The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores 45-70 or a 444 Marlin, Which one would you choose?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
One of Us |
Hi folks, I’m going to buy one of the NEF Hindi Crack Barrels. It appears that this year we will be able to use one during the primitive weapons hunting season. I’m looking at the 45-70 and the 444 Marlin. Right now I’m leaning towards the 444. I’ll be casting for whichever one I get. I’d like to know which one you folks would recommend and why. Thanks, Sam (DS) | ||
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45-70 -- common ammo, cheap bullets And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor. | |||
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My choice. As usual just my $.02 Paul K | |||
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I pondered this question a lot also I would go with the 45-70 better choice of bullets more 45 cal moulds ect. But if I was offered a 444 at a very good price I wouldn't pass it up | |||
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No question, 45-70 | |||
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.45-70-- pretty good caliber for the largest of N.A. game but the .444 delivers a pretty good punch as well not only up close but down range too. For where you are at I suppose the .444 Marlin would be a very good choice. | |||
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.45-70 every time When there is lead in the air, there is hope in my heart -- MWH ~1996 | |||
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45-70, no doubt!! Much more versatile than than the .444, and hits harder to boot. "The atomic bomb made the prospect of future war unendurable. It has led us up those last few steps to the mountain pass; and beyond there is a different country." - J. Robert Oppenheimer | |||
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The 45-70 is going to be fine out to 300, same as the 444, but the 45-70 is nostalgic, cheap to load for (as is the 444), and most of all, BIGGER! Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system.  | |||
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Both, of course. Or, just get a 458 Lott and you can load it like a 45/70  "Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand." 470 Heym; 9.3x74r Chapuis, Heym 450/400 on it's way | |||
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i bought the 4/5/70.. i call it the crackhead bigbore.. adn then i rechambered to 45-120, and will be load testing in the next week jeffe opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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I would not own one of those break-open "handi" rifles unless I made it myself out of 2x4s, pipe and other plumbing supplies in my cellar in a post-apocalyptic nightmare that I hope never comes. But if it does and I did, that sucker would be a .45-70. Mike Wilderness is my cathedral, and hunting is my prayer. | |||
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If you have to ask and you don't already own 10 .45/70s you have to buy a 45/70. | |||
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I like both of them and I have both of them in Marlin and a Browning 1885. I would own both of them again. | |||
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45-70 -- more good bullets available in .458 caliber than in .429.......plus, the .429 bullets generally are geared (constructed) for .44 mag velocities......JMHO. "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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45-70 hands down. The 444 is just barely a deer cartridge. | |||
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And since nobody else mentioned it I will... the 444Marlin can't toss 256-300grain bullest AS fast as the 45-70 can do with 350's and the 45-70 in a single shot can easily load 450gr, 500gr or even heavier bullets. Within "Reasonable" pressures you can get 2000fps from a 405gr cast bullet. With cast bullets you'll lead if you try to go too fast so the thing to do is go heavy..... And the 45-70's typical twist rate of 1:20" or faster (some rifles as fast as 1:16" to handle the heavyweights. So after all this detail.. no question 45-70. AD If I provoke you into thinking then I've done my good deed for the day! Those who manage to provoke themselves into other activities have only themselves to blame. *We Band of 45-70er's* 35 year Life Member of the NRA NRA Life Member since 1984 | |||
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And if you can reload it fast enough the 45-70 is an effective DGR, up to and including elephant.  Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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Stop  Tyler!! LOL!  "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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Had to double check to make sure I wasn't over in the lever-action forum, never thought I'd see the 45-70 get so much love over here  All kidding aside, the 45-70 gets my vote on this one too. | |||
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Under what definition would a .444 meet the 'primitive weapons' criteria?  George  | |||
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.45-70 for me. I like Jeffeosso's idea though, .45-120 sounds sexy and powerful, should perform close to a .458 Winchester Magnum, no? 500gr. @ 2000fps? ________  "...And on the 8th day, God created beer so those crazy Canadians wouldn't take over the world..." | |||
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Don't agree, but does make a good point that the 45/70 is more versatile on the high end for hand loading. "Sometimes nothing can be a pretty cool hand." 470 Heym; 9.3x74r Chapuis, Heym 450/400 on it's way | |||
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I've always been puzzled about what people see in a 444 Marlin. | |||
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Glorified .44 magnum......... "Ignorance you can correct, you can't fix stupid." JWP If stupidity hurt, a lot of people would be walking around screaming. Semper Fidelis "Building Carpal Tunnel one round at a time" | |||
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From the research that I’ve done and all the replies that I have got I’m fairly sure that I’ll be going with the 45-70. Something else is a that buddy of mine told me a just a little while ago that he has a Wally World bag full of 45-70 brass that he will give me plus a set of RCBS dies he will let me have cheap. Now I need to locate a couple moulds. Thanks for all of the replies. DS | |||
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Cases will last forever with mild loads, no need for the hot ones for hunting. Just use 10 grains of Unique, then a piece of cotton ball, then a cast bullet. Love shooting precision and long range. Big bores too! Recent college grad, started a company called MK Machining where I'm developing a bullpup rifle chassis system. | |||
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OK I'll be the odd one out Depends what you want to shoot with it, but for heavy game, you can't go past the 45-70 But if it's just for plinking fun and you want to get it shooting reasonablly flat the 444 can be loaded with lighter .429 pistol bullets, the 45 can't because the pistol is .451, Some light 180g to 200g 44 cal pistol bullets with a full case of 444 behind it would make for some serious fun. regards S&F | |||
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I ordered the 45-70 about 1/2 hour ago. It's in stock and I should have it around Tuesday. Thanks for all of the knowledgeable replies. | |||
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Excellent choice!!  "The atomic bomb made the prospect of future war unendurable. It has led us up those last few steps to the mountain pass; and beyond there is a different country." - J. Robert Oppenheimer | |||
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Mississippi's Primitive weapons season allows H&R/NEFs chambered in .38 cal and above, that includes the 38-55, .44mag, .45-70 .444 Marlin, .500SW and .450 Marlin. http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10913 | |||
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Now, I see why Arkansas laughs at Mississippi. Can you use a modern scope, too? George | |||
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Holy #$%@ so you can hunt with a NEF 375 ruger and be primative?!?!?!?!?! 577 BME 3"500 KILL ALL 358 GREMLIN 404-375 *we band of 45-70ers* (Founder) Single Shot Shooters Society S.S.S.S. (Founder) | |||
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Optics are legal..
http://home.mdwfp.com/wildlife.aspx | |||
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| Moderator |
Day-um! That's almost my kind of 'primitive'. A rifle of 'old' design but manufactured with modern steels and technology, chambered in a modern cartridge, with a modern scope. So a Winchester 1885 'High Wall' chambered in .45-90 with a Zeiss Z-point would be legal.  George | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Rifles Big Bores 45-70 or a 444 Marlin, Which one would you choose?
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