The first integrated cartridge came to light in 1808. Bullets have changed a lot since then, and they are more efficient and powerful than ever before. If you’re an avid hunter, it’s important to know the best options for hunting ammo. 

You may have heard about the .444 Marlin and .357 Max before. But do you know the difference between them? Is one better than the other for hunting certain types of animals?

How can you know which ammo is best for you? Keep reading and learn more about what kind of ammo you should bring on your next hunting trip.

What You Need to Know About the .444 Marlin

Every hunter knows that the right ammo can make a big difference. Some ammunition may not pack the punch that you need to bring down certain types of game. Others might be too powerful and ruin the meat. 

This is why you should understand the fine balance that goes on with hunting ammo. Many people spend a lot of time trying to find the perfect hunting ammo but to no avail. They might settle on a mediocre choice because they can’t find anything else. 

Some states limit hunters on what kind of guns and ammo they can use to hunt animals. But if you live in Ohio, Indiana, or Michigan, you’ll have many more choices. Hunters have the freedom to use rifles when hunting deer and other larger game.

If you’re looking to use a rifle for this purpose, you’ll need good ammo to go with it. The .444 Marlin is a good place to start. This bullet has been around since the 1960s. 

It has stayed mostly the same since then. It is known for its very efficient design and power. It replaced the .45-70, which was a popular but older option. This bullet soon gained popularity by the 1970s, and it continued to blossom since then.

The Details

This bullet has amazing velocities of around 2,400 ft/s. The bullet is very accurate as well. This may not be too surprising considering the size and shape of the .444 Marlin. 

It is long and thin. This allows it to fly through the air without encountering much resistance. You may have also heard of the .450 Marlin. This is a newer version of the .444.

Many people often compare these two models since they are quite similar. The .450 Marlin is indeed more powerful than the .444 Marlin, but that doesn’t mean that the .450 is always the better choice. This is because the .444 has great ballistics. 

Its grain weight is great for giving it extra power and momentum when soaring through the air. It also is a very good choice when hunting large game like deer. It can pierce a deer’s body without ruining the meat. 

The bullet will still have plenty of energy when fired from 200 yards. You don’t need a very long barrel to shoot this option either. This is a very good option for all-purpose large game hunting. 

You can hunt anything from deer to moose and bear with the .444 Marlin. It is best to avoid using this option on smaller game like waterfowl or rabbits. It would be overkill, and you would likely ruin the meat. 

A benefit of this bullet is that it is easy to reload. This ensures that you won’t be wasting time on your hunting trip struggling to reload your gun.

The Benefits of the .357 Max

Remington came out with the .357 Max in the 1980s. There wasn’t much excitement around this bullet when it came out. But its popularity has increased over the years, and it is now a very viable option for hunting rifles.

Many people compare this option with the .357 Magnum. This is because they share many similarities, but they also have some important differences. When the .357 Max was created, the goal was to have it be as high-velocity as possible. 

To accomplish this, the bullet was given a flat-trajectory cartridge. This would prevent it from taking up too much space in the air, which would make it more efficient. It would also make it faster and less likely to drop over a short distance. 

People use this option to shoot a wide variety of game. It is small enough for small game and efficient enough for medium game. It can also work in a handgun, but it becomes less useful as hunting ammo. 

If you don’t care about hunting, then using it in a handgun shouldn’t be a big problem for you. You may instead want to use it for target practice.

How It Works

You’ll have to use a certain amount of skill when using this ammo option on a hunting trip. 

While it is powerful, it might not be enough to bring down large game like moose or bears. This is not to say that it’s impossible. People have used this ammo before to bring down large game. 

But you need a lot of talent to do this. It can also be dangerous if you don’t know what you’re doing. This is why it is recommended that most hunters stick to small and medium game when using this bullet. 

The ammo should also be used in the right gun for the best results. If you’re using a handgun, you may want to stick with small game. Handguns are not often as accurate as rifles and guns with longer barrels. 

You also have to consider the hunting laws in your state. Not all states allow you to use this kind of ammo when hunting. There are also laws you have to follow regarding the gun that you use for the ammo. 

If you’re using a handgun, the barrel has to be at least 5 inches long. If you’re using a rifle, the barrel has to be at least 16 inches. There are also several more requirements you have to satisfy before you can legally hunt with this kind of ammo. 

Make sure you are familiar with these laws before you get too excited. You don’t want to get into the groove of things only to find out that you’re not allowed to hunt this way in your state.  

Comparing the Two Options

Rifle hunting can be fun when you have the right ammo with you. Both the .444 Marlin and the .357 Max are good options. While they have similar strengths and weaknesses, they also have some important differences. 

Most people agree that the .444 Marlin is the more powerful option. But that doesn’t mean that it’s always the best option. You have to consider what kind of hunting you’ll be doing. 

The .444 Marlin is great for bringing down medium and big game. This is because it is a very powerful bullet that doesn’t lose much power when shot at long distances. You will often see seasoned hunters using this ammo option. 

It is great at flying through the air without much resistance. Once it hits its target, it will go clean through without ruining the surrounding meat. It is ideal for hunting deer, but you can also go after tougher game like boars and bears. 

This option is also very accurate. As long as you have a good aim, it will go exactly where you want it to go. This ensures that you won’t waste any bullets. 

Just make sure that you’re legally allowed to use this ammo for hunting in your state. If you live in Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, or Pennsylvania, you should be allowed, but you should also double-check.

What to Know

The .357 Max is another good option, but for different uses. 

This bullet is not often used to bring down big game. This is because it doesn’t have the same power that the .444 Marlin has. While it’s still possible to bring down big game with this bullet, it isn’t recommended. 

You don’t want to put yourself in a dangerous situation because you used the wrong bullet. This bullet is far better for small and medium game. It can bring down a wide variety of different animals from afar.

If you want to use a handgun with this bullet, focus more on small game. Many hunters love shooting birds, rabbits, and other small animals this way.

All About the .444 Marlin vs. the .357 Max

Both the .444 Marlin and the .357 Max are great options for hunting. They are not legal for hunting in all states, so make sure that you double-check the laws in your area. The .444 Marlin is better for large game due to its unique power. 

The .357 Max is better for small and medium game, especially when using a handgun. Are you ready to buy bullets for your next hunting trip? Check out the options we have to offer.