Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Honest opinion! .338 Marlin Express vs. .444

Given NH woods, for me usually thick and not a lot of long shots, which would be a better choice? NH has Bear, and Moose as well....I understand the .444 to be a brush thumping Bad MF'er with recoil to boot, but would the newer .338 Marlin Express get er done in thicker cover to?

I would just get a 45-70 & load it to whatever specs you want. Plink around with light loads (Less recoil) & "Full Leaded" for when it counts.

IMO, the 2 rounds you mention don't measure up to the old standby. (This is all assuming you are using a lever action..) If not, you have many more choices..

I think the new 338 would do just as good as the 444 in the thick stuff and would definitely be superior if you happened to get a longer shot.

Either one will do you just fine, I would however bet on the 444 and 45/70 being around for a long time. But in all honesty I can't think that the 308 Marlin will always be around. If you're a handloader most likely not a big deal. However if your shooting factory then it may become an issue some day.

Personally, I'd go with the 444 or the 45/70.

Dober

The .338 might be more "flexible" as an all-rounder but for what your specific application seems to be I'd go .444 out of the two but would agree with others that I'd pick a 45/70 over either.

But hey, I'll never discourage anybody from treating themselves to a new gun! Get a .470 double if it strikes your fancy.

The 338 Marlin will certainly get her done in the thick cover too and be much easier to hit with as the range starts to get into the 150 yards plus range. Likely it will recoil less too. Win/win.
As far as it sticking around who can say but that issue is small potatoes in the scheme of things.

No question the .444 is a thumper and I would and have changed the factory pad. I've loaded it with the Hornady 265 gr RN for years with better than expected accuracy. The .444 and the 265 grainer have "moose" written all over it....


CLB

For your purpose, either the 338 ME or the 444 would do fine.

However, the 338 ME would give you better longer range and flatter shooting capability should that need ever occur, or should you expand into that type of hunting away from your above intended purpose.

Imo, the 338 ME is more a versatile cartridge, capable of not only shorter ranged work on any N/A big game, but longer ranged as well. With the 338, your not as range limited, trajectory limited, as you would be with the 444 or 45-70.

The 338 ME will be also be much easier on the shoulder.

If you don`t already have a 338, my vote goes to the 338 ME.
If you do have a 338 caliber, but don`t have a 444 or 45-70, then get a 444 or a 45-70. Your decision too, should be based on what you have now and what you don`t have to fill any caliber gap.

Get that 444 and don't look back. In factory ammo, the Remington 240 grain is just fine on deer. If going for tougher game like Elk or Moose, the Hornady 265 gr load is what you want. If you don't mind dropping more money on factory ammo, there is Buffalo Bore. But really no need for it. There is also the Hornady 265 gr LeverEvolution as another option.

If you handload, then there are multiple good bullet options including Beartooth hard cast bullets, Speer 270 gr Golt Dots, Hornady XTP 300 gr, Hornady Interlock 265 gr flat point, Hornady 265 gr LeverEvolution Flex Tip. Of these bullets listed, for hardcast I'd go Beartooth, but for jacketed either the Hornady Interlock 265 Flat Point or the Speer 270 gr Gold Dot.

Either would work but the old 35 Rem in a 336 would to.

Anything that is capable on Moose and bear at long range is just as capable in close. No such thing as a cartridge or bullet that will go through brush without deflecting badly. Either of these two will do OK, but so would a 35 Whelen or a 300 WinMAg or a 338 or a......

Having said all the above, I am looking forward to getting my model 71 in 348 bloodied this fall and maybe even my model 88 in 358 win so I understand the romance of a big bore levergun for sure. Short answer, whichever one cranks your tractor!

Come on, we're not talking about trapdoor safe 45-70 at slug velocity. The 444 runs 260 grains faster than a 170 grain 30-30, 3 high at 100 gives you 3 low a little past 200.

Drooling and jealous here. Have an 88 in .308, but wish it was .358. Of course, I do have a BLR in .358 and a Browning 71 carbine in .348, as well as a Marlin in 444 and a .35 Rem ... and a Savage 99 in .308 ... I guess I just can't understand the allure of those mid and big bore levers .

I'd call "a little past 200" as only a bit past "150 yards plus".
I love the 444 and have shot it and the 45 70 along side my 308 Marlin which is pretty much a twin trajectory wise to the 338 Marlin.
The 4's are obvious pedestrians when so evaluated despite their thump on both ends.

The .444 does have a certain je ne sais quoi. (picture used for analogous purposes only)

Can't get horned up over a cartridge that only ONE bullet is available for.

Agree, they need a traditional RN loading for those who dont want to shoot the flex-tip. There are virtually no options even for the handloader, as the only 338 RN are designed for 338 WM velocity. I contacted hornady to see what might be coming in the future and they said they had no plans for a traditional RN. Having said all that, I think it is a great cartridge, and wouldnt mind one myself. If one doesnt have the funds or cant locate a .348, .356, etc this is the only option for a mid-bore lever, besides the BLR. Of'course there is that little gem they call the 35 Rem. Great for deer and black bear, but would welcome the added oomf of the 338 on Moose and such.

I already have a pair of .444's, so I would get the .338. Should be a great cartridge. When the factory ammo dries up, you should be able to sell the rifle for twice what you payed for it if you keep it real clean.

.444 it is! I plan on busting some branches boy!

get the 444. the 265 lever evolution is the shiznit