Author Topic: YOUR BEST GROUPS- 444 MARLIN (Read 843 times)

dave hall · « **on:** June 09, 2004, 07:47:46 PM »

BEFORE I TRY THIS ROUND.I WAS WONDERING WHAT YOU GUYS WERE GETTING FOR GROUPS AT A 100yds. WITH FACTORY ROUNDS OR YOUR HANDLOADS.
I'M GETTING IT IN A MARLIN MOD. 444.WHATS THE LONGEST SHOT YOU WOULD TAKE WITH THE TRIP-4.THANK A LOT :wink:

leverfan · « **Reply #1 on:** June 09, 2004, 07:56:10 PM »

Dave-

My old Marlin 444SS will shoot "minute of venison" as far as I can see well enough to use the peep sight. I shoot bullets in the 265 grain to 300 grain class, and I wouldn't hesitate to take a shot out to 200 yards. That covers pretty much 98% of the big game hunting done in North America. I've never measured the groups, but they aren't very big. It's an accurate rifle, and an accurate round.

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** June 10, 2004, 05:01:57 AM »

Dave - the 444 is more accurate and versatile than most shooters realize. I have 3 of them - they are all Winchester Big Bores, and I have 3 different bores - a 6 groove 26" 1:26 twist, a 20" 1:38 twist and a 18" 1:12 twist. All bores are firelapped to enhance accuracy and they can shoot. With open sights and 58 yr old eyes I can still put them all into the same yellow spot on a shoot and see target at 100 yds. With the longer barrel I try for 300 gn or heavier loads for some serious long range shooting and one of our posters, FAsmus, has a single shot in the 444 that he casts out a 480 gn bullet that he shoots over 63 grains of black powder for real serious (like 1K) accuracy.

If you do not firelap your bore you can expect 4" groups at 100 yds with facotry ammo. You will cut that in half with firelapping, and custom handloading cast gas checked bullets may get you one-hole groups at the same distance. With the heavier bullets, or even with the lighter ones for that matter, the energy of the 444 at 300 yds is on par with the 44 magnum at the muzzle. The Triple 4 is a serious contender and more than adequate for anything on this continent. It has also taken the African big five from a Contender, so it has earned its merit and its own standing.

Another of our posters rebarrelled a M48 Yugo Mauser in 444 and shoots 180 gn loads for varmit and 300s for game. The 444 has a very wide application and I really enjoy the overall fun of shooting it. Go for it. HTH. Mikey.

NYH1 · « **Reply #3 on:** June 10, 2004, 06:25:48 AM »

Dave, I have a Marlin 444 with the 22 inch barrel. I've only used Remington 240 gr. factory ammo in it. It will shoot 2 to 2 1/2 inch groups all day at 100 yards. I'm gonna try the Hornady 265 gr. ammo next. The 444 Marlin doesn't get the respect in deserves. Its accurate, hard hitting, and I would hunt everything on the North American Continent except the "GRIZZ" or "Polar bear's" with it. I wouldn't hunt them with a 45-70 either. I would use at least a 375 H&H for them!

dave hall · « **Reply #4 on:** June 10, 2004, 01:52:03 PM »

MIKEY.WHAT IS FIRELAPPING,AND WHO CAN DO IT.THANKS

leverfan · « **Reply #5 on:** June 10, 2004, 07:27:17 PM »

Dave-

Firelapping consists of shooting lapping grit coated bullets down your barrel at modest velocity. You can buy kits that let you impregnate bullet surfaces with grit, and then hand load them, or you can buy pre-coated bullets. The Tubb Final Finish Bore Conditioning System, named after rifle competitor David Tubb, is probably the best know kit of the latter type. Cabela's, Brownells, Midway, and Midsouth all carry Tubb's bullets. Directions come with the bullets, so I won't bore you with the details here. I don't believe that there is any name brand, commercial source for pre-loaded 444 firelapping rounds, it's a handloader's trick.

Mikey · « **Reply #6 on:** June 11, 2004, 03:00:54 AM »

Dave: leverfan is right, this is a handloader's trick but it is one of the most 'fun' things I've done with rifles like the 444s. If you drop down to Veral Smith's forum you will find a lot of information about barrel lapping or fire lapping (same, same). Both Veral Smith and Marshall Stanton at Beartooth Bullets sell bore lapping kits, and the instructions on how to go about the process. It is not expensive or terribly time consuming and your finished product makes you glad - at least in my cases and most others I have read of.

I have used the Beartooth process, which draws heavily from Veral Smith and have had great results. When my lever guns begin to outshoot me at 100 yds, then I know the process works. HTH. Mikey.

Triple4 · « **Reply #7 on:** June 14, 2004, 12:34:57 AM »

3 out of 4 of my Marlins in 444 are firelapped as per the Tech Manual from Beartooth Bullets, the reason we firelap is because in Marlins there are restrictsions in the barrel from screw holes, dovetales, stampings, etc and this acts like a swedge on bullets, if your barrel is running at .4305 and your tight spots are smaller then that then it makes your bullets smaller and we know that smaller bullets have lets accuracy.

Accuracy in stock Marlins with factory rounds I have found will shoot most times at least 3" groups at 100 yards, after firelapping those should shrink by half, this has occured in my three anyway, Handload with the right bullets and the groups may shrink even more. I have had some good days that surprized me with peeps sights ( it's even made people mad shooting next to me that my groups are smaller then theirs shooting their super Magnum with their super scope.

If firelapping is done right you will end up with a barrel that tapers from larger to smaller with no restrictions, it also adds in the ease of barrel cleaning and a much less build up of copper/lead fouling over a longer string of shooting.