Top 7 Straight Wall Cartridges For Deer Hunting Lead

Top 7 Straight-Wall Cartridges for Deer Hunting

If you live in a state that mandates straight-walled rifle cartridges for deer hunting, or if you just like the simplicity of a straight-walled cartridge, there are many available options. Here’s a look at seven of the best.

First Look: Federal HammerDown 444 Marlin

Federal's lever-action focused line of HammerDown ammunition already included options such as .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, .30-30 Winchester, .45-70 Government, and more. Now, a 270-grain load of 444 Marlin is available.

Head to Head: .444 Marlin vs. .45-70 Government

Both are cartridges are suitable for nearly any big-game animal, save the African dangerous heavyweights, and both have fervent, passionate followers. Contributor Philip Massaro takes a closer look at the similarities, differences and applications of each.

‘Straight-Shooting’ Advice

Iowa and other states are opening shotgun-only deer seasons to straight-walled cartridges like the .45-70 Gov’t., .444 Marlin and .450 Bushmaster. Here’s how to wring the most performance from their rainbow-like trajectories.

#SundayGunday: 444 Marlin

Get a closer look at the 444 Marlin, the latest addition to our #SundayGunday series.

Hardware: 444 Marlin

Hunters looking for a gun that offers high performance with a straight-wall rifle cartridge should welcome the 444 Marlin. It functions well, provides excellent accuracy for a big-bore lever-action and accepts a scope.

Video: Marlin Revives the Model 444

Marlin is expanding a number of its lines in 2017—the big bores included. The Model 444, chambered in, predictably, the hard-hitting .444 Marlin cartridge, will return to the company's lineup.

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