.44 mag on SB1 or SB2

[shootinlefty]

I am thinking about purchasing a handi rifle in .44 magnum for primitive season here in Mississippi. As far as accuracy goes, would a new gun on the Sb1 frame be more accurate or a used one on the SB2 frame. Don't know much about H & R's , only have one and it's a .410 shotgun from a child.

[quickdtoo]

Welcome! Any SB2 44mag with a barrel made before Marlin (2007) started making them will give you poor accuracy unless you handload oversize cast bullets, the SB1s have Marlin made barrels that are very accurate, the same can't be said for pre-Marlin made barrels, see the build year list in the FAQs and Help sticky which is mandatory reading for newbies. 

Tim

[shootinlefty]

Thanks Tim. Found an SB2  in .44 mag at Gander Mtn. How can i tell if it has a Marlin made barrell (post 2007)?

[quickdtoo]

By the serial number prefix, if it's 2007 or 2008, it would be have Marlin made barrel, 2006 may or may not be, 2005 and older would have an overbore barrel, see the build year list in the FAQs.

Tim

[yukondog]

I would go with the sb-2 that way you can switch over to a rifle barrel if you wanted to.I think you could take the 44mag barrel off the sb-2 put it on the reciver with the shotgun and then get a rifle barrel from classifide and have 2 guns for the price of one!If my thinking is right.

[shootinlefty]

Thanks for the insight. I had heard that a .44 mag on SB1 sotgun frame would not be as accurate as on a SB2 rifle action, but Tim said his Sb1 .44 was doing the job/.

[kevinsmith5]

Personally, if I was just getting the one gun for that primitive season down there I don't think 44 mag would be my choice.  45-70 would give you more choices in loads, greater range, and the barrels have been good on all years.  I like my 44, but my 45-70 leads the pack in the "if I'm only gonna have one" category. Unless you already own another gun chambered in 44 mag....