I have a Marlin Outfitter in 444 Marlin. Pretty accurate, but if scoped you need a long eye relief scope. The recoil is pretty stout, but not unmanageable. Don’t ask me how I know you need a long eye relief scope!
I knew a guy that put a scope on his 12GA slug gun. He couldn't hit a refrigerator at 50yds without the scope and didn't have the courage to pull the trigger a second time with it. Probably the worst shot (regular shooter) I have ever seen. But a good guy tho.
“I have a Marlin Outfitter in 444 Marlin. Pretty accurate, but if scoped you need a long eye relief scope. The recoil is pretty stout, but not unmanageable. Don’t ask me how I know you need a long eye relief scope!”
Because at one time you became a member of the “half moon club”. LOL
I've killed a mountain of deer with the .25-06 and its a fine rife, but there's something that just makes me smile when I look down the open sights of my .444.
A drawback is that I have to be careful with the .444 to only shoot them in the neck. The last deer I shot with it was all be decapitated. Up close, I think its as impressive as the .348 Winchester (one of my Dad's guns).
One afternoon we had this eccentric old guy come in and plunk down about 12 grand on a variety of firearms. Said he was going to sail around the world with his family and some friends acting as crew. Wanted the firepower for "sharks" and "pirates." He knew the truth even way back then. Lots of folks still don't think it's any more real beyond Johnny Depp. If they took a look at the current situation off the Horn of Africa right now they'd wise up. ANYWAY, the old guy bought several calibers in handguns but he also bought a Weatherby 458 magnum and an H&H 375 magnum. Called them his engine room guns. We got a pretty cool commission on the sales and we were pretty happy. Then he insisted that the sales folks who'd made the sale ALSO "test fire" each of the guns. Just to make sure they were all in proper working condition. We were all over that. He bought a box of ammo for each handgun and we sizzled through them.
Then came the rifles and nobody wanted to shoot them. We got down to doing the old fist game up the barrel, hand on top of the muzzle loses. My buddy wound up firing the 375 and I got to shoot the 458. IIRC, they were both scoped which now that I think of it, didn't make much sense given the use for which he made the purchase. Anyway, my buddy touched off a single round from the 375 and when he turned back to us, he had blood running down his face and the tell tale half moon cut over his eye. He handed the gun to the old guy with a short: Seems to be workin' just fine! Then he splits from the range for some first aid and some good natured ribbing from the rest of the staff.
By this time I knew what I had to do. Pull that bad boy as tight as I could into my shoulder pocket and keep my eye the heck away from that scope! I pulled the trigger and LAWDY! Blinding muzzle flash, kicks like Tennessee White Lightnin' and sounds like the "CRACK of DOOM." I thought I'd busted my shoulder. I was dang sure not going to let anybody in that store have any idea I was hurtin.' I could imagine the ribbing the other guy was getting (he was, too) so I gritted my teeth and worked the bolt. Touched off another round and then another. Stood up, held the now empty gun out to the old guy in front of my somewhat amazed fellow range officers, and said Nice little piece. Doesn't even kick too much. When I got home I iced my shoulder and whimpered every time I had to even move that arm. I called out sick for the next three days. LOL
