I had a .444, but it was a 1/38 twist and wouldn't stabilize 300 grain bullets.
With a 1/20 twist and the ability to use heavy hard cast LBT bullets, the .444 becomes a whole 'nother beast.
mine has a 1 in 38 twist, a 1980 manufactured gun....most common bullet weight I have used in the field is the 300 gr XTP bullet at about 1850 fps...
After buying that 444 long ago, a buddy bought a 45/70 Marlin just to have something bigger than mine...
He was always wanting me to shoot his, so I would buy the 45/70 version....
I did shoot it often in our Northern MN and Wisc hunts.... but for deer hunting it never gave me any thing more than the 444 did...
bought my Marlin 444 for $219 back in those days.... its always done anything I could ever expect out of it..
heaviest deer I've ever shot weighed about 265lbs field cleaned, that was in Northern MN....and was taken down in one shot by that 444.... on a 30 below zero day.
