OK it's not a 405 but it's pretty darn close!

jduckhunter

jduckhunter

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You guys might remember that a few weeks ago I was thinking about buying a 405 Win. That was until someone reminded me that a 444 Marlin is very close to it balistically and that I already have a 444. That gun has been sitting in the safe for so long I had almost forgotten about it. Well I decided to get her out, dress her up and get her ready for bear hunting next fall. Here she is, so what do you think? I know it's not a 405 Win. in a Stainless, Laminated, Ruger #1 Tropical like I was going to buy, but then again it didn't cost me $1000 either.

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Ive used a 444 marlin on Black bear 40 or so years ago. Absolutely no issues. And if you hand load their are better bullets out today then there was then. A lot of loads in the 70s used pistol bullets which at 444 velocities had mixed results.
Good luck
Pat
 
So how exactly is a 444 Marlin in the "Up to 375"?
Regardless, it's a pretty one.
 
Hawk has a nice selection of bullets for the .444 with choices of 0.025" and 0.035" jacket thickness.

.444 Marlin (.430 dia.)
Flat Point
200 grains x .035 FP $38.50
240 grains x .035 FP $40.00
250 grains x .025 FP $38.50
250 grains x .035 FP $40.50 c2
265 grains x .035 FP $41.50
275 grains x .025 FP $40.00
275 grains x .035 FP $43.50
300 grains x .025 FP $41.00
300 grains x .035 FP $44.50
 
Always nice finding a "new" gun!

Any of you guys w/ a 444 Marlin want a box of Remington 240gr SP? Pay the shipping and it's all yours!
 
jduckhunter,
Your Marlin will be "big Medicine" for any black bear that you shoot!
Best of luck with your hunt.

I will be using one of my three .405 rifles on a 2019 spring bear hunt.
But not my unfired Safe Queen Deluxe Miroku/Winchester M1895 .405:
 

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crs said:
jduckhunter,
Your Marlin will be "big Medicine" for any black bear that you shoot!
Best of luck with your hunt.

I will be using one of my three .405 rifles on a 2019 spring bear hunt.
But not my unfired Safe Queen Deluxe Miroku/Winchester M1895 .405:
Click to expand...
Beautiful gun! I got some range time in today with the 444. Seem like she likes the Speer 270 gr. Deep Curls with a copious amount of IMR4895
 
My dad was a fan of the .444, congrats!
 
I got in some range time with my .444 this weekend. It really seems to like the Speer 270 gr. Deep Curl bullets and IMR4895 powder. It took me 3 shots to get her shooting to the center of the target at 100 yards and after that she just stayed in the center.
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sestoppelman said:
Don't you know that lever rifles cant shoot??:rolleyes:o_O;);):D:D
Click to expand...
Shooting for over 50 years and loading bullets for over 45 years and my education continues.
 
jduckhunter said:
I got in some range time with my .444 this weekend. It really seems to like the Speer 270 gr. Deep Curl bullets and IMR4895 powder. It took me 3 shots to get her shooting to the center of the target at 100 yards and after that she just stayed in the center. View attachment 284836
Click to expand...
Older 444 rifles have a 1-38” twist barrel that stabilizes up to 265 gr. Newer have faster twist 1-20” for longer bullets. Reloading can greatly improved performance in the faster twist barrels
 
I had a Marlin .450 with the 22 inch barrel that shot like that. It was very accurate.
 
Well the old 444 did a number on a bear last week in Ontario. I shot him at 45 yards, he was standing on his hind legs and about as broadside as you can get. My 270 gr. Speer Deep Curl bullet smashed his left shoulder, passed through his chest and exited just under his right shoulder. He ran about 30 yards and that was it, not much drama. I'm going to have to find some other hunts to take this gun on, it has really left quite an impression on me.
Aug 2019.jpg
 
Well done!
 
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