Got the 2012 Marlin catalog today. No mention whatsoever of rifles chambered in either .444 or .338 Express. That's an especially quick death for the .338. Guess I shouldn't be surprised since neither has been a huge seller, although the .444 had been available for a long time. I kept hoping for a "SBL" version of the .444 but I guess that's a pipe dream now. Maybe, hopefully, they'll bring these calibers back if/when Marlin gets all their production issues resolved but at least for 2012, they appear to be defunct...

Sad. I have always wanted a .338 Marlin. I may have to see...

I hate to see that, especially in the case of the .444. I have always wanted to own one of those, but never got around to it.

I thought about buying a .444 Marlin several times, but with already owning a Marlin in the 45/70 GOVT just couldn't see the need and never bought one. There will be plenty of .444 Marlins floating around the used gun market, not so many of the .338 Marlin - that would be a good one to stock up on brass now if you own one.

Come to think of it, there are no .450 Marlins listed either.

The .308 Express, .338 Express, and .450 Marlin were/are answers to questions never asked. The .444 is a fantastic cartridge, and will be missed.

I hope they get the 444 back in the lineup at some point.

i bought a 444 long time ago and love the gun

That's to bad. I've got a .444 and a .450. The .450 is flat out the most best big pig gun I own.

I have a couple of 45-70's, no .444's. If one was going to hand load and push the envelope, I think the .444 may be safer as it has more metal around the case. I 've seen photos of blown .45-70's on this forum. They're pretty thin thru the forward receiver and threaded part of the barrel. I don't push mine that hard; just saying.

DF

I didn't think too much about the .450 as a levergun cartridge, but it made a helluva bolt-action thumper-gun load. It's a fairly easy conversion on a short-mag action.

I've had a .444, and with the right bullets, it was a giant-killer. It had to overcome the pistol bullet stigma when it was introduced, but when properly constructed bullets were developed for it, it became a very useful big-game cartridge.

I have no experience with the .308 and .338, but I saw them as a continuation of the .307/.356 story. They could certainly be useful, but lack of popularity eventually does them in.

Hi SCGunNut,

Just a question: are you sure 338ME is RIP? The french importer got a small batch of 60 336XLR in 338ME. I must test one for a magazine hi write in and the distributor is not clear if they are the last or if they will be other batch.

As i don't want to fool readers i'm looking for all infos about.
Same about 444 which was always a best seller in France for driven hunt. We got a batch too but would like to know better.

For some years Remington made for our market 7400 and 7600 in 35 Whelen but they were not offered, at that time, on your market in US of A and were not on the Rem catalog.
Maybe they prepare the same thing with 444.

Your help or other campers well appreciated. Will try to contact Marlin but i have not a lot of hope they answer me now...

Dom

You can still get a 444 in H&Rs

You can still get a 444 in H&Rs

I have not seen the 2012 Marlin catalog yet,I'll have to look it up online. I was asking this question a few months ago,

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthread..._Marlin_XLR_s_becoming_extin#Post5854545

I could not get a straight answer out of anyone from Marlin. Now I guess I know why. I really like the 444 in the stainless/laminate but they are hard to come by and the ones that are out there are way overpriced. Sad...

Strange. The website still list all those calibers.

Just picked up this 444P [img:center][/img]

A bonehead move by Remington? Big surprise, right? The news about the .444 being dropped prompted me to finally add a .444P to my arsenal. I've had a couple in my hands over the last few years but wasn't hooked. I found one with a nice fiddleback grained stock and went for it just last week. Now I have a .444S and the .444P - both beautifully made rifles and symbols of American greatness. I have no experience with the .338, but the .444 will just flatten a hog or deer.

Just looked it up. Yep, the 338 and 444 are still listed on the Marlin website. But if you open up the 2012 online catalog, they're not there. Bummer

I have a little extra info on this: I spoke to the Remington rep at the Ellett Bros. show (kind of a mini SHOT show). Regarding Marlin, he grimaced and said they were trying to get all their production issues resolved. For those not "in the business", quality of Marlin lever guns took a serious dive after Remington bought the company, uprooted it and handed it over to a bunch of new, untrained workers. We (the store I work at) sent back close to 75% of the Marlin centerfire lever guns that we had come through the store after Remington took them over. Problems ranged from absolutely horrible wood to metal fit, to actions so rough and stiff that King Kong couldn't work the lever, to guns that wouldn't even chamber a factory load. It was horrible. We got to the point that we wouldn't even special order any Marlins because we knew we would receive a P.O.S. that we couldn't sell.
At any rate, the Remington rep acknowledged all the problems Marlin was having and said in order to help resolve the issues, they were going to streamline Marlin's line and were, for the immediate future, going to focus on the more popular models/calibers. He didn't say with 100% certainty that the .338, .444 & .450 would be brought back but he did say that they hoped to be able to restore Marlin's line to what it was prior to Remington taking them over, AFTER they got all their production issues resolved and got once they got their new staff PROPERLY TRAINED. I would think you would train your staff BEFORE you turned them loose with a bunch of parts but hey, that's just my thinking! Anyway, HOPEFULLY we'll see these cartridges reinstated in the line at some point, probably not in 2012 though...

Thanks for the info SC.

Regardless of if or when the new "Marlin" production brings back the dropped calibers, none of the new guns will actually be Marlins made by the old century plus Marlin Arms Co. The new guns may look and feel the same but the thought they are not true Marlins would bother me till I'm gone.
If you don't have a 444 Marlin, you are missing out on a fabulous pig gun.
ancientriflesmith

Sounds kinda like "we have to pass the bill so we can find out what's in it" to me. Sorry to hear they're having so much trouble. I'll buy an older used Marlin when it comes time.

Really enjoying my 444 purchased from a CF member last year.I used to have a Micro Groove many moons ago and sold it but this newer one shoots anything I put through it...right now loading and shooting 310gr cast bullets and they work super.Probably have to go snag a few more bags of brass ASAP before they disappear.Just a few pics...BTW did I mention how much I enjoy mine!





Works on deer too but you already know that!

The tighter twist and the ability to use the heavier cast bullet really wakes up the potential of this cartridge.

That Lee bullet is probably good for anything that walks this continent.

Regardless of new Marlins being made in 444 or not, the ammo and nrass will not dry up overnight, maybe not for decades, many contender , encore ., NEF/H&R, rifles and barrels have been and will continue to be made, plus the myriad of wildcat and custom cartridges formed fro the 444 insure that someone will supply brass for years to come, there are also other cases that can be reworked to 444 as well, FEAR NOT!

I just went out and hugged my 1980s vintage 444, just because...

too funny!

Good idea. I inherited my father's .444 and think quite a bit of it. Glad that I bought reloading dies.

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/bigbore/444.asp

http://www.marlinfirearms.com/Firearms/308MarlinExpress/default.asp

If you're afeared of case loss just order a few thou right now.

x57 and '06 cases can be used IF you know what you're doing with the trimmer...just be sure the case length is about 0.005" short of the chamber end.

My 444 don't allow none of that hugging foolishness...it's all macho and don't wear no frilly drawers,

No panic required.

Flyboy, I can't see your scope in the picture!
How can you kill a deer without a scope? I've been thinking about buying this Lee mould and loading it for my Ruger SBH and my 788 44 magnums. Are you using anything special regarding alloy, sizing, lube, etc.?

Ahhh...one of my favorite, all time weapons!