I have this little H&R Handi-Rifle in .444 Marlin that I won many years ago at a banquet dinner for a wildlife organization. I'd seen a guy using this calibure for deer hunting back in the late 70's and that was my first and only exposure to it prior to getting this gun in the late 90's. I figured it would make a nice pig hunting gun. To be honest I think I've only shot 20 rounds through this gun since I've had it. I enjoy it and it isn't bothersome for me to shoot. In reality, I just haven't had much of an opportunity to get it out and shoot it. Now, with the ammo prices so high and each round being the equivalent of $5.00 I can't justify doing much target or range shooting with it.
The .444 Marlin was developed in 1964 as a joint effort between Remington and Marlin. It appears that in the mid-60 that the 45-70 was not being offered in any lever actions at the time and Marlin wanted to fill this big bore vacancy with their .444. Editor of Cartridges of the World, M. L. McPherson stated stated that the .444 Marlin is fully capable against any species in North America. He also stated that the .444 Marlin has more muzzle velocity at 200 yards from a rifle than the 44 Magnum has at its muzzle from a four inch pistol barrel. From the ballistics that I've see with a 240 grain bullet in .444 Marlin shot from a rifle the velocity at 200 yards is about 1010 ft/sec. Zeroed at 100 yard the 240 grain bullet drop at 150 yards is about 3 inches and at 200 yards is 9.3 inches. I certainly would not try shooting any game beyond that. In fact to me this gun is just right for 100 or less yards.
