444 Marlin

[boatboy]

I have quite a collection of Handi Rifles. I recently bought a hand gun chambered in 444 Marlin. Should I buy another Handi Rifle in that caliber? Does any one have that barrel? Can I just but that barrell and put it on one of mine?
I guess I am getting to the point I figure I may have a few too many of these

Thoughts???

Hank

[quickdtoo]

Yup, the late model .444 Marlin H&R shoots all loads very well, mine shoots all factory ammo 1½" at 100yds, handloads a lot better.  H&R will only fit accessory barrels at the factory, they won't sell barrels without fitting them, but you can fit a second hand barrel yourself, buy one in the H&R Classifieds here at GBO, over half of the forty some H&Rs I have were bought as parts and I fitted the barrels myself, see the barrel fitting info in the FAQs and Help if you need it, some second hand barrels fit just fine, others don't.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,118881.msg1098392036.html#msg1098392036

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,120494.msg1098403886.html#msg1098403886

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,124487.msg1098436387.html#msg1098436387

[dpe.ahoy]

Got one of them myself.  Like Tim's mine shoots very well, and I might add they handle great too.  The weight is appreciated when you touch it off.  DP

[gomerdog]

I guess I am getting to the point I figure I may have a few too many of these

This may be one of those addictions where it may not be possible to have a few too many.

[petemi]

My question is who do you get to hold onto the .444 handgun while you shoot it........not me.  A good friend owns Dukes Sporting Goods north of me in Newberry, MI.  I went in there one time a goodly many years ago, and M.J., the owner had a matched pair of .45-70 revolvers for sale.  I picked one up and handled it and put it down.  There was no way I could imagine shooting it with my little Wop hands.  It's less painful to throw rocks

Pete

[ndindy]

I have a lever in .444.  Recoil is.... stout.  I don't want to shoot a pistol in that caliber :laugh:

[Graycg]

I shoot Lyman 310 grain Lead semi-wadcutter gas checked bullets and LBT 300 Grain WFNGC bullets over unique and 2400, just like I do in the 45-70.  Recoil isn't bad and a 300-310 grain lead slug at 1200-1800 fps will kill most things it hits, especially those pesky paper targets.... 

regards,
 Graycg

[boatboy]

Thanks to all for your thoughts I just got a chance to check this. I was deer hunting most of the weekend. I bought this hand gun a couple days before deer season started here in Michigan. I was lucky enough to get it before my friend Scott left to hunt. I was scared of it a bit and Scott being more experianced with large caliber contenders shot it for me before I did, It is a handful but it really is managable. I took the gun deer hunting and thought I would use it if I got a less than 50 yard shot. I need to practice with it my friend put 3 in 3 inches at about 75 yards I am not that comfortable yet.
The Gun is a Magnum research Lone Eagle. I will need a Handi Rifle now to play with.

[Cottonwood]

I haven't shot a 444 Marlin Handi Rifle, but have the Marlin XLR and it is not as stout as I thought it would be.

[wreckhog]

This is all theory so far. But it sounds just as fun as a 45-70 but with .44 pistol bullets (of which I have thousands.) This weekend I hope to load up my .444 Hornady (the leper of .444 brass) cases with a 2.8cc Lee scoop of Trail Boss and a plated 240gr bullet for plinking. If it works, I'll have a big bore plinker for 16 cents a shot (bullet 8 cents, primer 4 cents, Trail Boss powder 4 cents, brass free with barrel). I will say the load data is sparse compared to 45-70.