Posted on 11/23/2004 10:35:03 PM PST by I got the rope
I need help. I just can't decide. For some reason I have been buying up fire-arms and this is going to be my last purchase this year.
My wife said so.
She thinks I have an addiction to firearms and FreeRepublic.
I'm going on a hog hunt soon and I don't really have a proper firearm to do this...yet. (This is what I told my wife...hee hee.)
I've narrowed it down to these two weapons. Which should it be Freepers?
I heard that the new 45/70 models are capable of handling the higher load pressures. Does anyone know if this is true?
Neither, the 450 marlin is by far the best of the Marlin lever guns.
ARRGGGHHH. I knew someone was going to do that to me. You're right. If you going to go big you might as well go BIG!
The real reason I wanted to go with these two was because I haven't heard much about the 450.
Up to you, the hog will never know the difference.
45-70 cartridge is historical, and deadly on any North American Game. The .444 is also deadly, along with others of it's modern genre.
The 444 was designed for relatively light 44 magnum pistol bullets (200 to 320).
If you want to throw serious lead (400 to 550 grrains) you need the 45/70.
The 444 barrels don't have the right twist, and the bullet selection is mostly light jacketed slugs.
So9
Now back in production in Japan. It makes a nice plinking rifle, but is way too light for big game.
So9
Heck, if you can't kill it with either of these two, you ain't in North America. Either will handle anything including a kodiak bear.
Jack
I was worried about the lighter factory 240 grain loads of the .444. I would have to reload with a higher grain bullet like a 300 grain or so.
From the looks of it the 45/70 can be loaded all over the place.
I saw one of these in excellent condition in Tombstone, Arizona. Really nice but a bit pricey. I'll have to wait until my kids are out of college for that one.
Ive taken deer out to 200 yds (scoped) with it - very stable gun for scope -
what kind of hogs ? Its kind of overkill for javelina
Ive seen it literally pick deer off of thier feet and flip them over -
I just read this within the last hour or so on a gun forum. The bullet "slides" out rather than twist. That is why you have to go with a jacketed bullet in the .444.
The 44/40 isn't in the same league as the other two rounds, and not hog medicine.
Go with the 45/70. It's much more versatile.
Regarding your firearm addiction: I offer a twelve step program in my gun shop. Without going into too much detail, it involves buying 12 guns. Unfortunately, as with most such programs, it may have to be repeated several times. We're here to help;)
The 45/70 Marlin is the only way to go. It's way more popular than the 444 and there are handloads that can be worked up for the 45/70 using 230 grain bullets that ballistically start to approach the 458 Winchester mag. I used to know what that load was but I lost the info. When Marlin first re-introduced the model 1895 the company brass took it hunting in Alaska. A gun magazine (I forget which one) chronicled the hunt. It was in that article that they gave the info on the hot load they used using the 230 grain bullet. The 45/70 was devastating on all Alaska big game. I own one and I put a Lyman peep sight on it. At 100 yards it will shoot 5 shot 1 hole groups when shot off of sand bags. I also had my magazine extended to the end of the barrel for added firepower and better looks.
"Or" is such an ugly word. :P
I always liked lighter, faster bullets for deer. The friend I'm hunting with carries two weapons... a bolt-action 30-06 and a 3.5" magnum 12ga. Last year he was hunting in Central florida and had to kill a boar with his 12ga from about 5 yards away. He walked right up on him, and it was over about 500lbs.
He told me the first shot to the boars face didn't bring him down, but the second one did.
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