.444 Marlin
Encyclopedia
The .444 Marlin is a rifle cartridge
designed in 1964 by Marlin Firearms
and Remington Arms
. It was designed to fill in a gap for the older .45-70
at a time when that cartridge was not currently available in any lever action, making it the largest at the time available lever-action
cartridge. The .444 looks like a lengthened .44 Magnum
and provides a significant increase in velocity.
had all but disappeared from the American marketplace. There was no big-bore cartridge available in a lever-action rifle in current production, so Marlin decided to create a new cartridge to fill this empty niche. They created what is essentially an elongated version of the .44 Magnum
by making it nearly an inch longer to give it power similar to the .45-70. The case Marlin created is very similar to a rimmed version of a .30-06 that was trimmed and necked-up to work with .429 bullets.
Hunters initially had some troubles because the .444 was frequently handloaded using existing .429 bullets that were designed for use at handgun velocities (Remington has stated in letter and email, when asked, that their 240gr .444 bullet was of a different design, and NOT the same as a .44 magnum handgun bullet). Nevertheless the rifle did gain in popularity as more suitable bullets were designed for its higher velocity.
In 1972 Marlin re-introduced the .45-70 to their lever-action line, expanding their big-bore offerings. Sales of the .444 are now overshadowed by .45-70 cartridge which has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, due to interest in cowboy action shooting.
at velocities
over 2400 ft/s (731.5 m/s) generating 3070 ft·lbf (4,162.4 J) of energy making it well suited for all large game. SAAMI
has rated this cartridge at 44,000 CUP
. It functions most efficiently when used with cast lead bullets. Hand-cast bullets allows the shooter to optimize the alloy for strength and expansion at the higher velocities generated by the Marlin over the traditional 44 caliber bullets. There are several commercial moulds available for the hand-caster: The SAEC #433 mould which casts a 300 gr gas-checked bullet, the Lyman 429640 at 280 gr are two of the more potent bullets for this caliber. Proper cartridge length is maintained by seating the bullet to the correct depth and using a crimp die to put a firm crimp on the seated bullet to prevent slippage in the magazine tube.
Best cast bullet accuracy in the .444 Marlin is attained when utilizing bullets sized to .432" diameter, both in the older "Micro-Grooved" and the newer "Ballard" style barrels. This bullet diameter is dictated more by the large diameter of chamber throats than by groove diameter of the barrel. A projectile closely fitting the throat dimensions greatly enhances the cast bullet performance of this cartridge. Those writers and publications citing the inability of the .444 Marlin's Micro-Groove barrel to accurately shoot cast bullets driven over 1600 ft/s (487.7 m/s). are simply in error, in that those results were largely obtained using .429" and .430" diameter cast bullets. Full factory velocity handloads when assembled using hard-cast, gas-checked bullets of .432" diameter will rival accuracy of any jacketed ammunition for this cartridge.
Three years after the introduction of the .444 Marlin, Hornady
introduced a new heavier 265 gr 0.43 inches (1.1 cm) bullet created specifically for use in this new .44 caliber cartridge. Since then Hornady has also made a 265 grain (17.2 g) interlock "Light Magnum" that boosts velocity to nearly 2350 ft/s (716.3 m/s) and 3140 ft·lbf (4,257.3 J) of energy at the muzzle. Hornady's latest offering for this caliber is its new LEVERevolution ammunition that has a soft polymer spire point that can be safely loaded in tubular magazines. Because of an increased ballistic coefficient
, Hornady claims increased velocity at distances over 200 yards (182.9 m), and velocity and energy at the muzzle of 1971 ft/s (600.8 m/s), 2285 ft·lbf (3,098 J) and at 200 yards (182.9 m), 1652 ft/s (503.5 m/s) and 1606 ft·lbf (2,177.4 J) versus 1542 ft/s (470 m/s) and 1400 ft·lbf (1,898.1 J) for its interlock ammo.
Other specialized companies such as Buffalo Bore, Cor-Bon
, and Grizzly Cartridge offer loadings for the .444 Marlin in bullet weights up to 320 gr.
is also frequently compared with it. While it does not have the power of the .450 Marlin, it is very similar ballistically to the .45-70, the almost extinct .348 Winchester
, and is virtually identical to the .405 Winchester
, in its 300 gr loading. A 265 gr bullet in 0.429 in (1.1 cm) has the same sectional density as a 300 gr bullet in 0.458 in (1.2 cm) and can provide good penetration on large game. According to M.L. McPherson (Editor, Cartridges of the World), "the 444 is fully capable against any species in North America." and he describes its useful range as being out to about 200 yards (182.9 m).
To put the power comparison in another way, the typical .444 Marlin rifle, has more impact energy at 200 yard, than a 4 in (10.2 cm) barreled .44 Magnum
has at the muzzle.
Cartridge (firearms)
A cartridge, also called a round, packages the bullet, gunpowder and primer into a single metallic case precisely made to fit the firing chamber of a firearm. The primer is a small charge of impact-sensitive chemical that may be located at the center of the case head or at its rim . Electrically...
designed in 1964 by Marlin Firearms
Marlin Firearms
Marlin Firearms Co., formerly of North Haven, Connecticut, is a manufacturer of high power, center fire, lever action, and .22 caliber rimfire rifles. In the past, the company made shotguns, derringers and revolvers...
and Remington Arms
Remington Arms
Remington Arms Company, Inc. was founded in 1816 by Eliphalet Remington in Ilion, New York, as E. Remington and Sons. It is the oldest company in the United States which still makes its original product, and is the oldest continuously operating manufacturer in North America. It is the only U.S....
. It was designed to fill in a gap for the older .45-70
.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
at a time when that cartridge was not currently available in any lever action, making it the largest at the time available lever-action
Lever-action
Lever-action is a type of firearm action which uses a lever located around the trigger guard area, to load fresh cartridges into the chamber of the barrel when the lever is worked. Most lever-action firearms are rifles, but lever-action shotguns and a few pistols have also been made...
cartridge. The .444 looks like a lengthened .44 Magnum
.44 Magnum
The .44 Remington Magnum, or simply .44 Magnum, is a large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers. After introduction, it was quickly adopted for carbines and rifles...
and provides a significant increase in velocity.
History
In the mid 1960s the .45-70.45-70
The .45-70 rifle cartridge, also known as .45-70 Government, was developed at the U.S. Army's Springfield Armory for use in the Springfield Model 1873...
had all but disappeared from the American marketplace. There was no big-bore cartridge available in a lever-action rifle in current production, so Marlin decided to create a new cartridge to fill this empty niche. They created what is essentially an elongated version of the .44 Magnum
.44 Magnum
The .44 Remington Magnum, or simply .44 Magnum, is a large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers. After introduction, it was quickly adopted for carbines and rifles...
by making it nearly an inch longer to give it power similar to the .45-70. The case Marlin created is very similar to a rimmed version of a .30-06 that was trimmed and necked-up to work with .429 bullets.
Hunters initially had some troubles because the .444 was frequently handloaded using existing .429 bullets that were designed for use at handgun velocities (Remington has stated in letter and email, when asked, that their 240gr .444 bullet was of a different design, and NOT the same as a .44 magnum handgun bullet). Nevertheless the rifle did gain in popularity as more suitable bullets were designed for its higher velocity.
In 1972 Marlin re-introduced the .45-70 to their lever-action line, expanding their big-bore offerings. Sales of the .444 are now overshadowed by .45-70 cartridge which has enjoyed a resurgence in popularity, due to interest in cowboy action shooting.
Performance
The .444 Marlin can push a 240 gr bulletBullet
A bullet is a projectile propelled by a firearm, sling, or air gun. Bullets do not normally contain explosives, but damage the intended target by impact and penetration...
at velocities
Velocity
In physics, velocity is speed in a given direction. Speed describes only how fast an object is moving, whereas velocity gives both the speed and direction of the object's motion. To have a constant velocity, an object must have a constant speed and motion in a constant direction. Constant ...
over 2400 ft/s (731.5 m/s) generating 3070 ft·lbf (4,162.4 J) of energy making it well suited for all large game. SAAMI
Saami
Saami or SAAMI can stand for:*Sami people*Sami languages*Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute...
has rated this cartridge at 44,000 CUP
Copper units of pressure
Copper units of pressure or CUP, and the related lead units of pressure or LUP, are terms applied to pressure measurements used in the field of internal ballistics for the estimation of chamber pressures in firearms. These terms were adopted by convention to indicate that the pressure values were...
. It functions most efficiently when used with cast lead bullets. Hand-cast bullets allows the shooter to optimize the alloy for strength and expansion at the higher velocities generated by the Marlin over the traditional 44 caliber bullets. There are several commercial moulds available for the hand-caster: The SAEC #433 mould which casts a 300 gr gas-checked bullet, the Lyman 429640 at 280 gr are two of the more potent bullets for this caliber. Proper cartridge length is maintained by seating the bullet to the correct depth and using a crimp die to put a firm crimp on the seated bullet to prevent slippage in the magazine tube.
Best cast bullet accuracy in the .444 Marlin is attained when utilizing bullets sized to .432" diameter, both in the older "Micro-Grooved" and the newer "Ballard" style barrels. This bullet diameter is dictated more by the large diameter of chamber throats than by groove diameter of the barrel. A projectile closely fitting the throat dimensions greatly enhances the cast bullet performance of this cartridge. Those writers and publications citing the inability of the .444 Marlin's Micro-Groove barrel to accurately shoot cast bullets driven over 1600 ft/s (487.7 m/s). are simply in error, in that those results were largely obtained using .429" and .430" diameter cast bullets. Full factory velocity handloads when assembled using hard-cast, gas-checked bullets of .432" diameter will rival accuracy of any jacketed ammunition for this cartridge.
Three years after the introduction of the .444 Marlin, Hornady
Hornady
Hornady Manufacturing Company is an American manufacturer of ammunition and handloading components, based in Grand Island, Nebraska.The company was founded by Joyce Hornady in 1949 and is currently run by his son Steve Hornady who took over after his father's death in a plane crash in 1981.Hornady...
introduced a new heavier 265 gr 0.43 inches (1.1 cm) bullet created specifically for use in this new .44 caliber cartridge. Since then Hornady has also made a 265 grain (17.2 g) interlock "Light Magnum" that boosts velocity to nearly 2350 ft/s (716.3 m/s) and 3140 ft·lbf (4,257.3 J) of energy at the muzzle. Hornady's latest offering for this caliber is its new LEVERevolution ammunition that has a soft polymer spire point that can be safely loaded in tubular magazines. Because of an increased ballistic coefficient
Ballistic coefficient
In ballistics, the ballistic coefficient of a body is a measure of its ability to overcome air resistance in flight. It is inversely proportional to the negative acceleration—a high number indicates a low negative acceleration. BC is a function of mass, diameter, and drag coefficient...
, Hornady claims increased velocity at distances over 200 yards (182.9 m), and velocity and energy at the muzzle of 1971 ft/s (600.8 m/s), 2285 ft·lbf (3,098 J) and at 200 yards (182.9 m), 1652 ft/s (503.5 m/s) and 1606 ft·lbf (2,177.4 J) versus 1542 ft/s (470 m/s) and 1400 ft·lbf (1,898.1 J) for its interlock ammo.
Other specialized companies such as Buffalo Bore, Cor-Bon
Cor-Bon
Cor-Bon is a brand of small arms ammunition produced by Dakota Ammo Incorporated. The company, based in Sturgis, South Dakota, was founded in 1982 by Peter Pi....
, and Grizzly Cartridge offer loadings for the .444 Marlin in bullet weights up to 320 gr.
Comparisons
The newer .450 Marlin.450 Marlin
The .450 Marlin is a firearms cartridge designed as a modernized equivalent to the venerable .45-70 lever-action cartridge. It was designed by a joint team of Marlin and Hornady engineers headed by Hornady's Mitch Mittelstaedt, and was released in 2000, with cartridges manufactured by Hornady and...
is also frequently compared with it. While it does not have the power of the .450 Marlin, it is very similar ballistically to the .45-70, the almost extinct .348 Winchester
.348 Winchester
The .348 Winchester is an American rifle cartridge. It was introduced in 1936, and developed for the Winchester Model 71 lever rifle. The .348 was one of the most powerful rimmed rounds ever used in a lever rifle.-Performance:...
, and is virtually identical to the .405 Winchester
.405 Winchester
The .405 Winchester is a centerfire rifle cartridge introduced in 1904 for the Winchester 1895 lever-action rifle. It was the most powerful lever-action cartridge available until the .444 Marlin was introduced in 1964, and was highly regarded by U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt during his safari...
, in its 300 gr loading. A 265 gr bullet in 0.429 in (1.1 cm) has the same sectional density as a 300 gr bullet in 0.458 in (1.2 cm) and can provide good penetration on large game. According to M.L. McPherson (Editor, Cartridges of the World), "the 444 is fully capable against any species in North America." and he describes its useful range as being out to about 200 yards (182.9 m).
To put the power comparison in another way, the typical .444 Marlin rifle, has more impact energy at 200 yard, than a 4 in (10.2 cm) barreled .44 Magnum
.44 Magnum
The .44 Remington Magnum, or simply .44 Magnum, is a large-bore cartridge originally designed for revolvers. After introduction, it was quickly adopted for carbines and rifles...
has at the muzzle.