444 or 45-70 ?

[Dee]

All this discussion has made me tired. I think I'll take my Geratol and go to bed. I worked up a load for my 1895cb involving a 405 grain hard cast at 1750fps and that's all I shoot. I know where it prints and I suspect it will handle ANYTHING in North America.  :wink:

[gldprimr]

Everyone has an opinion.....here goes mine.

I'd get the 444.  I'm not knocking the 45-70.  I personally don't care for the recoil of the heavier weight bullets typically used in the 45-70.  The 265 grain load offered by Hornady should do all you want for deer & black bear (we aren't talking elephant hunting here) and you can still step up to 300+ grain bullets if you want.

I just don't like the recoil of the heavier bullets & loads.  I like using a Marlin 375  chambered for 375 Winchester or a early Browning BLR in 358 Winchester here where I hunt in south west Mississippi.  Depends on the exact spot I'm hunting which I pick up.  We've got plenty of big deer & feral hogs here and both guns work equally well on either.

Ok, that's my 2 cents and reasons why - I'm sure other folks have different opinions, but that's mine.

Good luck in your choice, whatever you decide.

[wills]

Not everyone can order ammo throw the mail unless liscened to do so. Depends on what state you live in.
Why would you want to be limited to less than a 300gr bullet anyway?

The real question is why would anybody need a bullet bigger then 300grains?   We have such a great selection of "Premium" bullets in the 300grain for both the 444 and 450/45-70.  
It would be safe to say 95% of all animals killed in North america are with bullets less then 300grains.

If you wanted to use a bullet 300 grains or smaller, why bother hauling a rifle around.