When it comes to big-bore cartridges, the 444 Marlin and the 450 Bushmaster are two popular options among hunters and shooters that have gained a lot of popularity in the last few years. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the 444 Marlin and the 450 Bushmasters, comparing their histories, ballistics, and practical applications to help you decide which one is right for you.
Here is the short answer:
The 444 Marlin and the 450 Bushmaster are both powerful cartridges designed for hunting medium to large game at close to moderate ranges. However, the 444 Marlin is better suited for longer-range shots, while the 450 Bushmaster is more effective at shorter distances and provides more stopping power.
Now that we have looked at the short answer, we can look closer at each cartridge, their ballistics, and see how they compare in-depth.
In-depth Look at the 444 Marlin
The 444 Marlin was introduced in 1964 by Marlin Firearms Company as a heavy-hitting, lever-action rifle cartridge. The cartridge was designed to be a longer-range alternative to the 45-70 Government cartridge, with similar bullet weights but higher velocities.
The 444 Marlin is a cartridge that can take down pretty much any game animal excluding dangerous game within 150-300 yards. Because of how much energy this round has at close range, it is popular for hunters who often find themselves perusing game in thick brush. This round is regularly used to take game as small as deer to as large as grizzly bear proving it extremely versatile for a wide array of game.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 444 Marlin with a 265-grain Hornady FTX Lever Evolution bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -0.9 | 0 | 2325 | 3180 |
| 50 | 0 | 0.5 | 2144 | 2705 |
| 100 | -1 | 2 | 1971 | 2285 |
| 150 | -4.2 | 4.6 | 1806 | 1920 |
| 200 | -10.2 | 8.6 | 1653 | 1608 |
| 250 | -19.2 | 13.9 | 1509 | 1341 |
| 300 | -32.2 | 20.8 | 1380 | 1121 |
| 350 | -49.8 | 29.5 | 1266 | 944 |
| 400 | -72.9 | 39.8 | 1171 | 806 |
| 450 | -102.5 | 51.8 | 1094 | 705 |
| 500 | -139.3 | 65.3 | 1035 | 630 |
In-depth Look at the 450 Bushmaster
The 450 Bushmaster was introduced in 2007 by Bushmaster Firearms International as a cartridge designed for hunting large game at short to moderate ranges. The 450 Bushmaster, much like the 44 Marlin, is a close-range powerhouse but does not retain its energy well lending it to be a better cartridge for hunting in heavily wooded areas.
The 450 Bushmaster is best suited for hunting at ranges of up to 150 yards, however, past that range you will run into many issues with drop and wind drift leading to less predictable shots. However, seeing as most shots on game are taken within that 150-yard mark, there isn’t a huge issue with hunting with this cartridge.
Here is a ballistics chart of the 450 Bushmaster with a 300-grain jacketed soft point bullet:
| range (YD) | drop (IN) | wind drift (IN) | velocity FPS | energy ft-lb |
| 0 | -1.5 | 0 | 1900 | 2405 |
| 50 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1741 | 2018 |
| 100 | 0 | 2.8 | 1592 | 1687 |
| 150 | -4.1 | 6.1 | 1453 | 1406 |
| 200 | -12.4 | 11.3 | 1331 | 1179 |
| 250 | -25.5 | 18.1 | 1224 | 997 |
| 300 | -44.5 | 26.6 | 1136 | 860 |
| 350 | -70.3 | 36.7 | 1068 | 759 |
| 400 | -103.6 | 48.2 | 1014 | 685 |
| 450 | -144.9 | 60.9 | 970 | 627 |
| 500 | -195.3 | 74.8 | 932 | 579 |
In-Depth Comparison
When it comes to comparing the 444 Marlin to the 450 Bushmaster, there are a few key factors to consider. Let’s take a closer look at how these two cartridges stack up against each other:
Ballistics
The 444 Marlin and the 450 Bushmasterare both rounds that are best used within 200 yards. However, the 444 Marlin has 600 more foot pounds of energy at the muzzle so it is far better for hutnign bigger animals. Additionaly, the 444 Marlin has a little less drop.
Ammunition Availability
One major advantage of the 450 Bushmaster is that it is a newer cartridge and has gained significant popularity in recent years while the 444 Marilin is an older cartridge which is dying out. As a result, there is a wide variety of factory-loaded ammunition available for the 450 Bushmaster.
Rifle Selection
The 444 Marlin is a round commonly found in lever action rifles while the 450 Bushmaster is avalible in both bolt action rifles and AR-15 rilfes.
Recoil:
Recoil wise, the 450 Bushmaster and the 444 Marlin are going to prosuce similar amongts of recoil. However, the 44 Marlin has more case compacity and often shoots heavier bullets some some loads may bring the recoil of the 444 Marlin to be greater than that of the 450- Bushamster.
Conclusion
Overall, the 444 Marlin and the 450 Bushmaster are two cartridges that are designed for similar tasks. However, the 444 Marlin is better suited for bigger game, while the .450 Bushmaster is going to be a better choice for hunting deer sized game as close range.