As always, you are a wealth of info! Thank you! I used to reload, but since I stopped being an employee 20 years ago, I’ve had no time. I’m leaning towards the .45-70 and will likely have it cut down to 20” as I have zero use for a 26” octagon barrel. I don’t have a gun bearer on my hunts, so I would have to lug the extra 2 pounds of barrel around myselfNorth Country Gal wrote: ↑Mon Jan 22, 2024 11:51 amRed, I've also owned both 45-70 and 444 JM Marlins. never owned a Remlin, but I know several local shooters who bought late edition Remlins and love them. No problems at all. There really shouldn't be, anyway, because the 336/1895 action is pretty fool proof.
I loved the 444 Marlin as a shooting round. Much flatter trajectory than the 45-70, for instance. Unfortunately, if you're shooting factory ammo, only, finding 444 factory ammo is going to take more tine and money than it's worth if you plan to do any amount of shooting at all. You'll actually spend more time hunting ammo than actually shooting it. The T4 isn't dead, yet, but it's getting there. Real shame, but that's the reality.
By contrast, I can walk into any local store that sells ammo and find 45-70. It's almost all the 300-350 grain hunting loads, because it's a popular cartridge in our area. If I want to find some of the more traditional 405 grain loads or cowboy loads for my Ruger No. 3, I have to order online.
I’m going to chat with my smith/shop owner about which of the two if either, would be easy to sell before any cuts are made, but either one will be more valuable than a Ruger American…