The 444 Marlin was introduced by Remington and Marlin in 1964 in Marlin lever-action rifles. Using the same .429-inch bullet as the 44 Magnum, the 444 Marlin is essentially a lengthened 44 Magnum case of 2.25 inches. Velocity increase is significant, with a 240-grain bullet at 2350 feet per second. At the time it was introduced no new 45-70 lever actions were in production; today the 45-70 is more popular, but the 444 Marlin is a powerful and effective close-cover hunting cartridge, easily adequate for elk and moose at close range and superb for black bear and wild hogs. 44 Magnum handgun bullets are unlikely to provide good performance at the much higher velocity, so it's wise to use heavier and/or tougher bullets.
