So I did a little research. Barnes Manual #1 shows the 45-70 holding 75.5gr of water, to the 444's 69.5gr. An 8% advantage to the 45-70 since both cases are so similar in configuration. Beartooth bullets shows their 355gr WLNGC bullet (a very fine hard cast unit) reaching 2154fps, behind 45gr of RL-7. AND they got 3/4" accuracy with the old slow twist 22" barrel. That same 355gr bullet has a SD of .276, which happens to be exactly the same as a 405gr .458 bullet. So, while the 45-70 really can be more powerful than the 444, the margin of victory really isn't as great as most have lead us to believe. Having said all that and having owned a Marlin model 444S for the last 15 yrs, if I had to do it over I'd get the 45-70. BUT....for the marginal upgrade in power it's not worth the cost of trading firearms and purchasing new dies. So I'll keep pluggin' along with my 444.
ps- I also realize that MUCH heavier bullets are available for the 45-70.
