.44 Mag or .444 Marlin?

Zee

In a CVA Scout V2 Rifle?

The .444 Marlin sports a 25” barrel w/brake. 

The .44 Mag sports a 22” barrel w/o brake. 

I already own and load for the .44 Mag so it’s a light lift to feed. 

Then again, I’ve never owned, loaded for, or used a .444 Marlin. So, while it would be a new experience (which I like), I’d have to buy dies. 

There is only a $25 price difference between the two. Either will wear a 1x Weaver I have on the shelf. 

Thoughts?

Jayhawker

I used to own a .444 Lever gun...helluva deer gun.
.that thing is a thumper...do you need a thumper?

Tugar

I agree with Jayhawker. If you need a thumper get the .444. If not, there isn't much that the 44mag out of a rifle barrel won't take down considering the extra fps and energy. 

Since you already load for the 44mag, that would be my choice. Your mileage may vary. 

Michakav

Definitely the .444. Older school at it finest! A .44 magnum magnum (not a typo).

Zee

Jayhawker said:

I used to own a .444 Lever gun...helluva deer gun.
.that thing is a thumper...do you need a thumper?

Need?  What’s that mean?  😁

Zee

I do already have a .45-70 Marlin Guide Gun. So.......

Jayhawker

Zee said:

Jayhawker said:

I used to own a .444 Lever gun...helluva deer gun.
.that thing is a thumper...do you need a thumper?

Need?  What’s that mean?  😁

OK...do you WANT another thumper...

Linefinder

Just googled .444 Marlin, not ever having paid any attention to it. Looks like out to 250-300 yards you can thump anything that walks in North America. Trajectory is sketchy beyond that (i.e. pretty precise range reading is required), but at ~250 it sure looks like a "one shot and done" rig.

Mike

sakodude

444 marlin hands down. I have it in a Marlin and it's a hoot. A single shot so chambered has been on my "desire" list for a long time. I'd prefer it in something like a Remington rolling block but have been very tempted by the Henry Single shot rifle in .44 mag rechambered.

Zee

This might have gotten easy. Can’t find .444 Marlin brass. 

sakodude

I can probably spare a few, get your head in the game!!

Uncle Fester

Zee said:

Jayhawker said:

I used to own a .444 Lever gun...helluva deer gun.
.that thing is a thumper...do you need a thumper?

Need?  What’s that mean?  😁

Turns out I need a 9mm suppressor.  Hope to get it before the Dems ban them. 

Jayhawker

Zee said:

This might have gotten easy. Can’t find .444 Marlin brass. 

Starline says they have it

Zee

Jayhawker said:

Zee said:

This might have gotten easy. Can’t find .444 Marlin brass. 

Starline says they have it

Not at Midway. 

Jayhawker

Zee said:

Jayhawker said:

Zee said:

This might have gotten easy. Can’t find .444 Marlin brass. 

Starline says they have it

Not at Midway. 

Order it direct from Starline...that's how I get all my Big Bore stuff...

sakodude

https://www.starlinebrass.com/444-marlin

Jay

What they said... I’ve been ordering all my brass directly from Starline in bulk. 

That being said, I’d go 44 mag in a single shot. But only because 444 does nothin for me. Especially outside of a lever action platform. Just “meh...” Personal preference. 450 Bushmaster fills that role nicely. 

Zee

Well, I just tried to order the .44 Mag carbine. Failed. Seems there is something wrong with my account that can’t be fixed until Monday. 😒

Jay

Just order the Lyman Sharps and have a nicer rifle in a chambering that starts with 45... 😉🤣

Zee

Jay said:

Just order the Lyman Sharps and have a nicer rifle in a chambering that starts with 45... 😉🤣

Michakav

Zee said:

Well, I just tried to order the .44 Mag carbine. Failed. Seems there is something wrong with my account that can’t be fixed until Monday. 😒

Boooooo! 444

https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/starline-444-marlin-brass-50/

Zee

Maybe it was a sign. I couldn’t order. There’s still a chance. 😁

Michakav

Zee said:

Maybe it was a sign. I couldn’t order. There’s still a chance. 😁

Definitely a sign!  

GunNut

Just a thought but anything the .44 Mag can do the .444 can do farther away without losing anything short range.  BUT, you do already have a 45-70 soooo...

Linefinder

OTOH, a .338-06 negates all of these questions. My "thump" gun, if I ever have a dedicated "thump" gun built will be a .338-06.

Mike

Bigslug

My assessment of the .444 is that it fills the same niche as .45-70, but in a much more obscure, harder to find package.  Kinda like a .300 Savage after the .308 Winchester took over.  Has always been one of those "WHY?" cartridges to me.

.44 would be my call - to be loaded with big bullets and small charges of fast burning stuff for a subsonic low noise, yet high penetration option.  If you need boom, thump, or range, you have plenty of other choices.

sakodude

GunNut said:

Just a thought but anything the .44 Mag can do the .444 can do farther away without losing anything short range.  BUT, you do already have a 45-70 soooo...

And I've got 3 45-70's and a 444 marlin and still want a 444 in a single shot. What's your point

bellcat

444

Justsomedude

444 for no other reason than pulling a box off the shelf, opening it and removing one to see that they're a huge honking round.

GunNut

sakodude said:

GunNut said:

Just a thought but anything the .44 Mag can do the .444 can do farther away without losing anything short range.  BUT, you do already have a 45-70 soooo...

And I've got 3 45-70's and a 444 marlin and still want a 444 in a single shot. What's your point

I’m trying to be sensible... 😁

sakodude

GunNut said:

sakodude said:

GunNut said:

Just a thought but anything the .44 Mag can do the .444 can do farther away without losing anything short range.  BUT, you do already have a 45-70 soooo...

And I've got 3 45-70's and a 444 marlin and still want a 444 in a single shot. What's your point

I’m trying to be sensible... 😁

Sensibility doesn't live here