Post by: edmondshunter on March 18, 2008, 08:36:50 PM
Post by: Curly on March 18, 2008, 08:38:10 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on March 18, 2008, 08:38:18 PM
Post by: TONTO on March 18, 2008, 08:40:01 PM
Post by: Bookworm on March 18, 2008, 08:42:20 PM
Post by: edmondshunter on March 18, 2008, 08:42:49 PM
Post by: actionshooter on March 18, 2008, 08:43:17 PM
Post by: jdb on March 18, 2008, 08:46:59 PM
Post by: Red Dawg on March 18, 2008, 08:48:56 PM
Post by: Bookworm on March 18, 2008, 08:50:18 PM
Post by: edmondshunter on March 18, 2008, 08:53:10 PM
I like the ballistics for the .308mx. Just slipped my mind when I posted options, not sure why either, was just looking at the charts yesterday.
Post by: Red Dawg on March 18, 2008, 08:56:16 PM
Post by: Coasthunterjay on March 18, 2008, 08:57:34 PM
Post by: Sagedawg on March 18, 2008, 09:06:00 PM
Sage
Post by: actionshooter on March 18, 2008, 09:16:19 PM
Post by: bowhuntin on March 18, 2008, 09:17:17 PM
Post by: popeshawnpaul on March 18, 2008, 10:01:06 PM
Post by: MountainWalk on March 18, 2008, 11:03:34 PM
i like the frontal area, bullet weight, bullet mass and moderate speed. all add up for good on game performance....
teh 444 marlin, that sorry old thing is no good unless you handload. they load it with 44 mag pistol bullets... bullets too short for it.
in modest factory loads, for deer and bear , whatever the 30-30 can do, the 45-70 can do better.
Post by: Head-shot on March 18, 2008, 11:07:01 PM
Post by: MikeWalking on March 19, 2008, 07:00:42 AM
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the 444 marlin, that sorry old thing is no good unless you handload. they load it with 44 mag pistol bullets... bullets too short for it.
That was a real problem for a long time, pistol bullets at rifle velocities. SPLAT & no real penetration. But I'm sure it's better now, makers got smarter. Buffalo Bore for one makes some great stuff.
I like the 45-70 for the variety of loads available. I really want one of the new XLR's but I can't decide between the .308mx or 45-70. I'd also like a BLR Takedown... :drool:
Post by: Slenk on March 19, 2008, 07:32:25 AM
Everything else are bolt actions or muzzleloaders.
Slenk
Post by: MountainWalk on March 19, 2008, 07:52:38 AM
444---hornady high energy or light mag,, cant remember, are decent loads for it.. my old b'sun hunted with it for awhile.. lots of bad stories about it, especially with black bears over 50 yards..started hand loading it, and now he has zero penetration issues. the 444 could be really really good.
Post by: boneaddict on March 20, 2008, 10:10:59 AM
Post by: huntingnut on March 20, 2008, 11:13:20 AM
Post by: Snowman on March 20, 2008, 01:31:17 PM
Post by: 257 Wby Mag on March 20, 2008, 03:16:07 PM
Post by: MikeWalking on March 20, 2008, 03:21:49 PM
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you know all this talk aobut the new 308 marlin has me wondering.... how come the 307 win or 284 didnt take off?... both are better than the new 308... i dunno
I'm pretty sure when a round fails it's because it's performance is too close to another.
Would you buy a 31-06?
Post by: Curly on March 20, 2008, 04:01:40 PM
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So where does the .444 Marlin fit in, in terms of big-game lever-gun cartridges? Well, let's start with the .30-30 family of cartridges that are easy to find, easy to shoot and have been reliably killing deer and black bear for many, many decades. This power level is typified by 170 grain bullets at about 2150 fps. While the .30-30 certainly can kill elk and moose, most hunters opt for something a little more powerful for these beasts to drop them as quickly as possible and avoid losing the animal. The next step up in power is found in the .33, .348, .35 and .356 Winchester group of cartridges. With these rounds we are generally talking about 200-250 grains bullets at 2200-2400 fps. They have established themselves over the years as reliable black timber elk rounds. The next step up the power ladder, we find the .444 Marlin loaded with 300 grain bullets at 2100 fps (cast or jacketed), providing the hunter with a great deal of power and versatility. This level of performance is riding hard on the heels of the revered .405 Winchester (300 grains at 2200 fps), with a better (i.e. less abusive) stock design, easy to find strong brass, and out of a levergun that won't crush the family budget. This power level will handle anything in North America, and would not be out of place in Africa. Yup, the .444 Marlin is a keeper. You might even call it modern-day big medicine...
- Glen E. Fryxell
Reloading would be best for the .444 Marlin, however if someone doesn't reload there are other options for getting quality ammo. If you check out MidwayUSA you can find premium cartridges made by custom ammunition companies. http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=642589&t=11082005
Bottom line, it depends on what you want out of your lever action rifle. I think the .444 Marlin would be a decent choice for hunting elk in the brush. If you're only going to be shooting deer, then go with a 30-30.
Post by: MountainWalk on March 20, 2008, 04:39:02 PM
Post by: MikeWalking on March 20, 2008, 04:46:02 PM
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mike walking, if that is the correct rationale,, then we would have the 30-06, but no 270, no 308, no 7 rem mag....if they failed because too similar to 308 win.. then why all the interest in the marlin 308?.. i would take the 284 win any day over the marlin.
Not really, the 270, 308, 7 mm are all still here because people buy them. There could be any number of reasons a particular caliber fails. Marketing, production cost, demand. It's usually a lack of sales. People don't buy a round it goes away. At the same time the market favors a little variety. People want some choices. I think the interest in the marlin .308 is in having pointed bullets for a tubular mag.
I've shot a couple boxes of their leverevolution in 45-70 and I'm pretty happy with them.
Post by: boneaddict on March 21, 2008, 06:28:56 AM
Post by: MountainWalk on March 21, 2008, 07:26:43 AM
Post by: Bigshooter on March 21, 2008, 12:07:47 PM
Post by: edmondshunter on March 21, 2008, 07:21:53 PM
Post by: PacificNWhunter on March 22, 2008, 06:36:04 PM
Post by: Coasthunterjay on March 24, 2008, 07:23:13 PM
Post by: jdb on March 24, 2008, 07:45:35 PM
Post by: MountainWalk on March 24, 2008, 09:47:50 PM
or maybe the 50 alaskan......i would like to have one