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another pic

I inherited my father's old .444 Marlin and it is one of my favorite guns here. Like I would expect from a Marlin it is accurate and I did not particularly notice the recoil until later that day. I added a slip on sissy pad which also lengthens the stock for me and helps protect it from our almost constant rain. If I had not inherited this .444 I would probably have a .45-70 guide gun more because they come in stainless than liking the round any better.

I don't think of the .444 as a kicker. It seems rather mild to me.

In my opinion they 444 does not kick that bad either with 240 or 265 grainers. I have never shot anything heavier. I had a 45-70, in CB model. It was not bad with 300 grain bullets but with 400 grainers, look out.

Not sure if this thread is too old to be read...
I'm really happy to hear so many like the .444! I've bought one for my wife as a saddle gun.. Have been looking for some tried loads for the 180xtp's (I have a pile of them), before I started experimenting on my own.. I'd like her to get used to the open sights and the lever action before hunting season next fall.
I LOVE my 45/70 GBL!! My practice rounds have been with the Hornady 300HP's. I didn't have any milk jugs to fill with water the day I got this beast, found a metal coffee can, filled it with water, put on the plastic lid and set it upside down at 50yds,, I won't do that again,, spent 25 minutes picking up all the shards of metal from the can.. the largest being about the size of a piece of banana peel...
Looked like a bomb went off in the pasture! Pretty cool!
Anxious to get the .444 going!

I like shooting 240 XTP's in mine, they have about the same POI as the LE's.

I have taken a bit of a different track with shooting my 444. I have had it for a few years and have used it not for deer but for Bear. 4 so far and all four DRT.
This year I started swaging my own bullets and the 444 is a natural to swage either 265 grain or .245 grain. The best though are buying 315 hard cast or cold water dropped and then swagged with a HP punch. Using slower velocities with the soft lead ensures accuracy and with the HP huge expansion. With the hard cast and the HP I can use higher velocity and ensure a slug that will drive through front to back or all the way through on a broadside leaving a huge hole.
I am trying to figure out how to shoot into clay blocks to measure the cavity but so far the clay has splattered. I think I need to make a shooting tunnel to contain the effect.
All in all the .444 can deliver plenty of velocity or huge momentum at slower velocities and now with the swagged bullets I can go clear up to .350 grain bullets once I start making my own copper jackets. Talk about a powerhouse.
Frank

Do the micro groove barrels shoot hard cast lead bullets accurately? I have always wanted one but for some reason I thought the micro groove required jacketed bullets.

For me as this is a hunting rifle and I am not much of a bench shooter anyway, if I can keep the hits inside a 10 inch pie plate I am happy. I cannot answer about the micro-groove VS Ballard rifling.
Frank

They will is you use the proper size bullet. Slug your bore and go at least .001" over.

Go over to the Beartooth Bullets websites. The owner is something of a .444 Marlin Guru and has a series of articles on the cartridge though he is a proponent of his heavy cast bullets.