Winchester Timber 444 Marlin Value?

[good2goNC]

I found a like new (no box or papers) Winchester 94AE Timber Model in 444 Marlin. The barrel is factory ported. Id rate it 98% maybe 99%.

A few questions:

1. Have not shot it, whats to be expected in terms of recoil?
2. Rough guess of value
3. Best cartridge for deer.

Thanks

[BIG JAKE]

She got some snot to her and the only load I've shot out of it has been the hornaday 265 light magnums and they shot very well. As to value here in Pa it all depends on the area you live in. I paid 325.00 for mine used no box and if it was shot it wasn't much at all and there
 were no marks or scratches on the gun.

[Mikey]

good2goNC:  I'm with Big Jake on this one.  My Timber Carine was used, once.  Purchased the rifle and the remainder of (1/2) the box of ammo that was purchased with it.  I would expect to pay $325-425, depending on a lot (where you are, how attached the owner is to it and what $ Winchester levers are going for in your neck of the woods).  Even at $400 it is a good deal. 

As for loads - factory 240s, Hornaday 265s or handloads.  Mine absolutely loves 300 and 335 gn Beartooth cast gas checked flatppoints.  Recoil isn't all that bad - the porting works to reduce that.  BUT - wear good hearing protection as it is a loudenboomer.

If you are just hunting whitetail then the factory 240s are a great load.  Don't expect to recover the bullet though, the 444 has major power.  HTH.  Mikey.

[RicMic]

Great deer round.  I used 300 grain Hornady XTP's over 57 grains of H335 of 2160fps out of my Marlin 444 (that load now seems to have been reduced to 54 grains of H335 for 2000 to 2100fps.)  That load would blow a hole clean through a deer no matter the angle.  I think it would be good for elk too, kept within 250 yards.