Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers Deer - .444 Marlin or 45-70

I am thinking about getting a big bore lever gun. I haven't decided which caliber yet; what are your thoughts on each for WT deer in the woods? What about other calibers such as the 375 Winchester? Any other suggestions?

Thanks

Any and all mentioned will be more than sufficient. Do you reload? 375 ammo is at an amazing premium in price. I have all three you mention. I just rotate. :-)

No, I don't reload at the moment.

You'll have more bullet selections in 45-70. More varieties of factory ammo too.


Dan

You should go with the 45/70 or 444

(aka 44Willie)

356/358....overall more sensible, IMO.

The .45-70 would have ammo more readily available than the other two.

I have no experience with the .375, but until you get into the real heavies. the .444 and .45-70 are two peas in a pod.

A .444 with a 1/20 twist barrel can move into the heavy-bullet territory quite well, and would remove a lot of the advantage a .45-70 would have.

As far as Whitetail, it would be a wash, with the advantage going to the .444 if using factory loads unless one goes with a light-bullet boutique loading in .45-70.

1 of each!!

.45-70 gets my vote. More ammo available. Easily reloadable if you decide to go that route.

45-70 ammo is readily available.
But I will be buried with my 1978 Marlin 444....

There is that!

No matter what, you won't be wrong.

45-70 all day everyday, brass, bullets, and available bullet weights trump all, plus, it had cool military and buffalo slaying history and to go with it.

I have used both to take whitetails. Although reloading components are more readily available for the 45-70 the 444 shoots flatter and with less recoil in my experience. I did take 2 does with one shot from a 444 once and that might cloud my judgement but I prefer the 444.

if you don't get one of each, get whichever one that you
know for sure you can get brass and dies for.
i've shot deer with both and it doesn't make a nickle's
worth of difference with a whitetail deer when you bust
up the pumphouse.
i already had brass and dies for what i bought, so that's
what i went with.
good luck

If you hunt bad weather, swamps, or lowlands get the stainless. In which case, 45-70 is much easier to find

The factory ammo in45 70 maybe compromised and "weaker" as compared to the triple 4. As there are no older weak 444 actions. If I reloaded and started with just one I would recommend the 45 70 all day long. I own both.

45-70......as mentioned.....

more components selections....no dry spells with brass.....

I'd find me an old m71 in a 348 wcf.

The 444 was introduced when the 45-70 had nearly disappeared from the shooting market back on the 1960's. It's factory load with a 265 grain bullet is a weak proposition when compared to the current 45-70 offerings.

The 444 has ample power that a 44 magnum can't provide and is not as heavy in the recoil department as the 45-70, but it just doesn't have all the commercially loaded options, much less the "cool" factor that the 45-70 has.

Get a 45-70 and you won't be disappointed.

I have owned and shot both and for no reason I can explain I prefer the 444. Given my goofy take, I would recommend a 45-70 due to the flexibility of different loadings and availability.