444 Marlin, 375 Winchester or...

[nakneker]

I think I’m gonna hunt down a clean 444 this time around. After reading and listening to others the 375 and 38-55 have my interest too, I will probably pick up one of those at a later date. Thanks for the opinions and input, much appreciated!

 

[JSH]

I would do some research on barrel twist for the 444. As to the 375, it should be a true 375 diameter, though there maybe some that come off at .380. Same goes for the 38-55, I have seen both in various lever and single shot set ups.

 

[mike mccormick]

I have a marlin 375. With the 200gr sierras at 2250 fps, it is what you might call " snappy". It can be taken up to 2500 using Accurate 1680.

 

[nakneker]

Made a deal on an older Marlin 444, from a forum member, should be fun. I was looking on gunbroker lastnight and there’s a Marlin 38-55 listed. Clean rifle, that will have to wait for another day.

 

[David Milisock]

Made a deal on A older Marlin 444, from a forum member, should be fun. I was looking on gunbroker lastnight and there’s a Marlin 38-55 listed. Clean rifle, that will have to wait for another day.

If you have access to a range with a gong for heavier calibers have some fun. Take a 30-06 and bang the gong, then do it with the 444.

 

[nakneker]

If you have access to a range with a gong for heavier calibers have some fun. Take a 30-06 and bang the gong, then do it with the 444.

I have a gong set outside the reloading room at 150 and 300. I’ll do that!

 

[Adam in WI]

Lemme know when you launch one, I'll stand outside and see if I can hear it too

 

[David Milisock]

I have a gong set outside the reloading room at 150 and 300. I’ll do that!

Afterwards you can contemplate Pondoro Taylor's knock out index.

 

[nakneker]

Afterwards you can contemplate Pondoro Taylor's knock out index.

I had to look that up, interesting, I’ll list a link here at the bottom for those curious. The biggest I’ve shot on his list is a 458 win mag which using his formula comes in at 70.3, looking at the 600 nitro it comes in at 147.5. So now I know I never want to shoot a 600 nitro, lol.
Honestly I’m not much for the stout loads in these rifles, I usually load them luke warm so I enjoy shooting a few rounds. I shoot them stout with heavies once in awhile but too much of that for me makes me lose the joy. It will be fun to compare the 444 and the 45-70. I’m huge 45-70 fan. I’m the same way with pistols, I have four 45 colts and no 44 mags. So this will be new to me, fun!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_knock-out_factor

 

[kujuak]

I shoot the following in this neighborhood:

Winchester94BB 375Win
Winchester 94 44Mag
Browning 92, 357Mag
Marlin1894 218Bee, 357mag
Browning 53 in 32-20
Browning 65 218 Bee
Browning and Winchester 71s in 348Win.

I could never come up with a rationale to get a 444 , the round and the rifles chambered for it just never seemed to scratch any itch I have

I suggest you get your rifle in 375Win rather than 38-55, you can always load down to 38-55 levels and you can shoot 38-55 out of your 375 rifle , not vice versa. If you can find and afford one, get a Savage 99 Brush Gun in 375Win. Great and rare rifle, You can shoot spitzer bullets in it unlike the tube magazine rifles.I have one in 358Win. Very accurate and the crown jewel of my Savage 99 accumulation.

The Browning replicas are very nice rifles and in my experience more accurate than the Marlins.

Cheers!

 

[David Milisock]

I had to look that up, interesting, I’ll list a link here at the bottom for those curious. The biggest I’ve shot on his list is a 458 win mag which using his formula comes in at 70.3, looking at the 600 nitro it comes in at 147.5. So now I know I never want to shoot a 600 nitro, lol.
Honestly I’m not much for the stout loads in these rifles, I usually load them luke warm so I enjoy shooting a few rounds. I shoot them stout with heavies once in awhile but too much of that for me makes me lose the joy. It will be fun to compare the 444 and the 45-70. I’m huge 45-70 fan. I’m the same way with pistols, I have four 45 colts and no 44 mags. So this will be new to me, fun!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taylor_knock-out_factor

At one time an old friends son had a guide business, he recommended me to his son as a second hand. I could read topographical maps, use a radio, read a compass and was good at shooting things. That lead to me getting a 444 Marlin and later a custom 450 Marlin in a 98 Mauser cut to handle 500 grain.

There's a few things that you have to live with when shooting heavy calibers, you do have to zero them and that's the worst part. If you bag the rifle high, sit straight and not lean into her it's better.

Then practice as you would use the rifle, these are close range dangerous game rifles (you don't need a scope) load your hunting load. Stand stable but more straight, do not lean in and let your body move to absorb the recoil with your whole body. It works.

 

[nakneker]

At one time an old friends son had a guide business, he recommended me to his son as a second hand. I could read topographical maps, use a radio, read a compass and was good at shooting things. That lead to me getting a 444 Marlin and later a custom 450 Marlin in a 98 Mauser cut to handle 500 grain.

There's a few things that you have to live with when shooting heavy calibers, you do have to zero them and that's the worst part. If you bag the rifle high, sit straight and not lean into her it's better.

Then practice as you would use the rifle, these are close range dangerous game rifles (you don't need a scope) load your hunting load. Stand stable but more straight, do not lean in and let your body move to absorb the recoil with your whole body. It works.

Good info. I suppose practice refines technique. Thanks for the input.

 

[David Milisock]

Good info. I suppose practice refines technique. Thanks for the input.

If you only shoot 1 or 2 rounds that's plenty, tomorrow's another day, just pay attention to your stance and move with the recoil. As you practice you'll find a stance that manages recoil and allows you the best balance so you're in the ready ASAP. I see guys leaning into them like their shooting skeet, bad idea. After awhile you're practiced enough. I can do about 6 shots and I've had enough. Off the bench I'll do 2 if the first one went well. I leave the target posted shoot 1 or 2 more and adjust the sights if needed.

Lucky for me when I designed the project I did the math right, working loads and sighting in at 100 was about 15 rounds over 3 weeks. I weighted the stock to move center of balance back a bit for faster swings, she weighs a bit over 9 pounds and pushes a 500 grain about 2050 FPS.

In the field, listen to your guide, stay within 100 yards, place your shot, (if I'm hunting bear especially big bear I break the front shoulders first) and immediately prepare for a follow-up shot. Don't move toward the target, if it moves hit it again and prepare for another follow-up shot. Stay put! There's a guy like me a bit behind your stance to the right or left in case things go bad.

If after the first shot, if it does not move after a few minutes hit it again, prepare for a follow-up shot, give it a minute and move in slowly.

 

[nakneker]

If you only shoot 1 or 2 rounds that's plenty, tomorrow's another day, just pay attention to your stance and move with the recoil. As you practice you'll find a stance that manages recoil and allows you the best balance so you're in the ready ASAP. I see guys leaning into them like their shooting skeet, bad idea. After awhile you're practiced enough. I can do about 6 shots and I've had enough. Off the bench I'll do 2 if the first one went well. I leave the target posted shoot 1 or 2 more and adjust the sights if needed.

Lucky for me when I designed the project I did the math right, working loads and sighting in at 100 was about 15 rounds over 3 weeks. I weighted the stock to move center of balance back a bit for faster swings, she weighs a bit over 9 pounds and pushes a 500 grain about 2050 FPS.

In the field, listen to your guide, stay within 100 yards, place your shot, (if I'm hunting bear especially big bear I break the front shoulders first) and immediately prepare for a follow-up shot. Don't move toward the target, if it moves hit it again and prepare for another follow-up shot. Stay put! There's a guy like me a bit behind your stance to the right or left in case things go bad.

If after the first shot, if it does not move after a few minutes hit it again, prepare for a follow-up shot, give it a minute and move in slowly.

The only time I’ve ever used a guide was in South Africa for obvious reasons, I’ve always done it myself and worked for a few guides over the years down in Mexico and in Alaska helping them out when they needed it. I just never have been attracted to the really big bore stuff. I’m still not but I’m developing a soft spot for these big bore levers. Up until now the biggest cartridges I’ve used is a 338 win mag and a 375 H&H and those were mostly in Alaska although I still keep a 338 WM.

Lastnight I loaded up some LeHigh defense 325 grains for the Ruger number one, I’m going to load up some of their 380 grain flat points today and a few others including some more traditional cast bullets, heavy and light.

I like your advise of not having extended shooting session if your shooting something that bites back. To easy to pick up a bad habit doing that. When I’m sighting them in I’ll use a lead sled and a shoulder pad if needed. I haven’t shot anything out of the 45-70 yet that would knock your fillings out but I will be over the next few months. 444 is inbound so that should be fun too. I see shooting softer loads the majority if the time but I would like to try some other stuff Too.

Thanks for your input!

 

[David Milisock]

The only time I’ve ever used a guide was in South Africa for obvious reasons, I’ve always done it myself and worked for a few guides over the years down in Mexico and in Alaska helping them out when they needed it. I just never have been attracted to the really big bore stuff. I’m still not but I’m developing a soft spot for these big bore levers. Up until now the biggest cartridges I’ve used is a 338 win mag and a 375 H&H and those were mostly in Alaska although I still keep a 338 WM.

Lastnight I loaded up some LeHigh defense 325 grains for the Ruger number one, I’m going to load up some of their 380 grain flat points today and a few others including some more traditional cast bullets, heavy and light.

I like your advise of not having extended shooting session if your shooting something that bites back. To easy to pick up a bad habit doing that. When I’m sighting them in I’ll use a lead sled and a shoulder pad if needed. I haven’t shot anything out of the 45-70 yet that would knock your fillings out but I will be over the next few months. 444 is inbound so that should be fun too. I see shooting softer loads the majority if the time but I would like to try some other stuff Too.

Thanks for your input!

Enjoy, life's too short not to. I used bags of shot between the rifle and my shoulder for testing heavy hunting loads, it was a tip I picked up from Joyce Hornadys writings.

I built a 358 Norma which is a nice standard length magnum, the 444 Marlin with 300 grain hard cast is not an awful backup carry, I used it once, but I figured that the 450 Marlin pushing a 500 grain at the same velocity as the 300 grain 44 caliber was a better choice for a possible emergency situation.