444 Marlin or 460 S&W, Which and Why?

[bootsmcguire]

Ok guys. I am keeping details to a minimum here but it all boils down to this:

444 Marlin or 460 S&W?

All things in this scenario are equal other than the chambering. Same platform, same barrel length, nearly the same intended bullet weights. I do not have dies or brass for either at this time, but both are available to me for both cartridges for similar money. I stock 44 and 45 cal bullets for other firearms I have, so no gain either way there in way of component simplicity. Also, if it matters to anyone, I am not detoured by the fact that 444 cases must be lubed to be sized and 460 do not due to the carbide dies being available in the 460.

Near as I can tell by reading my manuals and browsing on-line the power factor seems to be similar with a slight edge perhaps to the 444, and the 444 has a bit of a nostalgia appeal to it, but then again the 460 is the 460 so.......

Any reason to go with one over the other in this scenario?

Just trying to see if I am missing anything. I am normally not the "what do I do?" type of guy, but not having shot either extensively I figure I'll just double check and see if I am missing anything.

[tufrthnails]

Never shot anything .444 but have shot my cousin's .460 s&w XVR with 10.5" barrel. I know it is a revolver but the thing impressed me. I hit a milk jug at 100yards rested on the third shot and my cousin was regularly ringing 24" steel at 318 yards. The round is just flat out cool. I would love to shoot a long gun in .460

[snowgetter1]

460 all the way. I would prefer the shorter case and you could use the 250gr FTX in it. I loaded some 444 and the case just seems way to long. I still have like new 444 dies if you go that route and need some though.

[bootsmcguire]

Thanks guys. Any other opinions out there feel free to chime in.

I had my mind made up to go 460 due to component availability, and then magically some 444 brass became available and now I am back up in the air on it. I have the 450BM (which I can't legally use for deer hunting here in IA) so going 444 would give me something different bore wise. I wish I could just use my 450BM and be done, but rules are rules.

[Rick_W]

I know you're looking at rifles but I love my 460 XVR - can also shoot factory .454 Casull or .45 Colt for something different.

[bootsmcguire]

Thanks for the comment Rick, in a normal situation the added benefit of the 454 and 45LC would be helpful, but in this project if I go for the 460, I would be limited to the 460.

Keep 'em coming guys.

[bootsmcguire]

Well I went with the 444. The decision maker was I was generously donated 150pc of 444 brass (thanks again, you know who you are) and thanks to snowgetter1 got some dies coming at a great price so I figured it must be a sign pushing me that way. I will most likely have a 460 barrel made up latter on just because. We will see how this 1st barrel does for feeding and such.

I suppose I should let the cat out of the bag. I am going to be building this on a Striker with the intended purpose of hunting deer here in Iowa. I have been doing more and more still/standing hunting in recent years so this just seems to be a logical step to let me best use handloading and a Savage to legally hunt deer, and hopefully add a bit of range to my kill zone. Plus with my new mobile box blind I built last fall a Striker would be handier inside.

Thanks for all the input, and I will start a new thread with a build and range report once all the pieces to the puzzle arrive.

[snowgetter1]

Boots, it is a three die set. No factory crimp die. But, I was able to put a really good crimp on the ones I loaded without it.

[bootsmcguire]

Boots, it is a three die set. No factory crimp die. But, I was able to put a really good crimp on the ones I loaded without it.

Thanks again. That still works for me.

[308law]

I think there are better choices in bullets for the hotter .45s than for the .44s. The .44 mag bullets are not really designed for the higher velocities of the 444 Marlin. If your gonna shoot hard cast it won't matter, but if you want to shoot jacketed bullets it may.

[bootsmcguire]

Thanks for the heads up there 308law, I had never had to look for higher velocity 44 bullets until this, and have discovered the same. There are projectiles designed for the 444 however. Hornady has a couple, the 265FTX and one of the 300gr XTP are both supposed to be rated for the 444 and there was a 240gr offering as well. Since I can do the 444 on the cheap I am going to stick with it for now, but I will most likely build a 460 in the near future, especially if I really get into this handgun hunting because like you guys said, there are better bullets for the 45cal stuff.

[wrench man]

Hornady 265grn FP Interlock #4300 is THE bullet for the 444 Marlin, the Speer 270grn FP Gold Dot/Deepcurl #4461 and 300grn FP Unicore #4463 are also good choices in the 444.

[Echo17]

Has anyone ever thought of putting one of these pistols in a chassis that accepts AR type stocks and using a SIG brace on it?

[bootsmcguire]

Hornady 265grn FP Interlock #4300 is THE bullet for the 444 Marlin, the Speer 270grn FP Gold Dot/Deepcurl #4461 and 300grn FP Unicore #4463 are also good choices in the 444.

I will take a look for both of those. Was going to try the 265FTX but have not been able to locate any. I will look around for the #4300 and give it a shot. Thanks.

[bootsmcguire]

Has anyone ever thought of putting one of these pistols in a chassis that accepts AR type stocks and using a SIG brace on it?

Could be a decent idea. Only issue for my situation is I don't think it would comply with the rules the DNR has for hunting with pistols here.

[foxx]

I will be watching this. Might want the same for myself in southern Michigan. I believe our only limiting factor is it must be a straight walled cartridge.

[wrench man]

Was going to try the 265FTX but have not been able to locate any.

They're available, I saw two boxes of component bullets on the shelf at Cabela's tonight, no price tag for them?

[bootsmcguire]

Yup, found some online. Thanks. Also got some 300gr XTP's on the way. According to Hornady, the 300-XTP works up to 1950fps, and I am betting that with a 15" barrel I'll be doing real good to hit that much speed so I figured I give them a try too. If they don't shoot well, I'll run 'em through my 44 Mag SAA Clone.

After doing some reading after getting the above suggestion, I was starting to really lean towards the 265 Interbond, but none to be found, and Hornady has them suspended so I'll cross my fingers for the 300-XTP. They are a lot cheaper than the 265-FTX's are.

[bootsmcguire]

Just a small update. The 444 brass arrived today and I went ahead and assembled the magnum bolt head I intend on using in the Striker. Just test fitting the brass to the head and pushing it straight in against the extractor and ejector, it seemed to slip into the head and under the ejector nice and firmly and seemed to lock right in under the extractor like it should. It looks very promising. It also appears that the action should eject loaded and empty rounds without trouble (just basing that off of my dummy round and port length). Can't do any feed testing at this time since my barrel is still being built, but it all looks very promising. I talked to Jim today and it sounds like my barrel is on deck in the build order just as soon as the rental reamer arrives, so feed testing will have to wait.

Mods: I will start a new build thread in the appropriate board once the barrel arrives. I just figured I would tack this info on here rather than starting a new thread at this juncture. Thanks.

[GaCop]

What twist barrel are you going with? I have a 98 Mauser action the was built into a heavy barrel 444 some time in the distant past. Only down side is my barrel is 1 in 38" twist which won't stabilize bullets heavier than 265 grains (I know from bitter experience). There are many excellent heavy cast gas check bullets but I can't use them due to the early slow twist rate that is ideal for the 240/265 grain bullets.

I'll be watching your progress as I'm thinking about building another 444 on a Savage action using a lighter sporter type barrel with a 1 in 20" twist throated for the heavier cast bullets. That would be great hog medicine!