Handi in 444 ?

[jr 1968]

Hi, I'am thinking about getting one in 444, and was wondering what twist they have.
Also  anyone that has how do you like it. Your opinoins will be great

jr 1968

[quickdtoo]

Current production 444s are 1:20" twist(all extractors), those made prior to 2007(all ejectors) were 1:38", the 1:20" shoot excellent.  

Tim

[JoseBob]

I have one of the older ones with the 1 in 38" twist. With a green laminate stock, ultra .444.  I put a red dot on it and am very dissatisfied.  Can't seem to get er regulated.  Any way I just took the red dot off and am going to install a regular scope.  I believe that it was made in 2000.  Really well cared for and is still tight. 

I have read that the new 1 turn in 20" barrels shoot the new Hornady Leverlution bullets really good.  I did not understand why H&R made the .44 Mag with a 1 in 20" twist and the .444 with a 1 in 38" twist.  I am glad to see that that has been corrected. 

I got a good feeling about my Ultra.  She should perform much better with the regular scope. 

Draw a fine bead on em Son!  Bobby

[pairishman]

Got one from Gander Mountain.  Shoots the 265gr. Hornady Leverevolution well.

[quickdtoo]

I did not understand why H&R made the .44 Mag with a 1 in 20" twist and the .444 with a 1 in 38" twist.  I am glad to see that that has been corrected. 

I got a good feeling about my Ultra.  She should perform much better with the regular scope. 

H&R doesn't make the 44mag in 1:20", just 1:38" which is the SAAMI spec twist.

It's kinda hard to aim small, miss small with the multi MOA aiming point that red dots have!  

Tim

[manatee1947]

As also posted above, I think the 444 is very underrated, it has been one of the finest hunting guns I have owned and the most reliable killer in the game fields. It never got the respect it deserves because it was "just a lever gun ". I have used one for nearly 40 years and they are great. The 1:38 twist shoots great with the 240, which it was designed for, and is OK with the 265, the new 1:20 handles the heavy better. I have killed deer as far as 265 yards with my marlin using factory loads, I get 1.25 groups @ 100. I use cast in my handi and get clover leaf groups @ 75 yds with 245 gr and 300 gr cast. Despite being low velocity loads a 300gr cast will past through a deer like it wasn't even there, and it does a good job. It is also easy to load for, you will love it.

[bikerbeans]

I bought a new 444 Handi (Illion NY manufacture) couple of months ago.  It would shoot 1 ragged hole @ 50 yards with 240 grain HP/XTPs over 53 grain of IMR3031.  I then modified it to a 410 rifled slug gun.  With brass/plastic 410 hulls it will fling 310 & 355 grain gas checked lead into group approx. 1.5" groups @ 100 yards.  I am quite sure these same bullets would group much better in the all brass 444 cartridge as they would be aligned better in the chamber.  Ohio's deer gun season starts next Monday so with luck I will be able to report what a 44 caliber 355 grain lead slug will do to a whitetail!

BB