Marlin model 444 Q&A session

[R.W.Dale]

'm about to take the plunge on a preowned M444 for three and a quarter. I figure it'll make nice companion to my .35 caliber 336, I'm really stoked about my first bigbore.......SO...

The model 444 what is it? Is it built on a 336 action or is it a pseudo 1895?

Micro groove rifling, I wonder what if any benifets there are over ballard type rifling?

Both of my marlins are pre crossbolt saftey guns. I wonder... with the hammer down does the firing pin rest on a primer or is it a rebounding pin like newer winchesters.

[Mikey]

krochus:  The Model 444 is basically an oversized 336.  It was re- designed for the cartridge.  Mine was a honey, stonger than snot.  It is not a psuedo 1895. 

Microgroove rifling - no benefit to the use of cast, gas-checked bullets unless it has been firelapped.  If not, you can stick with jacketed slugs from 240 to 300 gn, or possibly heavier.  For many of us, the 444 really shines with hardcast, gas-checked slugs that can easily exceed jacketed slug velocity and the microgroove barrel will turn out excellent accuracy (see Beartooth Bullet website).  I question whether there are any benefits to the use of Ballard rifling over a properly lapped microgroove barrel for cast bullet work but I could be dead wrong on that one. 

I believe the firing pin on the older Marlins is captured by a recoil spring.  I do not believe the hammer resting on the firing pin causes the firing pin to rest on the primer.  Don't they have a half cock??  Mikey.

[WyoStillhunter]

I have a 1977 vintage 444S (pre-safety) with MicroGroove rifling and 22" bbl.  Cost was $350 delivered earlier this year.  So far I'm using jacketed ammo, both factory and handloads.  This will be my primary gun for antelope, deer, and elk this Fall.  I will also have a black bear tag...just in case I catch up to one.

My 444 and my 35 336 are set up with Williams receiver sights.  I'll use the 35 Rem. for additional marksmanship practice as the season approaches.  But come hunting season the 35 Rem., 30-30, '06, and 35 Whelen will sit in the closet.  2006 will be The Year of the .444.
 

[Mikey]

WyoStillHunter:  My very first 444 was a 1970 vintage Marlin with the Monte Carlo stock and the 24" bbl.  It would shoot any jacketed slug with incredible accuracy and I wish I still had it.  That was before I learned about guys like Veral Smith and Marshall Stanton (Beartooth Bullets) and borelapping and using heavy cast slugs in microgroove bbls. 

The last Elk I took was a 700 lb cow at about 75-100 yds.  My 444 shot right through her (square hole in and square hole out and kept on truckin'), she took two steps ('bout 10') and crumbled.  I didn't want to shoot for the shoulder as I had just done that on a 400 lb Russian Boar and the same 330 gn hardcast slug I used for the Elk had made sausage out of that Boar's shoulder.  I wanted to put as much Elk into my freezer as possible and those hardcast slugs can do a lot of damage to major bone structures and the surrounding tissue (roasts, etc.)

I sure do hope you get to make 'Ought-6' the year of the 444.  Mikey.

[WyoStillhunter]

Thanks, Mikey.  I haven't gone the bore lapping/cast route yet.  But Marshall's three articles are printed out and stashed in the front of the 3-ring binder I use to keep track of my .444 loads and performance.

For this year I will probably use the Hdy. Lt. Mag 265 gr. FP factory stuff.  There's a chance a "small-batch" ammo producer will send me his new .444 product to field test.  If so, great!  I'll use that.  But for now it will be Hdy. 265 gr., factory or handloads.