i have used the 444 (TC Encore with 23" MGM barrel) for about 10 - 11 years and killed about 18 - 20 deer with it. i have killed 4 or 5 deer with the 265gr Hornady FN with either Reloder 7 or H4198. the rest were killed by cast boolits. every boolit/bullet was a pass thru.

the furthest shot that the 444 has is 60ish yards, the average shot is around 30ish yards. altho, there is chance of a shot about 125ish yards. i hunt in close cover areas.

i noticed that deer will die at 1600fps to about 2400fps and it don't matter what grain rate is. i have shot 250gr penta HP all the way up to 300gr SAECO FN GC. what i chose is a 280gr WFN GC with Reloder 7 going 1937fps from the muzzle. it is a sweet shooting load that doesn't bother my shoulder. it will go 3/4+/-" at 100 yards (5 shots/bench).

in all the deer i shot, it is either DRT or will jog about 20-30 yards and then fall over. all of them are 1 shot kills.

the big reason why i went to cast boolits is the meat loss. i like the boolit to go in and wreck everything and go out about same the way as it goes in. oh, and leave a blood trail. boy does it leave a blood trail!!! it makes it easier for me find for this crippled up ol' guy.

 

I tried to watch this video but the sound was way too messed up. Couldn't watch it but thanks.

 

Yes, your experiences with deer's reaction to the hit are similar to mine. I used the Barnes Original 300 gr soft point on deer for many years and got clean kills, minimal meat damage, and blood trails a blind man could follow. Unfortunately, they stopped making that bullet.

 

Great Video, mirrors my life with the 444!

 

Unfortunately many great bullets have been discontinue, not supporting the 444 with adequate bullets is getting very real! The Speer Gold Dots in 270 and 300gr, were for me, a very, very, hard to beat bullets! They were exceptionally accurate in our 1-38 MG, and were some of the best in my testing of cheaper cost bullets in the 444!
Nicholas, do a search on starrbow, here, and you’ll have lots of reading on my life with the Marlin 444 and the awesome 1-38 MG! I’m very opinionated on the 444 based on my testing, and real results!

 

Unfortunately many great bullets have been discontinue, not supporting the 444 with adequate bullets is getting very real! The Speer Gold Dots in 270 and 300gr, were for me, a very, very, hard to beat bullets! They were exceptionally accurate in our 1-38 MG, and were some of the best in my testing of cheaper cost bullets in the 444!
Nicholas, do a search on starrbow, here, and you’ll have lots of reading on my life with the Marlin 444 and the awesome 1-38 MG! I’m very opinionated on the 444 based on my testing, and real results!

Thanks for your feedback! I will search for your posts.

 

A friend of mine has shot and hunted with his Marlin 444 for years, including in Africa. He recently semi-restored his beloved Marlin and then made a video touting the advantages of the 444 Marlin cartridge. I thought the 444 Marlin fans might enjoy watching the video, so here's the link on You Tube: 444 Marlin the Best Straight-Wall Cartridge

Great You tube clip. A must see for anyone interested in the .444; and it dispels some myths too.

 

Thanks for watching and for the kind words. Another viewer brought up another myth, that the barrel bands on early rifles destroy accuracy. He had an early .444 with two barrel bands and gets 1.0-inch, 5-shot groups with the 300-grain Hornady XTP. I hope viewers will contact Marlin and ask them to start producing .444s; I would buy a new .444 Guide Gun!

 

The older Marlin 444’s with barrel bands can give accuracy issues, a built in bad design from Marlin!
I did a write up in The “Do it yourself gunsmithing“ forum, under fixing the loose magazine on the older 444’s. If your mag tube don’t move up and down, then no problem!

 

I enjoyed your friend's video, he did a great job! I love my 444 Marlins. Thanks for sharing!

 

All cartridges in barrel band rifles can have problems. If in a hunting rifle I sight in cold. The first shot is the one that counts anyway. Best to do so with any rifle really. 5 shot groups are a waste of ammo except for practice.

DEP

 

mine don't.

35/30-30 sighting it in

i don't have a picture but my m94 will do a 5 shot group at 100 yards that goes about 1"+/-. JES Reboring does a great job.

 

Good video, thanks for posting.

 

I've used the .444 for several years and it has done a great job for me on several bucks, a black bear and a hog or two. It's probably my favorite woods cartridge. Thanks for posting the video, I enjoyed watching it.

 

Very nicely put together. I agree with just about everything that he said. If I had to choose one rifle
Out of all of mine it would be a .444! And that’s all I have to say about that.
Regards,

 

altho i luv the 35/30-30 and the Winchester m94 and it still my #1 rifle, the second spot is a tie. it is either the Husqvarna m46 in 9.3x57 or TC Encore with a 23" MGM barrel and a High Plains Sapphyre gunstock in the 444 Marlin.

9.3x57

444 Marlin

of the three rifles, the m94 is a deer killer. i used it in 30-30 and 5 or 6 years ago, JES Reboring did a 35/30-30. i luv that gun.

while i haven't killed that many deer with the 9.3x57, i believe 6 or 7 deer, it is a stopper on deer. i use a 275gr WFN GC with IMR4895 that goes approx. 1800-1900fps and that flattens deer.

the 444 Marlin is my dad's (RIP) idea. i was stuck on my caliber of choice. could it be a 338 Federal or a 405 Winchester that could mate up with my Encore. the 338 Federal had brass, reloading dies and bullets. the 405 Win didn't, esp the brass. this was Obummer as president, it was hard to even 30-30 brass. i was sitting at dad's table and looking at cartridges that i could get. my dad said something like "why not the 444? i can remember a time that Marlin came out with 444. everybody and i mean everybody had a lever action 444."

i researched the 444 Marlin on my 'puter for about 2 weeks and finally i said, "i have to have the 444". so called MGM up and placed an order. brass, however, was impossible to find. a week later, i was on Specialty Pistols form (which went away 😱🥺😥) when someone did a marketplace that said 100pcs of Remington's 444 Marlin brass, 50pcs of Hornady 444 Marlin short brass and reloading dies. well, God likes me!!! He really does!!!! i typed sold and my address and where could i send the check!!!

Starline didn't have 444 brass back then. i had scrimp and save any 444 brass that came up. by the time i had 600-700pcs, Starline started producing the 444 brass. every month, Starline had reams of email that said i want the 444 brass!!! me included. i don't have 444 Starline brass, but it is nice to know that i have a supplier. a couple of years later, Hornady discontinues the 265gr FP, i have about 500 pcs of 265gr left. this was about the time i decided on cast boolits. and boy do i ever!!!! i use 250gr SWC penta HP, 255gr SWC Kieth-type, 275gr Ranch Dog, 280gr LFN/WFN GC and 300ge SAECO FN GC with Unique, 2400, H4198 and Reloder 7. of which, only H4198 is produced. a good thing i bought a 8lb canister of Unique, 2400 and Reloder 7. anyway, i have gotton about 20ish+/- deer with each boolit/powder. i have decided on a 280gr WFN GC and Reloder that goes 1937fps to kill deer. i also decided on the shot i have to take, 1/3 of the way up, right behind the shoulder. the deer usually run after the shot about 20-30 yards and then they fall over. just in case, there is blood trail that a blind man with no hands and feet that is dumb and deaf can find it.

444 Marlin: 1/3 of the way up, right behind the shoulder, 280gr WFN GC at 40ish yards, 140-150lbs doe

 

I really learned and enjoyed that video ,Thanks