Which ammo for the .444 marlin?

[NYSdeerslayer]

I just picked up a 444ss and have some 240 gr. psp's was wondering
for deer hunting if the leverevolution ammo is worth the extra $?
Just need the simple stuff like accuracy, ballistics and penetration differences.
My thoughts on the .444 is if ya hit anything in the vitals its done, but knowing what
ya got is half the battle.
                                                             NYSdeerslayer

[Old Grizz]

If your talking about deer hunting I would use the LE ammo in your .444. I have used in my .444, .44mag, 30-30 .357 and my 45-70 with great accuracy. The only time I don't use it is for game larger than black bear in my 45-70. I started using it in my 30-30, my 336 was sighted in for 100 yards using Remington 170 gr. When I shot the LE ammo at the same distance it shot about 5to6" high with a group that was touching each other. Two years ago I took a 6 point at 150 yards and he dropped where I hit him. Last year I got an 8 pt. at 187 yards and the same thing happened, right to the ground. Try this stuff, I think you will be impressed.

[Mikey]

NYdeerslayer:  any Remington 240 gn or 265 gn will take anything in NYS, period.  I would not load the psp slug into your tubular magazine - the LE ammo has a soft plastic tip that is designed not to detonate the primer in front of it - don't know if you can say the same about the LE ammo. 

If you reload, and I think you do, visit the Beartooth Bullets website and learn about the 444 and cast slugs.  Once you are hooked on cast you won't ever go back to the jacketed stuff. 

And (now for the really opinionated part) - I think the plastic tipped slugs for the levers are a fad that have been sold to those who think their old lever gun has fallen by the wayside along with the older easier to kill bears, hogs and whitetail.  Today we have such incredibly strong animals that those old lever calibers, and the 444 is now all of about 50 something (not to mention the ancient 45-70), are just no match for their chemically mutated armor plating, super speed, and almost incredible ability to absorb countless tons of bullet impact at phenomenal distances.  So they sell us magnum calibers and plastic tipped bullets for lever actions. 

One of my preferences for the lever action is the plain effectiveness of the older flat nosed slug the rifles were originally designed to use.  Geez man, I can not count the number of whitetail I have personally taken and have seen fall to the 30-30 and a tube full of  inexpensive federals from the local wally-mart.  The same for the 444 and the 45-70.  There seems to be nothing more effective than a flat nosed slug from a good lever. 

On occasion I have the chance to hunt Russian Boar and Elk and my preference is for the 444.  It so works every single time it is unbelievable and I use flat nosed cast slugs. 

And don't believe what people tell you about the Marlin rifling and cast slugs, believe what you can read in the Beartooth writings.  It has worked for me.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Mikey]

Sorry, when I said "don't know if you can say the same about the LE ammo", I should have said 'non-LE ammo' or slugs without the specific LE plastic tip.  Mikey. 

[WyoStillhunter]

I hunted with a 444S (1977) and Weaver K2.5 scope the last two seasons here in Wyoming.  I used Hornady factory ammo: Light Magnum, 265 gr. FN Interlock.  In 2006 I shot a nice mule deer buck at about 65 yards hitting the spine between the shoulder blades.  He dropped in his shadow.  A couple weeks later I chased down a big cow elk in a good tracking snow.  The shot was straight on into the chest as she stood watching her back trail, "Who is that guy?" like the old Sundance and Butch Cassidy movie.  She piled up after a 20 yd. dash.  In 2006 it was a raghorn bull elk at 51 paces.  The bullet hit the spine just forward of the shoulder.  A lightning strike would not have been more decisive.







My MicroGroove barrel delivers only so-so accuracy with the LE ammo but prints consistently satisfying groups with the Light Mag ammo and equivalent handloads.  I see no reason to load anything but the Hornady 265 gr. FN Interlock for my 444.

[NYSdeerslayer]

Thanks for the insight everyone.  I forgot to mention  that my
444ss has the barrel chopped down to 16.5".  I had the 240 gr. psp's
touching at 100 yds. on initial sight in.  I'll post a range report next time I shoot her.
Hopefully I can get some pictures on here as well.

                                                      NYSdeerslayer