444 Marlin

.444 Marlin Ammunition

.444 Marlin ammunition is a straight-walled, semi-rimmed centerfire rifle cartridge with a .429-inch (10.9 mm) bullet diameter, designed in 1964 by Marlin Firearms and Remington Arms for lever action rifles. The .444 Marlin fires 240-grain to 335-grain bullets at muzzle velocities of 2,000 to 2,350 feet per second (fps), producing 2,665 to 2,942 foot-pounds of force (ft-lbf) of muzzle energy from a 24-inch (610 mm) test barrel. The .444 Marlin was created to fill the gap left when the .45-70 Government disappeared from commercial lever action production in the mid-1960s. Factory ammunition is loaded by Hornady, Remington, Buffalo Bore, Underwood Ammo, and Grizzly Cartridge. TactaBlue stocks .444 Marlin ammunition alongside Marlin lever action parts including triggers, handguards, stocks, and loading gates for the full Marlin rifle lineup.

.444 Marlin Cartridge Specifications

The .444 Marlin cartridge uses a semi-rimmed straight case derived from an elongated .44 Magnum case, necked to accept .429-inch (10.9 mm) diameter bullets with a large rifle primer.

• Bullet diameter: .429 inches (10.9 mm)
• Case length: 2.225 inches (56.5 mm)
• Overall length: 2.550 inches (64.8 mm)
• Maximum pressure: 44,000 Copper Units of Pressure (CUP) per the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI); 51,500 pounds per square inch (psi) per the Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Épreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (CIP)
• Rim diameter: .514 inches (13.1 mm)
• Primer type: large rifle
• Rifling twist: 1:38 inches (microgroove) or 1:20 inches (Ballard-style cut rifling)

The semi-rimmed case head provides positive extraction in lever action and single-shot rifles. The straight case wall and large rim make the .444 Marlin compatible with lever action tubular magazines and break-action single-shot platforms.

.444 Marlin History and Development

Marlin Firearms and Remington Arms developed the .444 Marlin in 1964 to provide a high-powered big bore cartridge for lever action rifles after the .45-70 Government was discontinued from commercial lever action production. The .444 Marlin case is an elongated version of the .44 Magnum pistol cartridge, stretched from 1.285 inches (32.6 mm) to 2.225 inches (56.5 mm) to increase powder capacity and velocity. Remington loaded the original factory ammunition with a 240-grain Soft Point (SP) bullet at 2,350 fps. Hornady introduced a 265-grain Flat Point (FP) bullet for the .444 Marlin 3 years after the cartridge's debut, which improved terminal performance on large game at distances past 100 yards (91.4 m). The 240-grain bullet was designed for the .44 Magnum revolver and lacked the sectional density and weight retention needed for deep penetration on elk and moose-sized game at rifle velocities.

The .45-70 Government returned to commercial lever action production in 1972 when Marlin chambered the Model 1895 in .45-70. The .444 Marlin and .45-70 Government have coexisted since 1972, with the .45-70 gaining broader commercial support due to a wider selection of factory ammunition and rifle platforms.

.444 Marlin Ballistics

.444 Marlin ballistics from a 24-inch (610 mm) test barrel produce muzzle energies between 2,665 and 2,942 ft-lbf depending on bullet weight and load configuration.

• 240-grain SP: 2,350 fps muzzle velocity, 2,942 ft-lbf muzzle energy
• 265-grain FP: 2,200 fps muzzle velocity, 2,849 ft-lbf muzzle energy
• 300-grain Hollow Point (HP): 2,000 fps muzzle velocity, 2,665 ft-lbf muzzle energy

The .444 Marlin generates more muzzle energy at 200 yards (182.9 m) than the .44 Magnum produces at the muzzle from a 4-inch (101.6 mm) revolver barrel. The effective hunting range of the .444 Marlin is 200 yards (182.9 m) for large game, limited by the trajectory arc of flat-point and round-nose bullets used in tubular magazine lever actions. Hornady LEVERevolution ammunition extends the effective range past 200 yards by using a polymer-tipped Flex Tip (FTX) bullet that is safe in tubular magazines and produces a flatter trajectory than flat-point bullets.

Factory .444 Marlin Ammunition

Hornady .444 Marlin Loads

Hornady produces 2 factory .444 Marlin loads: the 265-grain Flat Point InterLock and the 265-grain FTX LEVERevolution. The Hornady InterLock 265-grain FP uses an exposed lead tip with a cannelured copper jacket that locks the core to the jacket during expansion. The Hornady LEVERevolution 265-grain FTX uses a polymer Flex Tip insert that compresses on impact and initiates expansion, while remaining safe for nose-to-primer contact in tubular magazines. LEVERevolution ammunition produces a flatter trajectory than conventional flat-point loads — the FTX bullet drops 6.9 inches (175.3 mm) at 200 yards compared to 9.8 inches (248.9 mm) for a 265-grain flat-point bullet at the same distance.

Remington .444 Marlin Loads

Remington loads the Core-Lokt .444 Marlin 240-grain Soft Point at 2,350 fps from a 24-inch (610 mm) barrel. The Core-Lokt bullet uses a controlled-expansion jacket with a locked rear core that retains 60% to 75% of the original bullet weight during penetration. The 240-grain Core-Lokt is the original .444 Marlin factory load design from 1964 and remains in continuous production.

Buffalo Bore, Underwood, and Grizzly Loads

Buffalo Bore, Underwood Ammo, and Grizzly Cartridge produce heavy-for-caliber .444 Marlin loads in 300-grain to 335-grain bullet weights for deep penetration on large and dangerous game. Buffalo Bore loads a 335-grain hard-cast lead flat-nose bullet at 2,025 fps for maximum penetration through heavy bone and muscle on elk, moose, and bear. Underwood Ammo loads a 300-grain bonded jacketed hollow point and a 335-grain hard-cast flat-nose bullet. Grizzly Cartridge offers a 300-grain jacketed soft point and a 330-grain hard-cast gas-checked bullet. Heavy-for-caliber loads above 300 grains provide sectional densities above .232, which increases straight-line penetration through dense tissue and heavy bone.

.444 Marlin vs .45-70 Government

The .444 Marlin and .45-70 Government produce similar ballistic performance in factory ammunition, with the .45-70 offering a wider bullet selection and broader commercial support.

• Bullet diameter: .444 Marlin uses .429-inch (10.9 mm) bullets; .45-70 Government uses .458-inch (11.6 mm) bullets
• Case capacity: .444 Marlin holds 58 grains of water; .45-70 Government holds 78 grains of water
• Factory bullet weights: .444 Marlin ranges from 240 to 335 grains; .45-70 Government ranges from 300 to 500 grains
• Muzzle energy (265gr vs 300gr): .444 Marlin produces 2,849 ft-lbf; .45-70 Government produces 2,835 ft-lbf with a 300-grain factory load
• Rifle availability: .444 Marlin is chambered in the Rossi R95 lever action; .45-70 Government is chambered in the Marlin 1895, Henry, Rossi R95, and multiple single-shot platforms

The .444 Marlin 300-grain loading is ballistically similar to the .405 Winchester in the same bullet weight. The .45-70 Government has a larger powder capacity that allows heavier bullets at useful velocities — a 405-grain .45-70 load at 1,350 fps produces the same trajectory as the original 1873 military load and 1,640 ft-lbf of energy at 100 yards (91.4 m). The .444 Marlin's advantage is lower recoil with 240-grain to 265-grain loads compared to equivalent-energy .45-70 loads using heavier 350-grain to 405-grain bullets.

Rifles Chambered in .444 Marlin

The Marlin Model 444 was the original and primary lever action rifle chambered in .444 Marlin from 1965 through the Remington-era cessation of production. Ruger-manufactured Marlin rifles do not include a .444 Marlin chambering in the current production lineup. The Rossi R95 lever action is the only current-production lever action rifle chambered in .444 Marlin. Single-shot rifles from Thompson/Center and H&R/New England Firearms (NEF) have been chambered in .444 Marlin in break-action and falling-block configurations. Bolt action rifles from Marlin (Model 444SS) and custom rifle builders accept .444 Marlin chamberings. Verify ammunition availability before purchasing a .444 Marlin rifle — factory ammunition production is limited compared to the .45-70 Government.

Handloading .444 Marlin Ammunition

Components and Dies

Handloading .444 Marlin requires a .444 Marlin full-length sizing die, seating die, and factory crimp die from RCBS, Lee, Hornady, or Redding. Brass cases are available from Hornady and Starline. Large rifle primers seat in the .444 Marlin case head. Powder charges use medium-burn-rate propellants including Hodgdon H322, IMR 4198, Alliant Reloder 7, and Accurate 2015 in charge weights of 42 to 56 grains depending on bullet weight and desired velocity.

Cast Bullets for .444 Marlin

Cast lead bullets for the .444 Marlin perform best at .432-inch diameter, which is .003 inches over the .429-inch groove diameter for optimal bore sealing and accuracy. The SAECO No. 433 mold casts a 300-grain gas-checked flat-nose bullet designed for the .444 Marlin. The Lyman 429640 mold casts a 280-grain gas-checked flat-nose bullet suitable for the .444 Marlin and .44 Magnum. Gas-checked cast bullets use a copper cup pressed onto the bullet base that protects the lead from hot propellant gases and prevents leading in the barrel. Apply a firm roll crimp or factory crimp to .444 Marlin handloads — the crimp prevents bullet movement under tubular magazine spring pressure and ensures consistent ignition.

Tubular Magazine Safety

All .444 Marlin handloads for lever action tubular magazines must use flat-point or polymer-tipped bullets that prevent primer detonation from recoil-driven bullet contact in the magazine tube. Pointed spitzer bullets are unsafe in tubular magazines because the bullet tip rests against the primer of the cartridge ahead during recoil. Hornady FTX polymer tips compress on impact but are rigid enough to prevent accidental primer contact in the magazine. Verify that all handloaded bullets have a flat or polymer tip before loading into a tubular magazine.