Redhawk1: I have three Winchester Big Broes in 444 that love anything heavier than a 300 grainer. My long rifle loves the Beartooth 335 grain slugs and so does my Traditional Rifle (actually, I like them more but the groups with the 330s are about 1/2 inch smaller than with the 335s). Haven't quite figured out what my Timber Carbine likes better, the 335s or the 350s from Beartooth.
All my 444s shoot the jacketed bullets very nicely, but they only grow to .430" whereas the cast slugs I use grow to .432 or .431 depending on the rifle that is being loaded for.
In addition, we have to consider the majority of the rifles used for both those cartridges, the lever action - which is sensitive to overall cartridge length and some may not function well with very flat nosed bullets that aren't loaded to correct length. Believe me, I went through this with a 1970 vintage Marlin and it was a pita. Nobody that I know of other than custom builders have worked up a 444 cartridge in a bolt gun. If kombi is going to use the 444 in a single shot Martini action he can run his slugs all the way to 405 gns or better.
Both cartridges have their followers, and I like the 444, that's all. I would recommend it to anyone. If that cartridge from a Contender can take the African Big Five it is good enough for me (and has been for over 30 years). From my long barrelled rifle the Beartooth 335s clock at almost 2300'/sec; from my Traditional Rifle (20" microgroove bbl) they are right at 2100'/sec, and that's large, dangerous critter levels. Yes, you can buy 45-70 loads that do the same thing, even better from a longer barrel, but not always.
The 444 has long been a handloader's cartridge, moreso than the 45-70 since so many heavy and hot 45-70 loads have come on the market, but that doesn't make the 444 less capable than the 45-70 in any regard. The only shortcoming of the 444 is the lack of readily available hot and heavy hunting loads for that caliber. I know Cor-Bon loads for the 444 and I believe Garret also loads for them as does one other. If some bullet maker were to come out with 300 and 325/335 gn jacketed slugs specifically for the 444 I am certain they would sell fster than hotcakes. In the interim, hardcast is better.
A sidenote comparison of velocities for similar bullet weights really doesn't give much of an end point to a discussion of either caliber until you add in bullet diameter, and that lets you know how well a narrower (the 444) bullet can penetrate. A comparison of a 300 gn slug in the .458", .430" and .405", all at the same velocity, might lead the decision of which to use on large dangerous game that would most likely fall to the .405" bullet for its penetrability. Narrower slugs have better penetration at the same velocities than larger slugs of the same weight.
I'm not mincing apples and oranges here but I will recommend the 444 to anyone who asks about it. At the same time I will not recommend a 265 gn 444 on large bear. Each caliber has its limitations using factory ammo. Handloads make the 444 more equitable. Mikey.
