Bottom line as far as I'm concerned is this .
The 45-70 is the better game cartidge with 400+ grain bullets . The 444 does okay with bullets up to 425 or so grains (I have a 450 grain mold Mt Sourdough sent me , but so far I've not put it to use yet).
The last 45-70 I had shot cast 300-550 grainers wonderfully . And on the other hand all my old Micro Groove 444's handle 200-375 grain cast just fine . My newer ballard rifled 444 has handled cast up to 425 grains so far with semi relative ease .
Now then the "actual need" for a bullet over say 350 grains in the 444 or 465 grains in the 45-70 is small at best .
And while I have spent a decent amount of time for the last 10 years shooting both cartridges with cast as far as I'm concerned when it's time to go after the big beasties IE grizz , brownies or white bears I'm taking something in a bolt action with a hole in the barrel .375" or larger . Sure maybe the 444 and 45-70 can handle all that , but in my mind I feel more "comfortable" shall we say with a bolt action 375 H&H MAG or 416 REM MAG . Now do I have any intentions of pursuing any of the three big North American bears ? Not hardly there's plenty other things I'd rather use that amount of money for !
As to the factory Remington 444 265 grain load . I have 3 1/2 boxes of the stuff in my collection . The little 444 moderator on Marlinowners once asked me to dismantle a round and compare the bullet to a Hornady 265 which I did . And other then the cannelure they looked similar but I'm not quite sure the actual contour was the same . Anyway I reassemlbed the round and put it back in the box !
One day perhaps I'll kill a deer or black bear with one of the REM 265 factory ronds but right now I'm quite happy to shoot cast only !
As I said earlier I personally believe the 45-70 to be the better hunting round of the two and thats mainly becuase I can (if I want to) shoot larger cast bullets well . The 444 however is alot more fun for me shooting many many many cast loads from the bench .
Now as to what others think , whether they agree or disagree I really don't care . But thats my take on the whole situation and it isn't something that I see me changing
On a side note I have a box of Barnes 900 grain solids to load in a 600 Nitro Express in the shop . And strangely it has me thinking
![Laughing :lol:](./images/smilies/icon_lol.gif)
Also have about 90 of the Barnes .458" 450 grain TSX bullet which has me thinking about a #1 in 458 WIN MAG again . Yeah I know been there and done that , however those bullets are calling me !