444 Marlin value?

[TC Shooter]

I was looking at a 444 in a gun shop. I believe it is late 1970s vintage. Appears to be in very good shape. Bluing looks good as well as the stock and forearm. Really does not look like it was used much.

Anyone have an idea of an approximate price range? I owned a 444 back in the late 80s and ended up trading it for a TC Contender. The price I paid for my new 444 back then was $239.

[oso45-70]

TC Shooter,
The 444 lever action in 100% con. is $350.00
The 444 outfitter is 480.00 in 100% con.
The 444/444s Sporter is $465.00 in 100% con.
Hope this helps. Good luck............Joe..............

[TC Shooter]

Thanks - that does help! I think he has $339 on the rifle but it has been there for some time. If the urge to buy really hits me next time I am there I will see how much he is willing to come down to. Kind of miss having a 444!

[cbagman]

:grin: I saw a 444T in a gun shop Saturday in 95% shape for a firm $350..It had the monte carlo straight stock.. Wish I had the funds.. cbagman

[Mikey]

TC - you may find lots of those 70s vintage Marlin 444s around - for some reason people bought them but didn't use them much.  Me, I shoot my 444s more than any of my other calibers.

You can probably get that rifle for about #300 or even a bit less.  Make him an offer, but jump on it.  The rifle will carry the older 1:38 twist 12 groove (microgroove) barrel, but with firelapping she will shoot cast bullets equally as well as jacketed.  There are tons of heavier loads out there today for the 444 that make it capable of taking anything on the North American continent.  

I would go for it, especially if she carries the Monte Carlo stock.  HTH.  Mikey.

[dawei]

SNIP........
 There are tons of heavier loads out there today for the 444 that make it capable of taking anything on the North American continent.  

snip......
Mikey.

Mike: Please provide some references to these loads. Are you talking factory like Buffalo Bore® or hand loads?

[FAsmus]

TC Shooter,

You say: I was looking at a 444 in a gun shop. I believe it is late 1970s vintage. Appears to be in very good shape. Bluing looks good as well as the stock and forearm. Really does not look like it was used much.

Forrest:  Buy the rifle and take it to a good gunsmith to be rebarreled. The issue barrel on old Marlin 444s has an unuseably slow twist in it, something like 1:38! Terrible stuff!

In order for a rifle like this to be used very well at all a man has to have about a 1:16 twist barrel. This is needed in order to stabilize bullets of any useful weight: Not your short, stubby pistol sytle bullets either but nice long heavy weights up in the 400 to 480 grain range.

I have two 444s with 16 twsit barrels on them. This is the way 44 caliber was supposed to be.

Good morning,
Forrest

[Mikey]

dawie:  go onto the Beartooth Bullets web-site (add a www and a .com, skip the spaces and you're there).  They have a tremendous amount of loading data for the 444, and offer a very wide variety of bullet weights for that caliber.  

Right now I am playing with their 300 gn dual crimp gas checked bullet over 52 gns of H322, and my Winchester is thumpin' em one right on top of the other.  That and lots of other loads are available from their web-site.  HTH.  Mikey.

[TC Shooter]

Forrest: Buy the rifle and take it to a good gunsmith to be rebarreled.

That would be far more expense then I am willing to deal with.  The late 80's 444 I owned shot well enough with the factory barrel using the 240 and 265 grain factory loads.  Never got around to reloading for my 444. If I were to buy the used one I would definitely reload for it. I doubt that I would load bullets in the 400 - 480 range. If I decided to shoot the really heavy stuff I would probably opt for a 45-70.

[Plainsman]

A gunshop here has two .444's for sale.  One is from '77 and they want $350, it has a plain stock and is BEAT UP!

The other is from '94 and looks like about 90-95% and they want $400.  I think I'm going to put it on layaway tomorrow.

[MSP Ret]

TC Shooter, you are correct about going to the 45-70 for the heavy stuff, problem solved!!!! However that .444 does sound like fun with the lighter pistol style bullets, since thats all that gun with the slow twist may be capable of shooting accurately (according to Fasmus) have you thought about just getting a .44 Mag (rumored to be inaccurate) or .45 LC (now this in an 1894CBC or 1894 Cowboy is a sweet looking gun) for fun and small stuff with pistol bullets? (I like big holes in paper also)....<><.... :grin:

[Mikey]

MSP ret:  you are one lucky guy.  I had a very detailed response to your last post that I lost inadvertantly and in doing so saved you the necessity of dribbling through the darn thing.  

Anyway - go over to the Beartooth Bullet site and look at the results of their research and testing on the 444 Marlin cartridge - you should be amazed at the accuracy and velocity results they have obtained with their research.

Also, the gunwriter who first tested the 450 Marlin when it was introduced also said that if you own a 444 or a 45-70, there was no need to sell them off to buy one of the 450s.  As for huntin' the ehavy stuff - I think once you read the Beartooth testing results you might have a different opinion of the 444.  HTH.  Mikey.

[TC Shooter]

have you thought about just getting a .44 Mag (rumored to be inaccurate)

Actually, prior to owning my 444 I did own an 1894 in 44 mag. It had the Micro-Groove barrel and was far from being inaccurate! I ended up trading it. Bought one again with exceptionally nice wood back in 99. That thing would not feed - PERIOD! Took it back to the gun shop and he gave me a choice of refund or another gun. But yes , you are correct , for shooting the conventional weight 44 cal bullets the 1894 44 mag probably would make more sense.

[elyod56]

i have a seventies model 444s and a 94 trapper in 44 mag, love them both!the hornady 265 gr softpoint works well with the microgrove and increased velocity over the 44mag. to me they are specialized hunting tools good for large game at close range. i have played around with reduced loads with my 94 and have used it with some success making long days for some jake rabbits. i use the 444 for serious duty only.