Home Forums Lever Action Central Big Bore Levers 444 or 348

Without being biased toward the rifles or history or coolness factor just straight up usefulness which do you think would be the better all around big game round? 348 brass is hard to find and expensive but there are some real nice bullets available for them. 444 brass is easy to get and bullets are cheap for plinking with 44 mag bullets. I own neither but have several 45/70's but always looking for something new. Will one do everything the other will do equally well? Thoughts for discussion

444 all the way !

348 is extremely versatile! With 200 Flextips it is 300 yard capable. An amazingly useful round. 444 is fun but not as versatile IMO.

I made a video comparing the 348 to the 450 Marlin which might help?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eHVfOtt1jko

I know you said to ignore the coolness of the guns, but it really matters with your particular question. The 348 generally comes in a higher quality gun than most 444s. Browning reproductions and original Winchesters are top of the line levers. Marlins are nice guns, but second class compared to a good condition 71.

I've had both, and the 71 carried like a dream compared to outfitter or full sized Marlins.

Marlin offers scope options and more bullet choices, but a 348 should be experienced by all lever fans.

I kinda like the 348 and the rifle that comes with it but own a 1977 Marlin 444 that I simply love. The Marlin (older ones) are very nice guns and being able to easily mount a scope sure helps my not so good eyes. Slap a Wild West trigger in it and load your own and moa and less is usually attainable with most.

North, is that 4451 powder IMR?

I've owned both the .348 and .444, in addition to the .45-70.

As far as trajectory, the .348 is a laser compared to the .444 and especially the .45-70.

All are bone crunchers on big game. I sold the .348 and .444, not because of the cartridge but more due to the platform, my .45-70 is a Guide gun and is simply better handling than the other two rifles were with the longer barrels.

That M71 Browning Repro shore was pretty, too.

444 all day. There ain't no flies on the Marlin 444.

Yes IMR 4451 with magnum primers really works with 200 Horady's and my rifle.

Everyone is different. To me the Win 71, 348 has a balance and ergonomic design that makes my own guide gun feel as handy as fence post in my hands in comparison.

I guess I should be more specific and say the handling characteristics in thick woods/treestand-type hunting.

My 71 had a 24" barrel. Had I owned a 20" carbine, it may be different as to which one I still own. One of the little 444Ps would have probably convinced me to keep it, also.

1886 and 71 Winchesters are awesome as long as you keep a gunbearer around.

A few years ago this article got me thinking about a .444. One day I’ll have one.
http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/28

That's what turns me off about em. I'd much rather carry a 92 or 94 for my hunting. Or a .444 Marlin if I felt the need for something bigger.

My 71 weighs in at around 8 pounds. My Marlin guide gun scoped is pretty similar in weight. My Forbes 24B, 25-06 sheep gun scoped and with a sling weighs in at 7 pounds even. I wouldn't want to carry the extra pound of the 71 up mountains but in the woods I honestly never noticed it.

Thanks, North and with you 100% on the 71/348 over the 444. I've had both, love them both, but given a choice, the Winchester all the way.

The 348 ain’t a Big Bore per the thread. 444 is where its at!

The "flies" I can see are the Marlin's 1:38 twist and micro-groove barrel. I solved that problem with a Winchester 94 BB "Timber Carbine" in .444. Can load it hotter than a Marlin, and it's size compares to a 10/22 Ruger. Can even mount a scope to it (it is drilled & tapped), due to it being an angle eject.

Marlin solved that somewhere in the 1990's by going 1:20" Ballard.

Have been shooting 444 Marlin since mid 70s. Currently shooting Winchester 94 AE Big Bore with 1-12 Twist. Handles 300-405 grain jacketed and hard cast loads very well and accurate. Factory loads from CorBon with 225 gr. Barnes at 2,620 fps, 280 gr. EX-SP (no longer in circulation) at 2,275 fps (Killed 3 Elk with this load, devastating results), 305 gr. Penetrator solid (no longer in circulation) at 2,150 fps; going to try Underwood's new 225 gr Xtreme listed at 2,600 fps plus and their 335 gr HC at 2,100 fps. Hornady and Buffalo Bore ammo is out there as well. Saying the 444 Marlin isn't as versatile as the 348 Win to me doesn't hold water. As good as the 348 Win is, it only has a few loadings and bullets available, typically hand loaded with 200-250 grain loads and does not possess the raw muscle of the 444 Marlin. It just can't heave the heavy stuff like the 444 can. Lets face it trajectory is a function of where you wish to zero your rifle depending on bullet weight, pursuit of game and type of terrain your in. None are flat shooters, but all can be set up quite well given the same bullet types to hit large game hard and cleanly between 200-250 yards. The 444 Marlin is quite useful across a large spectrum of game, I would not sell it short in any category. The old .429 - 250 gr. Partition HG loaded to 2,500 fps will smoke most any game out to quite a distance (killed many deer with this load). A 355 grain Beartooth GCHC at 2,200 fps inside 125 yards is very comparable to Norma's PH 375 H&H 350 grain Woodleigh Weldcore FMJ load at 2,300 fps. Both would supply extreme penetration on tough game, one would make larger holes than the other. Only one man's opinion, take it for what it's worth.