A 444 Marlin is indeed too hot in factory loads. But if it was short chambered to not allow a factory load to chamber, the caliber is a nice one for mild cast hand loads. Same thing I've done with .40-70SS using .405 Win. reamer to chamber old guns. Simply chamber them .10" short, and it wont allow a factory .405 Win., but makes a chamber that's extremely easy to make brass for!