Which would you prefer to use ?

[Mac11700]

444 Marlin VS 500 S&W

Since I hope to have both of these to use eventually,just thought I would ask those who actually use them what their thoughts were about each,as opposed to the 45-70 that is normally discussed.Not knocking that grand ole round..has been a favorite of mine for a very long time.These are the ones I am dealing with now.

I just got a 500 S&W barrel from BikerBeans..all decked out with a nice Firesight and peepsight on it today (Thankuverymuch )..and hopefully soon I'll have a nice 44 Marlin barrel to go along with it and my 30-06. The 444 Marlin will most likely get the same sights installed on it..so let's discuss the merits of these 2 fine rounds for a change and compare their overall aspects against each other..Let's here about the light loads and those brusier loads everyone has for them...

Mac

[Swampman]

There seem to be some issues with the .500S&W in the Handi it's finiky, and IMO you get more recoil than you should for the amount of power produced.  I really like the .444 it's very accurate and very flat shooting.  The Lee 310 grain bullet gives it plenty of juice.

[petemi]

Sorry, neither.  I'll stick with my .45-70.  It was my first and probably best Handi.

Pete

[kevinsmith5]

.444 Marlin factory ammo is generally hotter and flatter shooting than either off the shelf (Walmart shelf at least) .500 S&W or 45-70 ammo. If you aren't gonna reload then the .444 is probably the better choice for mid-range, mid-size game.

[manatee1947]

I use the 444 with a scope for hunting where I could have a shot with any distance say 75 yds or more, and the 500 close where I use those fire sights. I do not use full loads in any of them, my handi's are for cast loads. I use very similar loads in all of them, 16-20 gr of blue dot, 18 -22 gr of 2400, 300 & 440 gr lee bullets respectvely. The 500 does bounce more, but that is the heavier bullet.

[quickdtoo]

My 444 is a lot more accurate than my 500S&W, I've shot 240gr, 265gr jacketed, and 355gr cast in the 444, all were 1" or better at 100yds, the 500S&W is about double that with the best load, 350gr(2150fps), 385gr jacketed(2000fps), 440gr(1950fps) and 700gr(1435fps) cast, these are all hunting loads, I'm not a plinker.  

There are lots of healthy factory offerings available for the 500S&W as shown in the Taffin article, but accuracy isn't it's forte.

Tim

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_1_53/ai_n16866654/

[Mac11700]

I read Taffin's articles on the 500S&W before and again recently...and also Marshal Stanton's articles on the 444 when those came out...Both to me have a lot going for them and 1-2 " with open sights for a up close brush gun isn't all that bad to me. Also... I have been a fan of the 444 since it came out..long before I got on the 45-70 craze.The 500 S&W is one I've never had before and is certainly interesting.Looking down that huge bore on the muzzle has me wondering what I will be able to do with it..and how much fun I'll have .Since I plan on using these as strictly as a plinker for fun and brush gun for deer,both will have open sights on then and cast bullets will be what they are fed. I have no need for any long range glass for them.If I ever did scope them..the 444M would get the glass for it. The 444 has always done admirable for this and does have some velocity advantages over the S&W..but the S&W does has the bullet weight selection over the 444...and a-lot of potintial..

Mac

[GreenMachine79]

Since I already have 44mag in revolver and rifle I would probably choose the 444 Marlin so I can share bullets between the two, also the recoil, powder consumption...ect would be tamer.  On the other hand if I didn't own a revolver in 44 already I would be tempted to get the 500 S&W in both a revolver and rifle since it can stop a T-rex if need be.  If this rifle is for pure novelty I would get the 500 S&W.

[Spanky]

The 444.



Spanky