.444 Marlins

[sledgemeister]

I have actually ordered the rifle and ended up going with a .444, reason, not many people have them in this part of the world and I like being a little different. Right now I am trying to get hold of a decent mould and some more cases, I have ordered 50 but I figure I will kill a couple those learning to reload for them. A little different in prices I have found for eg in the states I see them advertised ofr about 55.00 per hundred here they are about 90.00 per 50!

[tombogan03884]

Try here ? http://www.starlinebrass.com/

[sledgemeister]

Try here ? http://www.starlinebrass.com/

Thanks Tom I did look there but starline do not make it, Hornady and Remington are the only ones I can find.

[billt]

The .444 Marlin was introduced in 1964, about 8 years after the .44 Magnum round. The .45-70 was of course, around, but not a lot of rifles were being chambered for it back then. In the 60's and until well into the 70's, the heaviest slug you could find for the .444 was the 265 Gr. Hornady, and you had to handload it. Now there are slugs up to 300 grains available making it much more useful, as well as powerful.

Brass is still available from places like Midway at a good price. After Marlin chambered the .45-70 in the same gun, sales of the .45-70 took off, and the .444 just sort of remained in limbo. Marlin has always sold enough of them to keep them in the catalog. What really made the .45-70 surpass it was the new high powered ammo from Garrett, and Buffalo Bore. They produce loads up to 500 grains for the .45-70, putting it into .458 Win. Mag. territory ballistically. Bottom line is the only "bad" thing for the .444 Marlin is the resurgence of the .45-70 stole a lot of it's thunder. It is still a hell of a lever action round. I picked up this Marlin .45-70 guide Gun a few years back. It was one of the first ones, and has the ported barrel. It's not too bad to shoot recoil wise, the ports help a lot. A lot of fun ringing the steel plates at the club range at 200 yards. The 405 grain jacketed Remington's really ring them loudly!  Bill T.

[fightingquaker13]

Ok. This makes it official. First the .416 Ruger #1 and now this. I do hate you BillT!
FQ13 who is looking for a little green with envy emoticon.

[Sponsor]

[sledgemeister]

The .444 Marlin was introduced in 1964, about 8 years after the .44 Magnum round. The .45-70 was of course, around, but not a lot of rifles were being chambered for it back then. In the 60's and until well into the 70's, the heaviest slug you could find for the .444 was the 265 Gr. Hornady, and you had to handload it. Now there are slugs up to 300 grains available making it much more useful, as well as powerful.

Brass is still available from places like Midway at a good price. After Marlin chambered the .45-70 in the same gun, sales of the .45-70 took off, and the .444 just sort of remained in limbo. Marlin has always sold enough of them to keep them in the catalog. What really made the .45-70 surpass it was the new high powered ammo from Garrett, and Buffalo Bore. They produce loads up to 500 grains for the .45-70, putting it into .458 Win. Mag. territory ballistically. Bottom line is the only "bad" thing for the .444 Marlin is the resurgence of the .45-70 stole a lot of it's thunder. It is still a hell of a lever action round. I picked up this Marlin .45-70 guide Gun a few years back. It was one of the first ones, and has the ported barrel. It's not too bad to shoot recoil wise, the ports help a lot. A lot of fun ringing the steel plates at the club range at 200 yards. The 405 grain jacketed Remington's really ring them loudly!  Bill T.

Unfortunately midway will not sell to a private person in Oz. However I have placed an order with another company for 250rnds for what works out to be Aus$156.00. Just remains to be seen if it gets here.
I ordered and received 50rnds of brass from a local shop here it was 100.00 for 50!!!!!!  I know the gunshop and his profit margins are reasonable meaning not over the top, makes you wonder what the importers profit margins are though eh! Gouging bastards!
It will be fun to play with the .444 I like having obscure things, after I still have my  kids living at home, will they ever leave home? 

[Hazcat]

Shoulda bought the 45-70 double gun! 


Seriously, looking forward to the porn and range reports!

[philw]

I like having obscure things, after I still have my  kids living at home, will they ever leave home? 

well you do live in Tasmania   

Seriously, looking forward to the porn and range reports!

lol the picks will be a while....     someone needs to get some time to take the picks when the kids and Mrs are not home......

IE   lol they don't know  ( yet)

PS   please don't let them know  as apparently  someone may have issues getting back home in May...

[fightingquaker13]

Congrats on the purchase. A .444 should definately get a feral hogs undivided attention, as well as the fearsome Tasminian devil (hell, its the next best thing to a six foot rabbit from Brooklyn). Let us know how it goes and the details on the platform you bought. Like you, most of us (not so secretly) want the big boomer even if we have no earthly reason for it. They're just cool. You at least, can go to the Northern Territories and hunt buffalo. Us? All we'll do is ruin good pork or venison (of course, TW and BillT can now do it from 1 kilometer) . Still and all, good on ya.
FQ13