Hey guys, i have a friend who is selling a ruger compact in .308 that has a stainless barrel and a walnut stock (had it setup by ruger that way). I am pretty sure the price is what it would be on the used list, which would make the rifle 300 dollars even. My dad is also willing to sell me his Marlin 444S for 375. I have hunted with a Ruger compact in .308 about 4 or 5 times, and i really like how it carries. Did a little shooting with it, and the recoil wasn't too bad. I would also scope it with something like a Burris FF2 1.75-5x20 or a Leupold Compact 2-7x28. I already have large rifle primers, and Nosler 150 grain partitions, and some factory rounds that i could start shooting to get brass, so all i would need are powder and dies. Might screw around with the bullet choice. The Marlin on the other hand, costs more, but I enjoy carrying it and shooting it as well. The bullet selection specifically for the 444 is non-existant. The 444 would allow me faster follow-up shots, but it is longer and is less wieldy than the compact. It is 2 inches shorter than my Ruger m77mk2 lefty in .30-06, but the compact is 7.25" shorter. For reloading stuff for the 444 i would have to get dies, powder, bullets, and shell holder (unless the one for the .44 mag fits). I dont think i would scope the 444, but put either ghost ring sights on it or a lyman reciever sight and a fiber-optic bead. I did a little quick adding up of stuff and they are both right around 570 for the complete package -powder. I already have powder that will work with the .308 anyways. So...what do you guys think? This would be for whitetails and the occasional hog.

NH_Hunter

NH,
Sounds like you have made up your mind. I have a Ruger M77 .308 in a compact and I really enjoy it. Reloading is dirt cheap, bullet selection can't get any better, and it shoots well. I also have a Leupold 2x7 power scope that fits perfect. The nice thing about the .308, is if you like to tinker with different loads/bullet weights, there are enough different .30 cal bullets out there to keep you busy for a long time.
Don't think I'm slamming the .444 The .444 is a cool gun as well, brass is a little more expensive and you're limited on bullet selection. I don't have a .444, but have shot them and have hunted with folks who own them. It would be a great brush gun for whitetail.
I think you should buy both...you only live once!!

MG

The only time 444 bullet selection is an issue is when hunting big animals, say elk and larger. Typical pistol bullets (240 gr)that come in most 444 factory loads will work fine for deer sized stuff. For big stuff, there's the 250 Partition and a bunch of hard cast bullets which I know nothing about but some people swear by them.

I would opt for the .444 but thats because I am bias towards bigger bores and I have seen many times how hard things go down when hit with my marlin lever 45/70 so much so now my other two hunting friends also have marlin lever 45/70's...I imagine that the .444 is the same killing power wise to the 45/70 so thats where I draw my experience from, and thats they way I would like to pursuade you to go !!

Buy both you might think that spending the mony on both would be a waste the price sounds about right on the marlin. If you have both then you can pick and chose the one you want for a given hunt.

GO, GO 444!
I recently purchased one and love it. It was purchased specifically for Hogs and Bear in my area. It is true the components were a little hard to find but without AR they would have been impossible. I put a couple of requests on the Classified board and had lots of brass. I believe George S. the moderator mentioned he still has more to sell. I missed an opportunity at 10,000 Hornady bullets but did manage to buy, Barnes bullets, Hawk bullets, Noslers, and some really high quality cast bullets from Vern also a member of AR. Vern was great in helping me decide which bullets would work, which lube to use and even heat treated the 320 grain slugs to make them super hard for all-day penetration. They are also gas-checked for the higher velocities. I also got some great bullets from another member -Joel who was very helpful and even sent me a few pieces of free brass he was no longer using.
If you are willing to look- which I find to be a lot of the fun in playing with new toys, you can find anything you want. The dies cost me very little and the powder was no different than any other.
I agree with you about not scoping. My 444 is a Marlin which would be great scoped but I bought this rifle for brush and deep woods and the lever action speed and open sights are my must have for this kind of hunting. My rifle is very accurate with the bullets tested at the 100 paces shooting I have done so I am confident it will also be accurate at the up-close range I will be hunting.
Send me an E-mail if you want to contact Vern about his bullets which are available to purchase.

The scope I have on my marlin 45/70 I feel is ideal for the .444 & 45/70 rabge of cartridges it is the lupold 2.5x compact fast with plenty of eye relief. It is worth a look.

NH,
You can't go wrong with either one. The Ruger is probably the most practical choice but the Marlin is really a neat rifle. I'd try to get that Marlin price closer to $300, the going rate in this area. I got mine for $300 and the owner tossed in a box of reloads and 30 cases.

Well, as you can tell by my name, I'm a big 444 advocate. I've been shooting the 444 for 4 years now (wow, that's a lot of 4's and for's) anywho...I'm pleased as punch with this gun, and although it's not my main hunting rifle, I will never part with it. It's just too much fun to shoot. I scoped it with a Nikon 4X and with the factory loaded Hornady Light Mag 265gr Ammo, it shoots honest 1" groups. I also load up 300gr Speer UCSPs and Beartooth 330gr LFNGCs for big stuff like bear and elk. I've killed two deer so far with it and it hits like the Hammer of Thor. If you're hunting in brush or shorter ranges (out to 200yds) I would go with the 444. It can push farther downrange with little holdover, but 200yds is my max so far. The .308 round is better for longer range trajectory, but in a Ruger compact, muzzle velocity is a LOT lower and longer range trajectory will be affected. I like the idea of a compact rifle, which I consider the .444s to be, and with the whallop it puts on animals/trees/water jugs/praire dogs, etc...you can't beat it, IMHO.

I`d go with the 444 Marlin! If you want a nice compact rifle with plenty of power it can`t be beat. It also has a good selection of bullet wts. Good Hunting,

Simple Get the 308 and later on sweat talk the old man out of the 444 any more question's

Pottsy

Pottsy has a good point. The ol' man can't shoot a .444 forever. Besides, what kind of father is he if he won't let his son take the ol lever action out for a spin!!

I would get the .308, and sweet talk that .444 outta him for free.

MG

No knock on the 308, but they are like Chevys, everybody has had one.

However the 444 is a much smaller club. However, I will bet it is a much more loyal club. That 444 just plain works.

You don't have to load it to the gills for it to be effective either.
I load mine with 20 to 22 grains of Blue Dot shotgun powder and it gives me 1750 fps with a 300 grain Hornady XTP.

At that low of pressure, the brasses only life threatening time is in resizing if you are a goofball on the load bench.

Although I am 500 to 600 fps lower in velocity that a lot of the other guys use loading to factory specs, etc: I am not giving up much point blank range at all. This is due to the lack of aerodynamics of the bullet. That 300 grain XTP will punch thru a lot of resistance, regardless of velocity.

Since you guys are stating that the $375.00 is the going price for a used 444, You just made me love mine even more.

I bought mine brand new in 1982 at Mills Fleet and Farm in Minnesota for the amazing price of $219.00. Have I owned that old gal 22 yrs already?

For a lever action it has always been a tack driver. The biggest deer I ever took was taken with that rifle in 1985 in Northern Minnesota. An 6 point buck( one side count) that field cleaned at 265 pounds. MN DNR estimated it at 325 pounds on the hoof.

The 444 took it at about 100 yds, cutting a sapling in half just before the bullet hit the deer. The sapling was about 6 inches or better in diameter. I was just shooting Remington factory ammo on that one ( 240 grain).

Naw, the 444 is a better round to pick from my prospective.
You can find a lot of used 308s, but not a lot of used 444s.
We 444 guys tend to keep them, because they just WORK!

Cheers,
Seafire