Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 444 Marlin & Elk

OK,

Sadly, I sold off all my guns 5 years ago. I have been rebuilding my rifle stable for a couple years now. I came across a great deal on a near-new 2006 minted 1895 Marlin 444 with fantastic wood. I figured it would be great for timber hunting Elk.

I'm fairly savvy on rifles/ballistics and I certainly have my personal preferences. I knew that the 444 was not the same as my previous 45-70 when I bought it. However, this is my first 444. I've "Googled" around a bit to find out about safe 270-300gr. max loads. It seems there is still debate on what a generally accepted safe max load for the 444 is. Some people swear the Marlin action is dog [bleep] and must not be trusted and others claim some ridiculously high velocities. Considering this gun is a <150yd shooter for my applications, I have decided not to run "crazy hot" loads at all.

So, to my question: How many of you here have actual experience with this caliber from a 20" barrel on Elk? I can read energy numbers the same as anyone else. I am very interested in hearing from people with hands on experience with this caliber/bullet combo on Elk. I know it is plenty for Deer and arguably not enough for Browns, but is it formidable on quartering shots within 150 yards? All the evidence suggests yes but I am really hunting for opinions from people that have used it on Elk.

Thanks in advance.

Try www.marlinowners.com Lots of good info there.

I can push a 270gr Gold Dot 2200fps with my M444.That should get er done.
Mine is an old one 1970 with the 24in barrel. No issues,the 300gr don't shoot as well and pound the pee out of you.

colorado bob: Thanks for the link. Great site on the Marlin. Thx

bh444: Have you used this load on an Elk or similar? If so, what were the shooting conditions? Broadside? Quarter forward/away/rear? BTW, how many grains of Gold Dot?

Fifth, Gold Dot is the bullet weight @ 270 gns.

Gunner

I have a 444P, the one with the 18 1/2" ported barrel, and have killed a couple of elk (a cow and a calf) with 300 grain hard cast WFNGC from Cast Performance with H332. The cow was about 150-175 yards away. The bullet penetrated both lungs but did not break any shoulder bones. She entered the timber before I could shoot again, but I found her very dead within 50 yards of where she was hit. The calf was shot at a downhill angle at about 65 yards. I hit him a little high breaking the spine, which required a follow-up shot when I got up to him. This load is about 95% of maximum.

OK, that makes more sense. I didn't realize he was talking about the bullet. Is that the same thing as these Speer Uni-Cor I have?

gomerdog: Was the shot on the calf a through and through or did the spine stop it?

Possibly, the uni-cores are an earlier version of the hunting gold dots, they will serve You well, and so will Rl-7 for powder and a CCI-250 mag primer to get it all moving.

Gunner

Fifth,

WELCOME to 24hrcf! Looks like you are getting good intel here. Though I have not yet owned one, I have long admired and wished for a 444. If ever I come across one in pre-safety form with the pistol grip style stock for a good deal kinda price it will have to come home with me.

Have not, obviously, shot an elk with one, but would not be afraid at all to give it a go. I have heard good things about the Hornaday 265's but from me that is just hearsay. Good luck and good hunting. MARK

safariman: Thank you for the welcome. I don't know all there is to know about Marlins. I grew up with a 39A 22LR and a Model 60. I've always had a soft spot for Marlins. Even though I knew very little about the 444 cartridge at the time, I couldn't pass up this 1895 when I found it. The wood looks like a Grade 2 to me with flawless bluing. Beautiful gun. Either way, the gun will be heading into the woods with me. I just don't know how well the caliber/weight will penetrate on less than optimal shooting opportunities. I had/have quite extensive hunting experience with the 45-70. I now need to catch up with this 444. Thanks again for the welcome.

No. Uni-Cors are jacketed, but good bullets in my opinion. I was using a lead alloy cast very hard, acting more like a solid.

The bullet penetrated completely. That's what hardcast bullets are suppose to do...at nearly any reasonable angle. Good for big critters.

My 444 is the XLR and is yet to be fired. I have no elk eperience, but I can offer some a good friend has. He bought one 20 or so years ago and is the camp cook type. He'll cook breakfast early, take a nap, then head out a few hundred yds from camp. He killed 3 elk with that 444 and 240 Rem Core-lokts. The gun sports a $19.99 tasco scope, that to my knowledge has never had to be resighted. I know this because I'm the one who usually checks the zero. Hes fired 4 shots and recoverd one bullet, picture perfect. He breaks all the rules that I live by, and never misses a beat and love every minute of it. His other fav cart. is the 44-40. He turned 70 this May.

Joseph

Fifth,
No Elk in NY or the northeast for that matter.Deer and Yotes have been all I have taken with my 444.
When the 444 was my only rifle,I was very much into this website.
Here is one in the series of good reads on your subject.
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17

I love the .444. I'd get a Lee 310 grain .429 mold. It will shoot through a bus when cast hard.

It is exceedingly rare that I agree with anything Swapman says, but this time I think he is on the right track. I would predict that a hardcast flatnosed heavy bullet will make a .429 hole (plenty big enough) right through an Elk or Bear from most any reasonable angle at any reasonable (say, under 150 yards or so) range.

I use Cast Performance LBT style bullets in my 44 Magnum woods walking gun and if you do not want to cast your own I have found them to be quite excellent. Here is the website to order from them:

http://www.grizzlycartridge.com/store/index.php?app=ecom&ns=prodshow&ref=CP44%2F255PB


I will be sending in an order myslef, really soon.

My uncle killed a nice bull, very dead, with a .444 and the Leverevolution ammo.

Well, I guess if you don't count PA in the northeast.

Never shot an elk with my Winchester .444, but I have used it for caribou hunting here, and it does a very nice job at moderate ranges -- 200 yards or so. I will have no problem taking it elk hunting if I so desire.

Dennis