stumbled on to a deal today.I picked up a marlin pre safety 444 vg cond.it came with 1 box of fac. ammo,100 new rem brass,4 cav ranchdog mold nib & sizing die,new rcbs dies.

deputy125

great find.......always thought those short magazine tubes looked good on them...

Cruelshoes

Don't know anything about 444. Do you have a primary use in mind?

sheepdog

...good-looking Marlin!!! I'm with Cruelshoes on the .444...we're all gonna learn 'bout this one together....

good info here
http://www.leverguns.com/articles/ander ... fitter.htm

the plan is I am going to scope this one for long range type shooting and use the encore 18" 444 with iron sights for the brush.well thats the plan anyways forsure they kick like a mule with heavy loads

b.roberts

WHAT A FIND! That is a great, powerful, handy, little package. I would rather have the 45-70 version, but hell, there really isn't that much difference between the two with reasonable loads.

XLCH

That is one very nice Marlin. You going to use cast or jacketed?

jacketed to start as I need to get some 44 gas checks and some lee 4 cav handles for the mold.
pete

Bountyhunter

That's a good looking lever gun, Pete.

Johngoboom

Very Nice!!!

What did you pay for it Pete (If you don't mind me asking)?

here is the deal
1.rifle w/marlin sling 1981
2.100 new rem brass
3.1 box of rem fac ammo -1 rd
4.nib 4 cav mold 265 gr lfngc
5..432 sizer nib
6.1000 gas check if he can find them

total 560.00
I think I got a good deal.

pete

Johngoboom

I think you got a good deal too.

XLCH

Pete I think you did ok, that is a nice one. I’m very interested on how your 444 handles the cast bullets, I have not tried them in mine as I was told by the man I got it from that he could not get it to shoot cast because of the micro-groove rifling. I have read otherwise, if you size them to the large side witch it sounds like you will be doing. I will have to get my two out and give the Cast Performance 444/320 WLNGC/DC a try. I put this stuff all away when I tried to make my #1 45/70 into a 458 Win Mag, that was not to smart ether.

I ordered the gas checks and handles this morning so I should be up and running with the marlin next week??...I hope.this isn't my first marlin micro groove barrel.I had a 44 mag for years and it was a pain in the *ss to get it to group with cast bullets.they need to be fat due to the shollow grooves on this type barrel.I ended up casting 50/50 with linotype and wheel weights.it got the 240 gr swc lee mold just a tad over .431 so I think that 265 gc mold sized .432 will work.we will see .I will keep you in the loop on how this works out.
BTW gc's are $35.00 a 1000 now ouch.
pete

XLCH

BTW gc's are $35.00 a 1000 now ouch.


Yep copper has really gone up, have to check copper pipe prices almost daily for work..
Be looking forward to you progress.

hit the range this morning with the marlin.I went out with a handload and the box of factory rem 444 ammo.
with the issue buckhorn rear sight w/ the bead front makes for a hard shoot.the bead front overs up the target at 54.68 yards (50 meters) but I am going to fix that soon.anyways here is my first handloads using 2400 with the magtech 240 gr jsp.recoil wasn't bad.I fired 2 rds and made a sight adjustment then fired off 4 more.the flyer is all me.


the factory rem ammo will rattle your teeth but it shot good.so what I learned today that my marlin works and shoots,I need a scope or reciever sight and the factory ammo will beat you up.not a bad day.

pete

Cruelshoes

Not bad at all for first time out. I can't wait to see what you do with it when it has a scope on it, and you are more familiar with it.

tx gun runner

The target on the right is shot out of Marlin 336 with William's peep and was pretty hot . Didn't have a chrony at that time . The micro-groove worked fine for me .. The new big bore Marlin's have ballard rifling and here a good post on 444 .. http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell444Marlin.htm

mine is a 1981 with micro-groove rifling.as I am typing this ft hood has had a massive shooting on post.if y'all turn on the news you will hear about it.sad stuff .
they just said 7 dead up to 30 wounded.

pete

sheepdog

...great group....sad news...anytime, anywhere...anyone...be careful, guys and girls...