As a reloader who has owned Marlin lever guns chambered 444 Marlin and 45_70 Gov't, I'll say this. I still have the 45_70 but the 444 has found a new home. The reason is that I always thought of the 444 as a sort of 3/4 powered 45_70. You can always download the 45_70 to 444 levels. Thus to me the best of both worlds is found in the 45_70.
On a personal note, my 45_70 Marlin lever gun is set up in a scout rifle configuration with forward mounted quick detach 2.5 x Leupold scope and XS ghost ring iron sights. Works well whether the range is close in or far out.
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