I don't have a copy of Cartridges of the World to hand...but here goes anyway....
If you EVER think that you might want to take any deer with it then, of course, the 444 scores on the velocity AND muzzle energy figures over the 45 70 such that it is "just" deer legal in both north and south of the border with some bullet weights.
However the 45 70 has it in terms of extreme bullet weight. Nevertheless some US manufacturers do make jacketed bullets for these 44 magnum and 444 Marlin calibres in 300 grain weights.
Even so the 45 70 can, of course, use 200 grain expanding bullets meant for the 45 ACP and in true rifle bullets it starts at 350 grains.
So my advice would be to look at the 45 70 and perhaps discount the 444 Marlin. OTOH why not get a variation to acquire BOTH a 444 Marlin AND a 45 70 and see how that 444 Marlin peforms in practice whilst still looking for a 45 70?
Me? if the price is right I'd take the NOW AVAILABLE 444 Marlin and yet still keep looking for the 45 70.
If the price is right the .444 could be a good buy but I think you might be better off waiting for a .45-70 as cases are much easier to come by than .444 cases in this country. I read somewhere the other day that Marlin have stopped making rifles in .444 calibre. I don't know if that is correct and don't know if that will influence your decision at all. I think the .45-70 will be around for a long time to come.
.444 Marlin is great BUT won't shoot lead cast boolits over 1600fps out of a Micro-groove barrel. I've been looking for a Marlin .444 (or 45/70) with a Ballard rifling for ages.
I'm selling my Marlin 30/30 because of the Micro-groove rifling causing inaccuracy at around 2000fps.
That is 100% correct Marlin is no longer chambering for ANY of their proprietory cartrides !
For what it is worth here in Geneva and a stones throw over the boarder in France you see far more .444 Marlins being sold than you do .45-70s.
Whatever you choose enjoy your shooting.
Scrummy
Indeed so and a good many european gunmakers have chambered double rifles in .444 marlin over the years. I don't think they bothered with doing the same for .45-70 because of the confusion over cartridges loaded to the older lower pressure standards that won't achieve the desired energy levels required.
Downloading the .444 for use on indoor pistol ranges is an interesting point reiver as not all clubs allow this unfortunately. Also the use of downloaded rifle ammunition isn't permitted by the NRA either on its ranges or in gallery rifle competitions.
For what it is worth here in Geneva and a stones throw over the boarder in France you see far more .444 Marlins being sold than you do .45-70s.
Whatever you choose enjoy your shooting.
Scrummy
Multiply the max bullet weight for .444 by two, No piggie will walk away from that!
Multiply the max bullet weight for .444 by two, No piggie will walk away from that!
The other thing that you want with a .45-70 Marlin is a welder's mask to protect you face from the muzzle blast.
Yes is does but at a lot slower speed a 405gr jacketed bullet will leave the barrel of a 95 lever action at 1750-1800fps max lee book load and with a trajectory of a 2" mortar and the recoill to match. a 500 gr will be doing around 1300 -1400fps .
Thats why they brought out the 450 marlin to drive those big heavy bullets at a faster pace but to stop people blowing up there guns even then the 300gr .45 the 450 is doing the same speed as a 265 gr.444 so not that bigger differance.