifle.

[tommag]

So much good advice! I think txgunnut has the best advice of all, "take it hunting". Since I have no molds in either .375 or .430, and brass is so hard to come by, I think I'll just pass on both and keep my money in my pocket. Lots of rifles in the closet that are begging to go hunting. Although I have an intense desire for the .375, it (with brass and mold costs) represents a week or so in profits. Better to spend that money taking time off to hunt. Thanks to all for your input.

[starmac]

If this thread got you out into the woods, it was a good thread. lol

[tommag]

If this thread got you out into the woods, it was a goodthread. lol
Actually, Starmac. I decided to go hunting for the first time in about 20 yrs several months ago. I've never been one for high priced non resident tags, and never hired a guide, etc.
My good friend, a farmer and meat hauler from Iowa, invited me to hunt his place. Got the tags, he's going to build a ground blind with a few round bales.
If we fill the freezers, nothing I like better than corn-fed whitetail!.
If not, time well spent with a good friend!!!!

[TXGunNut]

Actually, Starmac. I decided to go hunting for the first time in about 20 yrs several months ago. I've never been one for high priced non resident tags, and never hired a guide, etc.
My good friend, a farmer and meat hauler from Iowa, invited me to hunt his place. Got the tags, he's going to build a ground blind with a few round bales.
If we fill the freezers, nothing I like better than corn-fed whitetail!.
If not, time well spent with a good friend!!!!

Sounds like a good plan! Quite honestly, if I didn't have the rifle, dies and a good supply of brass I probably wouldn't buy a .375 today considering my current stable of hunting rifles. I have more rifles than I do hunting opportunities and I enjoy every one of them but there's something special about the .375.

[Artful]

My good friend, a farmer and meat hauler from Iowa, invited me to hunt his place. Got the tags, he's going to build a ground blind with a few round bales.

If we fill the freezers, nothing I like better than corn-fed whitetail!.
If not, time well spent with a good friend!!!!

Sounds like a plan - good luck and have a great time.

What gun you going to use? And is it going to be with real boolits?

[tommag]

Artful, we'll be using muzzleloaders, and maybe a 12" contender in .357 max. Remington j words in the max, Lee real in the .50, rb in the .54.

[Ramjet-SS]

375 hands down. Better ballistics and anything you can do with 444 you can do at longer distances with 375. It may be me.....ok it is me I find the 444 boring.

[jgt]

I am going to qualify myself as a dyed-in-the-wool 444 shooter. For your stated uses I would buy neither. I would get a Marlin in thirty-five Remington or an 1894 Marlin in .357 magnum. Both would kill dear and be a lot more fun to shoot at targets then the two cartridges you mentioned. Both would be easier to load for or find factory ammo for at way cheaper cost. I love my 444's and don't mind the parameters that go with them, but they are not for everyone.

[micky_blue]

I listed one of each in the Classifieds earlier today.

My take on them, the 375 is lighter, handier and for quick shots at short range I would take it. The 444 has a longer barrel and is heavier. If I was in a place with big bears, was taking a "longer" shot or relied on factory ammo, I would go with the 444. They are both powerhouses and either will get most jobs done, but that is my take.

micky