Convert 44Mag Handi to 444Marlin

[rock-steady]

I'm sure this subject has been covered before, but I can't get the search feature to work. So, could anyone explain the scope of work involved to convert a 44Mag Handi to 444 Marlin. How difficult and how expensive? And is the 445 conversion a better idea? Thanks.

[Winter Hawk]

This has been done by several folks.  Fatbird on the Yahoo NEF-H&R Singleshot forum comes to mind.  I believe all it entails is cutting a new chamber.  I hadn't thought about it for a while, but I may have to go that route myself!

-Winter Hawk-

[Ditchdigger]

The 445 can be done by hand,but I'm not sure about the 444.With the 445 you can still shoot the 44 mag and 44 spl. in it,but the 444 chamber is larger in dia. than the 44.Everyone seems happy with the 445 rechamber,and they're getting 1975 fps with the 300 gr.XTP and 2166 fps with the 265gr. Hornady's. Also less recoil,and powder.  Digger

[warf73]

I would go with the 445SM but that’s me and I have one.

The 445SM is a great brush round, not saying the 444Marlen isn’t but how many folks do you know in your neck of the woods who has one?

Ow one more thing that will help you deside.

Do you reload?
If the answer is NO then the 444Marlen is the only way you can go.
The 445SM isn’t a production round (could be wrong).

Warf

[rock-steady]

I have killed many whitetails (14 or 15) with my 444 Marlin.  I know two other guys that hunt with the 444. Deerslaying round, no doubt. The reason I'm trying to  find out info on the 44 to 444 conversion, is that this year Mississippi made it legal to hunt in primitive weapon season with Handi-Rifles chambered for .38 caliber or larger. A lot of folks are talking about the 44 to 444 conversion. I reload 12 different centerfire rounds, so one more won't make any difference.

[jbtazgrabber]

ok been shooten handys 4 17 plus years,,,,,thought the 357 max.was best deer cal. in world till a big fella took 1  behind the shoulder a ran400 yds to the other hunter,who never shot the morning but got a big deer....went to 445 4 years or longer....its the best <so far> deer stoper i found .....killed 6 or 7 deed in tracks.....even some 140 lbs<thats preety big around my neck of woods>i shoot a 200 gr xtp at 2000 fps....never lost a deer yet....i got a reamer for the 444 but i dont think ill ever need it......if you do send me a pm ill rent it to you,,,,,,but i would try a 445 first.then you will forget about the 444,,,,,,,,,,jb

[rock-steady]

I hear what you're screaming jbtazgrabber. Personally, I would be more than happy leavin a 44 Mag unreamed. But my quest for knowledge on this matter is based on the uninformed down here thinking all you have to do is ream the chamber of a 44 to lengthen to 444. I reload 44 Mag and 444 Marlin, and know they require differnt case holders due to different rim thickness. So I'm guessing there is ejector work to be done. Also, twist rates in the rifling and heavier vs lighter bullets may come into play. I want more info please.

[quickdtoo]

Here are some cartridge dimensions...




445 Supermag

[jbtazgrabber]

if quicks picture anit worth a thousand words then ill send you 1 of each cal .and let you see them....jb......just let me know a adress.......jb

[LEO]

I don't know about the technical aspects of the conversion in question, but I do have  a comment on the Mississippi primative weapons season and the 444 Marlin/445 supermag cartridge.  As the law is currently written the 444 would not be a legal cartridge in that the law states the cartridge must be 38 caliber or larger, and designed/manufactured prior to 1900.  I am not sure of the exact date of the 444 but I know it is sometime in the early 1960s.  However the primative weapons law is going to be reviewed for the 2006/07 season so that could change.  But I do like the idea of a 444 handi, I had a Marlin for a while and really liked the cartridge, great accuracy, great performance.  Good luck on the conversion.

[quickdtoo]

This is getting a little off topic, but it's been discussed before and the type of rifle, not the caliber/cartridge, as long as it is .38 cal or larger, is what the law applies to....otherwise the .44mag and .500S&W wouldn't be legal either. The MDWFP list below does not exclude any calibers that the H&R/NEF rifles are chambered in other than those smaller than .38 cal....

http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=10913

The law itself....

http://www.mdwfp.com/Level2/Wildlife/pdf/Final/2005/Primitive%20Weapons.pdf

[Nightrain52]

Quick-If I interpet the law correctly then H&R-NEF rifles must be 45-70, 45-90, 38-55, and be loaded with blackpowder or a blackpowder substitute. Does that sound right?

[quickdtoo]

Nope, only muzzle loading firearms must use black powder/substitute. Cartridge firearms must use metallic cartridges and have exposed hammer, and must be of a type or kind manufactured prior to 1900, it makes no mention of restricted calibers other than .38 or bigger. Like I said, even the .500 S&W is legal...

http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12535

http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=12119

http://www.mdwfp.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=14247

Tim

[LEO]

Quickdtoo, sorry about getting off topic, and as far as the discussions mentioned, as you can see I am relatively new to the board and haven't had the opportunity to go back to far on the previous discussions.  As far as the cartridge information I gave, I called the MS FWP headquarters in Jackson to confirm it, I was advised that the law did apply to cartiridges also but there was so much confusion about the law that it had sort of been a free for all this year and that with Katrina and the fact that the intent of the law was to harvest more deer that they really hadn't worried about it as long as it appeared that people were trying to do right.  I was also advised that they would clarify the law this year to reduce confusion but it was unsure at this time what those clarifications would entail.  I apologize again for bringing up what apparently on this board was a dead horse.