444 Marlin Ballistics From Common Ammo Manufacturers

By Wes Littlefield

Last Updated: Sep 8, 2026

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Wes Littlefield

Guns have fascinated Wes since pulling the trigger on his BB gun as a kid. He built a private gun range over a decade ago to keep his skills sharp. He loves breaking down complex ideas into understandable pieces for readers, with expertise in hunting and all aspects of shooting.

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Wes Littlefield, "444 Marlin Ballistics Tables From Every Major Ammo Maker"
(https://ammo.com/ballistics/444-marlin-ballistics)

Congratulations! You found our in-depth look at 444 Marlin ballistics from the leading ammo manufacturers. Once you’ve compared the data, browse our full selection of 444 Marlin ammo to find the right load for your lever gun.

Save time! Click one of the links below to jump to your preferred ammo company and find the ballistics specs you need for your favorite 444 Marlin factory load.

444 Marlin Ballistics Tables

Buffalo Bore

270 Grain JFN

300 Grain JFN

335 Grain LFN

Federal

HammerDown 270 Grain Bonded SP

Hornady

LEVERevolution 265 Grain FTX

Superformance 265 Grain InterLock

Remington

Core-Lokt 240 Grain SP

280 Grain Core-Lokt Tipped

Administrative Note: The information above comes from the manufacturers. Actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and load. When manufacturer ballistic data were unavailable, ballistic data were calculated using a ballistic calculator.

444 Marlin Trajectory Chart

A bullet’s flight path to the target is also called its trajectory. Shooters measure trajectory in inches of bullet drop, milliradians (MIL), or minutes of angle (MOA).

A flat trajectory is preferred for long-range shooting because it requires fewer adjustments to compensate for bullet drop. The 308 Winchester and 6.5 Creedmoor are both rifle cartridges with projectiles that have high ballistic coefficients (BCs) and resultant flat trajectories.

Compared to long-range cartridges, the 444 Marlin does not have a flat trajectory. Its trajectory is reasonably flat within 300 yards, however. If you sight in your 444 Marlin hunting rifle at 100 yards with a sight height of 0.75”, you’ll shoot ~0.75” high at 50 yards and have ~30” of bullet drop at 300 yards, depending on the exact load and rifle you’re firing.

Below is a sample 444 Marlin bullet drop chart that gives a general idea of its trajectory.

Note: The above chart illustrates the ballistic performance of one 444 Marlin cartridge. Actual ballistic performance varies depending on bullet weight, lot, barrel length, and environmental conditions while shooting.

444 Marlin Velocity

Muzzle velocity is the rate at which a bullet exits the barrel, measured in feet per second (fps). Typically, a longer barrel produces a higher muzzle velocity, as the extra length gives exploding propellant more time to exert its energy against the base of the projectile.

Expect 444 Marlin muzzle velocities to range from about 2,000 to 2,400 fps. The low ballistic coefficient bullets don't conserve velocity downrange very well. If a 300 grain jacketed flat nose (JFN) bullet (0.213 G1 BC) attains 2,100 fps muzzle velocity, its velocity slows to 1,750 fps at 100 yards. At 300 yards, it slows to 1,208 fps. A 240 grain soft point (SP) (0.146 G1 BC) that attains 2,350 fps muzzle velocity conserves 1,814 fps at 100 yards. By 300 yards, its velocity slows to 1,085 fps.

444 Marlin Energy

Muzzle energy is the amount of force a bullet possesses the instant it leaves the barrel, measured in foot-pounds (ft-lbs).

Muzzle energy for the 444 Marlin typically ranges from 2,742 to 3,390 ft-lbs. The round's characteristically low-BC bullets do a poor job of conserving kinetic energy downrange. A 300 grain JFN (0.213 G1 BC) with 2,100 fps muzzle velocity and 2,937 ft-lbs muzzle energy maintains 2,039 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards; 972 ft-lbs at 300 yards. A 240 grain SP bullet (0.146 G1 BC) with 2,350 fps muzzle velocity and 2,943 ft-lbs muzzle energy conserves 1,755 ft-lbs of energy at 100 yards; 628 ft-lbs at 300 yards.

Weighing the 444 Marlin against other options for a specific animal? Our hunting caliber chart lays out recommended calibers by game type.

444 Marlin Effective Range

The 444 Marlin's effective range for hunting is ~300 yards. It's great for hog and deer hunting at close-to-medium ranges. But beyond 300 yards, pronounced bullet drop and reduced kinetic energy make an accurate, clean, ethical kill less likely. A skilled shooter can hit targets past 300 yards, but the significant bullet drop makes it challenging to remain accurate much beyond that point.

How Do 444 Marlin Ballistics Compare to Other Rifle Cartridges?

If you own a rifle chambered for a different cartridge or are interested in learning which rounds outperform or exhibit similar ballistics to the 444 Marlin, you’re in the right place. The team at Ammo.com has compared the .444 Marlin to several similar cartridges used for big game hunting.

We cover the rest of the big-bore and straight-wall field the same way. Take a look at 350 Legend ballistics and 35 Whelen ballistics, or see how the 444’s closest sibling stacks up in our 450 Marlin vs. 45-70 comparison.

444 Marlin vs. 45-70 Govt

Don’t miss our in-depth look at 45-70 Govt ballistics. We also stock a full range of 45-70 ammo, and our guide to the best 45-70 ammo covers which loads are worth buying.

444 Marlin vs. 450 Bushmaster

Don’t miss our in-depth look at 450 Bushmaster ballistics. You can also browse our selection of 450 Bushmaster ammo or see what the round kicks like in our 450 Bushmaster recoil breakdown.

444 Marlin vs. 30-30 Winchester

Don’t miss our in-depth look at 30-30 Winchester ballistics. This article is an integral part of our expansive ballistics chart resources.

The 30-30 is the other classic lever-gun cartridge, and we carry it in depth: shop 30-30 ammo, read our picks for the best 30-30 ammo, or see our 45-70 vs. 30-30 comparison for how it measures up against the other round on this page.

Written by

Wes Littlefield