Shikari questions

[uncledub]

I seem to have knack for coming across odd ball guns.  My local gun seller has a Model 155 Shikari in stock that looks really good and still has the cleaning rod.  The barrel says it is a .444 Marlin.  Is this correct caliber for a Shikari?  All my searching turns up is 45-70 and .44 mag.  Also that some of the .44 mags were rechambered. If it had been rechambered, would someone go to the trouble of remarking the caliber?  Is the .444 Marlin a good caliber for this rifle?
Thanks guys for the info I know you are going to pass on.

[quickdtoo]

It's not an original chambering, 45-70 and 44mag were it, any way you look at it, it's not a safe rifle to shoot, the M155 has a cast iron frame, so even if it's a modern barrel, it wouldn't be safe for full pressure loads,  the underlug of the original Model 155 barrel is soldered on, not welded like modern rifles, that's one reason why H&R Inc never made any high pressure chambered single shots. The SAAMI MAP for the 44mag is 36kspi, 444Marlin is 42kpsi and has a bigger case head, so more breech thrust.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,227306.msg1099258643.html#msg1099258643

[uncledub]

Thanks so much Tim for sharing your knowledge.  The rifle looks really nice but if it is unsafe, you have saved me from making a possibly disastrous mistake.
A fine example of why this site is so valuable.

[zackyholdem]

i hate when people switch barrels and frames and put other people at risk just to make an extra 30 bucks, anytime i see something like this i try to explain it to the seller that it aint safe, gotta protect the other handiholics 

[gcrank1]

There is the possibility that it is a later 444 barrel.

[Goatwhiskers]

Not the barrel that's the problem, it's the frame.  Cast iron just can't stand the pressures.  Goatwhiskers

[quickdtoo]

There is the possibility that it is a later 444 barrel.

I think I addressed that possibility. 

Tim

It's not an original chambering, 45-70 and 44mag were it, any way you look at it, it's not a safe rifle to shoot, the M155 has a cast iron frame, so even if it's a modern barrel, it wouldn't be safe for full pressure loads.....

[gcrank1]

The way I was thinking about this is that, as you said, the soldered underlug in a rechambered barrel would NOT be good, but if it is a later barrel it could be OK as a barrel, though NOT on that frame.
There are still some 'salvage possibilities' and/or parting it out if it could be bought right. I would guess that we may have some buyers if it is a later barrel.
Just dont try shooting it as is.