444 is what I would go with because its flatter shooting.

45/70,Knockdown power!!

I went with 45-70. Killed one doe with it, and decided to get rid of it. This year I will be hunting with the 444. My dad has killed over 20 deer with his lever action 444 Marlin. Plenty of knockdown power, nice exit hole, and flatter shootin.

I missed a doe this morning because my 45-70 bullet dropped of the face of the earth at 150 yards.

I was leaning to the 444 but then saw the 45-70 Buffalo classic by H&R. It's something different than most others using. Might be fun to hunt with that....or miss with it.

Thats what I bought! One of the reasons I sold it was because its sooooo barrel heavy & long. If you are hunting only in box stands its not bad but if hunting climbers, lock ons, & ladder stands and have it laying across your lap its constantly trying to fall! Its a PAIN trying to hunt with it.....but looks cool. Now if you was hunting Buffalo on a prairie it would be great.

I just bought a H&R .444 a few weeks ago. Mounted a Nikon 3x9x40 off my muzzle loader. Took it to the range, using Hornady's 265 grain lever ammo with the flex tip. At 100 yards, I shot under 1 1/4 inch groups. Can't wait to try it on deer.

They'll both do it. I like the 45-70 for the ammo selection. The .444 has a slight edge on ballistics, but it has very limited ammo offerings. If you're going to shoot leverevolution bullets either way, the .444 is probably a better choice. It kicks a little less and shoots a little flatter.

I've never used a .444, but my dad's 45-70 handi-rifle is a pleasure to hunt with and shoots EXCELLENT groups with hornady ammo. I killed a coyote with it, and it was about like shooting a poodle with a rocket launcher.

I have the 45-70 Knight KP. I have shot deer at 200 plus yards with no problems.

either one in a light weight rifle will hurt your shoulder if its torn up-surgically repaired and torn up again--i promise you will feel it for a day or so ( gotta love football and wrecks)

Go with the .444. It is ballistically superior over the 45-70. I had a 45-70 and sold it when the .444 became more available a few years back. As far as ammo goes; the only one I tried is thye Hornady Leverevolution cartridge. It shoots good and I have kill out past 100 yards without thinking about bullet drop. They are pretty available too.

I would go with the 45/70. The way I see it is that you have way more options when purchasing factory made ammo. I really like the fact I can get extremely powerful ammo from Garrett Cartridge and Buffalo Bore anytime I want. With the amount of ammo out there these days, you could potentially kill everything from a whitetail to an elephant. I think the recoil is pretty reasonable as well, but I've never been recoil shy. Hope this helps.

Shot them both and just like the .444 much better!

I have the .444 an last year shot a deer at 185 yards. my dad has the 45-70 and so does two of my friends. both are great guns. both have alot of kick in them. i hunt full time with my .444 now casue it is so much shorter and easier to move around the woods than my 270 or 300 short mag. i custom reload for both our guns and have had no trouble with groups at 150 yards.

Bigfun, I shoot the 444 and have it sighted in with the Hornady ammo at 1.25' high at 100 yards. The gun groups great. I have not gotten the chance to shoot the gun at 200 yards on paper to see where it would hit at 200, with it sighted in to shoot 1.25' high at 100 like I have it. Do you have any idea on where it should hit at 200? Hornady's ballistic chart is not a lot of help. Thanks.

Go to Nokon's Spot On web sight, you can put in any caliber,ammo combo and distance. I've taken the info off this site and shot them and the numbers are right on. Anyone not using this site your missing out. Good Luck

Thanks for the nikon website tip. The data it gave me is right on for where mine hits at 50 and 100. I'd like to verify what it told me about the 200 yard mark if I get the chance to shoot that far on paper one day. Thanks again.

.444 is lighter, easier to carry, easier to manuver, is flatter shooting, and has less recoil than the 45/70. and the 265 leverloution ammo from Hornady will cover just about every hunting situation from whitails to black bear.