For once in my life, im pumped for Deer season.

So In conclusion, don't get the .444, get the 45-70. Got it.

I shoot the CVA .45-70. Its a beast. Open sights is all you need around here unless your hunting shooting lanes or pipelines. The Hornady Leverlution rounds are great. I find the the CVA is whole lot easier on your shoulder than the H&R. It is a really great ,shooting rifle, plus it is cheaper than the others. Came with the "Claw" sling and adjustable fiber optic sights.

i have the cva .444 with nikon prostaff 3x9x40 bdc. good shooting gun. cva comes with a good recoil pad better than the hr i find. i went with the .444 because it has better ballistics than 45-70. both are good calipers but the cva fits and looks better than the hr.

I have a .444. I have shot a 45-70 before and I think the .444 has less recoil. The 444 shoot a 265 grain bullet and the 45-70 well over 300 grains. More grains equals more recoil, all things being equal. Regardless, you are welcome to shoot mine before you purchase if you like. I live in Deridder. I shoot the Hornady Revolutions and my rifle is amazingly accurate. I can easily hit an eight inch plate at 200 yards (I aim just at the top of the plate). Regarding scopes, you may not like the Nikons. I don't care for them. They are bright but they have a relatively short field of view and tend to look like you are looking through a tube. I recently bought a Redfield Revolution and compared it to my Leupold right at dusk. I was very suprised - I hate to admit it but the Refield was brighter. They are very fine scopes for the money (and are actually made at the Leupold plant in Oregon). Good luck and if you want to shoot my .444 you are more than welcome to take it to a range and have at it.

I've shot both 45-70 and .444 handi rifles with lever evolution, the 45-70 had more recoil.
My .444 grouped about 1.5" using truck as a rest, recoil not bad i'd say

I have a 444 with a 3x9x40 nikon prostaff and love it. It is very accurate with lots of knockdown. You'll like it

I am holding out for the .35 wheelen. Until it becomes legal, I am just gonna keep shootin em with my CVA smoke pole.

I have the optima elite 45/70. I love it looks and feels like a thomson for half the price. It shoots 1in groupings at a 100yrds. No recoil like a H&R has. I shot a box of shells one shot after another no problem. I shot my friends H&R once and wouldnt do it again its a mule compaired to the optima.

The 35 win is proven to be the best brush gun. I read an article yrs back that did a study shooting targets with 2 sets of wooden dowels placed in front of a target. The 35 beat all other calibers. Slow heavy bullet less deflection when it hits something.