Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Marlin 444 or 45 70 ?

Hello am considering buying a Marlin 444 or 45 70 with ballard rifling for cast bullets. I hear the Marlin wont chamber the big 500 grainers in 45 70. Which rifle would be more accurate for cast bullets.? Can you buy a Marlin 45 70 in a 20 or so inch barrel? Does that short guide gun shoot accurately to 100 yds.? Any help would be appreciated thanks

I've had both.

In 45/70, if you go with beartooth bullets, you can go to 525 grains as far as a handloading proposition. Garrett makes a 540 grain load specifically for the Marlin. If you get a newer .444, you can go heavier than 300 grains, but the old microgroove would probably not stabilize anything heavier than 300 grains(slow 1/38 twist). The 45/70 is a little more versatile in bullet weight. Both will knock the heck out of most big game, with the 45/70 undoubtably able to do so, by virtue of some of the loads available.

The Guide Guns can be quite accurate. Can kick, too. Those high performance loads come at a cost.

The biggest fly in the .444 ointment is the original 240 grain loads. The bullets were simply pushed beyond design limits.

Overall, with my experience, I would have to recommend the 45/70. But the .444 ain't nothin to sneeze at...

you might also consider the 450 MARLIN in that marlin lever action, I used to own both a 444 and several 45/70s,marlins, I recently got my current 450 marlin caliber BLR and have zero regrets, personally I like the front locking bolt and box magazine more but I never had any problems with the marlins either.....the 45/70 was more versital

I have a 444 and really enjoy it! If using factory ammo I'd recommend the Hornady Leverevolution or their light mag's loaded with the 265 grain bullets.

I reload and try to cast for everything I shoot havent shot a factory round in many years. Has anyone here cast or shot cast bullets in the 444 Marlin with ballard rifling? I cast a nice 325 grain for my 44 mag and would love to try it in a 444. Is the Marlin 444 in ballard rifling still the 1 in 38 twist? Would a 252 grainer I cast for a 45 long colt shoot well in a 45 70? Im also talking plinking down loads with pistol powder. I have great luck in using 9 grains of AA#5 in 30 30 and 6 and 8mm mauser without gas checks. very accurate to 80 yds no kick and lots of fun.

Doubt if the bullet for 45 Colt would do well in a 45-70. Nominal bore for the big 45 is .458 while the Colt is .452. There is a 330 gr mold available for 45070 that does nicely as a plinker and a deer killer. Range?? As far as you want to learn the sights for. Get the big Beartooth bullet going about 1400 or 1500, put a sight with mucho elevation capability and kill at 500 yards if ya want.

sorry should have realizezed the 458 dia my mistake. Hey yall If we had two Marlins side by side both ballard rifling say 24 inch barrels and scoped the same say a Leupold both new with a broke in barrel which one will be the winner in a 100 yd shootout? Shooting just cast bullets of varying weights . What would be the winning bullet weight in the 444. which one for the 4570? Hey I realize the 4570 is a more versitle hunting rifle Im not talking that. Im talking accuracy hear ,say at 100 and 150 and 200 yds. I presume that the 444 would have less of a rainbow tradjectory. Which would be better for reduced plinking loads? I cast 200 and 240 44 bullets and also 315s for my 44 mag wonder how they would do in a 444? Anyone doing this ? thanks everyone

Jae Bok Young makes a 550 grain cast bullet that works well in the Marlin 1895 45-70.


Both the 444 Marlin and 45-70 Gov�t in the Marlin lever gun have excellent accuracy potential.


18.5� in the 1895G
22� in the 1895
24� in the 1895XLR
26� in the 1895CB
There were some limited edition 1895s for Davidsons that had a 20� barrel.


Yes.


This is false.
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/19
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/28


Another fallacy. Remington changed the 240 grain bullet used in their 444 Marlin load in the 1970s to one with an alloy core and thicker jacket. I have a friend who has taken elk with that load for 30 years.


No, not for a while, I sold my 444 many years ago. But I know many who have and cast bullets work very well in all Marlin 444 rifles, microgroove or ballard, 1:38� or 1:20� twist.


By all means, do! See the links above for information.



No, it has a 1:20� twist.


You could paper patch such bullets and they would work up to moderate speeds.


In the Ranch Dog Postal Matches the 444 has been coming out on top. But they are both plenty accurate for hunting. I don�t think one is necessarily more inherently accurate than the other.


When loaded to their potential in Marlin lever guns, given equal sectional density the 45-70 will drive bullets of similar construction and configuration at least as fast as the 444 Marlin, and given equal weight the 45-70 will drive bullets of similar construction and configuration significantly faster than the 444 Marlin. Hence, the 45-70 will shoot just as "flat" as the 444 Marlin, while delivering more energy to the target and more recoil to the shooter.


Either. http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm


Probably pretty good. If the crimp groove is in an appropriate place they should work. Both the 45-70 and 444 will shoot cast bullet well if the bullets are sized properly and care is taken when reloading them.

It sounds like you might get the most use out of a 444 due to your having a 44 Magnum and exclusive use of cast bullets.

Jackfish and all contributing to this topic thanks anyone else ? lets keep this discussion going.

Im they same way I cant make up my mind, 444, 45-70 and the big 450 I had marlin 45-70 before some were great but one was a Dud, and it was quickly sold off! more than likely it will be another 45-70! John