A Marlin 444 Question

[AJMD429]

Why does the Marlin .444 hold one more round in the magazine than the .45-70...?
I can't believe any small difference in cartridge length is the factor (if so, a similarly small difference in magazine tube length would allow the extra round in a .45-70!)

[Pete44ru]

It's not the difference in length between the two cartridges.

It's the difference in length between FOUR .45-70's and FOUR .444's, which adds up. (small difference X 4 + big difference )

.

[Blaine]

Because you NEED one more .444 than a 45-70

[Pete44ru]

[Borregos]

Thats a good one BlaineG

[AJMD429]

Because you NEED one more .444 than a 45-70

[Modoc ED]

The receiver flanges on later model Marlin 1895 (.45-70) rifles are narrower by a good 1/2" than the receiver flanges on the Marlin .444. This sets the magazine tube back 1/2" further on the Model 1895 than the Magazine tube on the Model .444. This along with the small difference in the loaded OAL of the two cartridges (.45-70 vs .444) makes enough difference to allow 5-rounds to be loaded in the Model 444 magazine tube and only 4-rounds in the Model 1895 magazine tube.

EDIT: I'm confident in what I said abut the receiver flanges above but I'm having trouble getting my mind around the difference in lenght of them and the ability to load an additonal round in the .444 vs .45-70.

I just went out to my gun safe and did in fact load 5 rounds in each magazine of my .444S (made in 1979) and .444SS (made in 2005).

How about someone that has a Marlin .444 and a Marlin 1895 actually taking them out and seeing how many rounds they can put in the magazine tube of each one. "6pt-sika" would be a good choice to do this. DO NOT use one of the newer XLR rifles as they have longer magazine tubes than the standard Marlin rifles do.

[444Hal]

Because you NEED one more .444 than a 45-70

Because you can shoot more 444's than 45/70's in one sitting !

[Old Savage]

Tube is longer on the 444 is that all in the difference in set back aforementioned?

[dbateman]

got a question about the Marlin 444s(made in 1979) has anyone herd of feeding problems with this
particular model ??? there is one for sale over here and I was looking for a good pre safety 45/70 and found this
and thort well that is pretty darn nice looking rifle

[Pete44ru]

[the Marlin 444s(made in 1979) has anyone herd of feeding problems with this
particular model ???]

I've never heard nor seen any - and certainly had none with the Sporter I had about back then.

The 444-S (Sporter) was VERY popular when introduced, since prior to it's intro, all that could be had in a .444 was a straight-gripped, 24" bbl with a monte-carlo humped scope-type stock - which many of us didn't care for in the day.

I know that I, for one, cut off the barrel, back to 16 1/4", and rasped off the stock hump on my early .444 - but bought a 22" bbl'd Sporter as soon as I could get up the $$$ after they came out.
Which took awhile, with a few young kids.

.

[Ysabel Kid]

Because you NEED one more .444 than a 45-70

He pulls the pin, and let's it fly. INCOMING!!!

[Modoc ED]

As stated in my post above, my .444S was made in 1979. It functions flawlessly. No problems what-so-ever.

[Old Savage]

The tube is longer. Wait a minute - I see I already said that - then, I repeat myself.