how many of you guys have the handi rifle in .444 marlin? How do you like it and how well does it perform? SSS
I have shot a lot of .44 mag's -- though not out of a Handi as yet -- and can tell you that with SAAMI-approved, higher pressure loads, the .44 is more than what the lawyers allow many of todays loading manuals to produce. In other words, the 1986 NRA Handloading book, and Speer Manual #11 show that maximum average product chamber pressure is allowed to reach 43,500 cup. But today you find so many magnum recipes operating at much less in the .44 mag'.
What's the point? A fully-loaded .44 mag' is much closer to a .444 Marlin than one would think from reading the latest, lawyer-approved manuals. Not to mention the fact that if you've got a micro-grooved barrel you can't get the .444's max' velocity with plain-based cast bullets anyway -- if you want decent accuracy. (here we go again! :shock: )
Those are my opinions, based in part upon work with a Marlin in micro-groove, and the .44 out of a revolver using handloads.
Good luck,
SS'