Talk me into or out of!

[Freightman]

I find myself wanting a 444 and I have no knowledge of that caliber, is it good, is it eay to load for is it FUN? I have two 45/70's so am not looking to go that way, can you use 44 mag dies?
Thanks

[218bee]

Well, I have a 444 in a Marlin and do enjoy it. With "hot" loads it has a vicious kick but that is due in part to rifle. So I also play with 250gr cast 44 boolits and then it is just plain fun to shoot. I think it would be a good black powder cartridge and would like to try that in a single shot configuration as I dont want to run much black through my Marlin. 44 mag dies may work as far as dia goes but you may run short on length, not sure. Keep us posted it is a good cartridge

[leadman]

44 dies will work to neck size the cases only. The 444 case has a slight taper to it and the rim is bigger than 44 mag.

Unless you have a custom mould cut you will be playing with projectiles that are designed for revolvers and lever guns.
I had a 14" Contender barrel I had rechambered and a muzzle brake installed on. It was very accurate and still had a bunch of recoil.
Case life is very good even with max. loadsand is easy to work with.
I often thought it would be good to load something like a 350 grain boolit with a more tapered nose for long range. I think 350 grs. might be about the heaviest boolit used and still maintain decent velocity. If you had a single shot it could be throated longer to gain powder space.

[OBXPilgrim]

Well, I'll add my .02 worth.

I got a .444 H&R Handi rifle barrel added to my .30-06 by H&R (sent it in). After fixing the lock-up, it shot some very nice groups with a group buy .434 wide flat 285gr GC slug pushed to 1800fps. Although this is a mild load for the rifle/cartridge, it's all I need. It will shoot nice & tight & if I can ever get to my bud's range without him shooting all my "thumper" ammo up at 2 liter soda bottle & bowling pins (never saw a pin yank straight backwards before that), then I'll tell you what size groups it will do.

Part of my attraction to the .444 was that I could use the same 44 molds for my 629 (but I mostly shoot lighter slugs in it) and a Win M94 44 mag. Buying new molds for .458/.459" instead of using the current 45 (.452") molds used for 45 ACP/Colt didn't do it for me.

The throat on my Handi is notoriously short (as most are, I've heard). I've also got the Lee 310gr 44 slug (only get to use them in the 44 mag M94 Win (at 1550fps)), but they won't go in the Handi unless I seat them below the last crimp groove. I wouldn't have the dangers of pushing one down in the case, like I would with a lever gun, but I just like to use a crimp on those jokers.

With a 1:20 twist, it could handle alot heavier slug, I don't know if I could. I don't think it would have much problem punching through anything I'll run into while hunting with the current load, but it is a fun gun to tinker with. Not sure what gun make you were thinking of, but since you posted to the single shot forum, I thought I'd tell you what I know.

If you want a good shooting -out of the box- thumper, you might want to look at something that costs a little more. If you don't mind tinkering, fixing and experimenting, the Handi would work for you. Trigger on mine was terrible, now it's 2.5 lbs. I glass bedding the forend to the hanger lug on the barrel on this gun - & it shoots much better with each barrel I did that to (.223/.444/.30-06 - each has it's own forend).

Good luck.

[MT Chambers]

i don't understand your .444 fixation, the 45/70 will do it all, 250 or 300 gr. bullets to 2400+ fps, it stomps all over the .444 IMHO...save your money, take the wife out for dinner, buy a Meacham in-line bullet seater for the 45/70.

[Freightman]

I haven't got it yet might not it is according to how much it is and just gathering information.

[HeavyMetal]

I have a Marlin in 45-70 Looked hard at both it and the 444 before the purchase.

I found more versatility in the 45-70 than I could ever get in the 444. Here's a question for you: If the 444 is such a good deal why is Marlin marketing the 450?

Having said all that if the price is "right" there is no such thing as to many guns!

However if it's priced at or near MSRP find something else to play with!

[swheeler]

The 444 is fun to shoot and if you already have a mold for 44 mag why not buy it? About 1980 I sent my super 14 44 mag barrel to a guy in Ohio just getting his business up and running, JD Jones, he rechambered to 444, cut target crown on it and acid etched caliber on chamber end, best 80.00 I ever spent. Buy it, you can never have too many guns!

[Lead Fred]

Because love should not hurt
:mrgreen:

[cajun shooter]

You are about to spend money on a 45-70 short. That round is uselesss if you already have the 45-70 You would be better off buying a new mold for your 45-70's and playing with the new rounds. You could then buy some different powders to try and the list goes on. If you were just now working your way up to the big bore guns then it would make sense. SPEND YOUR MONEY ON THE BABIES YOU ALREADY HAVE AND THAT INCLUDES THE ONE THAT IS BETWEEN THEM SHEETS!!!

[45r]

I had that decision to make a while back and got a Win highwall in 45-70 and don't even think about a 444 anymore.It shoots so well with rcbs 300 and 405,saeco 350 and 480 boolits I'm probably going to get a Marlin also.

[pietro]

My last .444 (and probably about the 5th) was about 10 years ago. (a Win 94BB Timber Carbine)

I gave up on it, because IMHO it can't do anything a .45-70 can't be made to do (better).

My $0.02: IF I wanted something fun, E-Z on theshoulder, and smaller than a .45-70 in a medium bore, I'd opt for the classic .38-55 or .375 Winchester.

.

[Freightman]

Well I am not going to get the 444 as far as the 45/70 goes I thought I had plenty of moulds but find I going to need a couple more as I tried a boolit from a friend 500g plan base and BP and it is great in my Shiloh Sharps (but what aint). Thanks for the input I think I will save up and get a period correct scope for my Shiloh.

[357maximum]

I did not like my marlin 444 it was a bit sharp on the wrong end, but my friends say I am a "WUSS"[smilie=1:, but then again some of them are "INGOT SHOOTERS":twisted: .

You have a 45/70...you do not need the 444 IMHO.



Let'e muddy the waters:twisted:


If I was trying to talk you INTO SOMETHING FOR YOUR OWN GOOD I WOULD SAY: Go buy a 35 caliber.........35 whelen. 358Win, 35remington or the 356.

WARNING: If you do the above you will find your ingot shooter will be a bit neglected.:twisted: and there a a million 35 molds to collect and try. :twisted: