Replacement barrel

[Capt. Call]

Hello there:

I have a 444 Marlin and have an idea about replacing the barrel.  Everything is just fine with my gun but I would like to find a octagon barrel for it. Something a little longer and with Ballard rifling. Also I would like to keep it in the 444 cal.......just to be a little different.

Any ideas on how or who can help me out with with this conversion ?

[haroldclark]

Hello, Capt. Call
Just as a point of possible interest, I have a story on the 444 Marlin.  I have a Texas 444 Marlin built in 1970.  I never fired a jacketed bullet through it, but it saw 3,467 cast bullets and the throat eventually erroded out.  My accuracy went south.

I checked with our local gunsmith and he didn't want to tackle barrel replacement.  My old barrel was the original Micro-groove and it was the most accurate 100 yard gun out of my many guns.

Being turned down by the gunsmith, I called Marlin.  The lady told me that a barrel replacement would run $150.  I was astounded at such a good price.   It was in transit within days to Marlin.  A letter accompanied the gun telling them my history with the gun.

Two weeks later the gunsmith at Marlin called and told me that they do not make the 24" barrel any longer and wanted to know if I would like to have the 22" Ballard rifled 6 grove barrel instead.  They replaced the barrel, the forend, magazine tube and the metal cap on the forend.  

I asked if I could have my old barrel and stuff back and they shipped it to me in a separate box.  The rifle arrived a week later.  

I have firelapped it, but haven't worked up any loads yet.

I don't think they make the 444 Marlin barrel in Octagon, but as a last resort you can get the Ballard grooved barrel in round from Marlin.

Harold Clark

[haroldclark]

Hello, Capt. Call
Just as a point of possible interest, I have a story on the 444 Marlin.  I have a Texas 444 Marlin built in 1970.  I never fired a jacketed bullet through it, but it saw 3,467 cast bullets and the throat eventually erroded out.  My accuracy went south.

I checked with our local gunsmith and he didn't want to tackle barrel replacement.  My old barrel was the original Micro-groove and it was the most accurate 100 yard gun out of my many guns.

Being turned down by the gunsmith, I called Marlin.  The lady told me that a barrel replacement would run $150.  I was astounded at such a good price.   It was in transit within days to Marlin.  A letter accompanied the gun telling them my history with the gun.

Two weeks later the gunsmith at Marlin called and told me that they do not make the 24" barrel any longer and wanted to know if I would like to have the 22" Ballard rifled 6 grove barrel instead.  They replaced the barrel, the forend, magazine tube and the metal cap on the forend.  

I asked if I could have my old barrel and stuff back and they shipped it to me in a separate box.  The rifle arrived a week later.  

I have firelapped it, but haven't worked up any loads yet.

I don't think they make the 444 Marlin barrel in Octagon, but as a last resort you can get the Ballard grooved barrel in round from Marlin.

Harold Clark