.44 mag to .444 marlin?

[single shot shooter]

has anyone ever tried reboring thier .44 mag handi to shoot .444 marlin?  How did it work? could the reciever hold the pressure? what about the barrel? any info regarding this would be greatly appriciated
SSS

[Mitch in MI]

I believe that both 444 and450 marlin were once regular production barrels. You might also consider a 445 supermag, which would allow you to shoot 44 special and 44 magnum in the modified chamber.

[single shot shooter]

got a picof a 445 shell? i dont think ive heard of that one thanks
SSS

[quickdtoo]

No pics, but...
http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt445sm.htm

[single shot shooter]

tHANKS QUICKDTOO i'll check that out

[jbtazgrabber]

i have a 445sm in a h&r . i love it deer fear it    i built it out of a 44 barrel blank so i dont know exactly how a h&r factory will shot but i will tell you a 444 on a h&r will kick like a mule. brass is expensive but you have to reload to be able to aford to shoot 445 but reg44s are cheap  and shoot well .

[Mitch in MI]

Starline has made 445SM brass for a few years now. Midway sells it for $31/100, which is steep for handgun brass, but 445 is rather rare stuff.
http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/335071

[Gowge]

has anyone ever tried reboring thier .44 mag handi to shoot .444 marlin?  How did it work? could the reciever hold the pressure? what about the barrel? any info regarding this would be greatly appriciated
SSS

SSS, the guys @ Dixie Slugs developed a 44 Mag MAX that uses a cut down 444 case of 1.8" case length in both the rechambered Handi Rifle and a converted Marlin 30-30 with good success.    By going to a longer cartridge case, you're able to use a slower burning rifle powder to take advantage of the additional barrel length.   The rechambered 44 Mag will flat slap the taste out of your mouth!  

The COL of the 44 Mag MAX is the same as a 30-30 so they can be used in a 336 lever action rifle.   It's designed to very effectively use 260-300 grain bullets in a lightweight rifle.  

It's easy to trim 444 cases to the correct length and then ream the inside & fire-form them in the rifle.    You wind up with a very strong case you can reload for decades!     Contact James Gates @ Dixie Slugs about getting your rifle re-chambered to the Mag MAX!  

http://www.dixieslugs.com/

GOOD LUCK!  

[ben.]

I had a 44 Rem Mag rechambered to 444 Marlin about 3 years ago. I shot it a few hundred times with no problem. ben.

[J-Milner]

I just got my 44 mag. barrel back from being rechambered to the Dan Wesson 445 Super Mag. and it seems quite impressive. I decided to go this route instead of the 444 Marlin because I figured the 445 would kick less.

J-

[Ditchdigger]

J Milner; Is the 445 any more accurate than the 44 mag ?Also who did the rechamber,and how much was the cost? JPH 45 and I are pretty interested in this.  Digger

[JPH45]

Digger, we should probably just go in halves on a reamer, or rent one. Maybe we need to talk this one out a little more. As I see it, the 445 in a Handi should have no trouble approaching 2000 fps with a 240-250 grainer. That would be a healthy whack on a whitetail. 1700 or maybe a little better seems doable with 300 grainers, a 45-70 for 2/3 the powder, and as great a bullet selection. Was some talk about this on the old board, but I wasn't interested then (stupido, stupido) Time has me reconsidering. I believe this would be an near perfect short range whitetail rifle.

[Ditchdigger]

JPH I've got  to send mine in to get a 44 barrel first. My Sierra book for handguns showed about 1800 fps. for a 300gr.in a super 14 contender,and 1950 fps for a 240 gr. Digger

[JPH45]

I'll see what I can find out about a reamer. Meanwhile, get yourself a barrel :grin:

[single shot shooter]

i had planned on having it done  to a rossi. but soon found that the action may be too weak.

[Mac11700]

Digger, we should probably just go in halves on a reamer, or rent one. Maybe we need to talk this one out a little more. As I see it, the 445 in a Handi should have no trouble approaching 2000 fps with a 240-250 grainer. That would be a healthy whack on a whitetail. 1700 or maybe a little better seems doable with 300 grainers, a 45-70 for 2/3 the powder, and as great a bullet selection. Was some talk about this on the old board, but I wasn't interested then (stupido, stupido) Time has me reconsidering. I believe this would be an near perfect short range whitetail rifle.

 
How about 2300fps for a 250  Nosler partition...from the 444...if your going to go all out loading to the max for it...the 444 will definitely give you more in that regard...with out the all the problems with getting  the brass for it...granted you don't have the advantage of shooting 44mag ammo in it...but since your reloading for it anyway...there are tons of 44 mag loads available for the 444...and like Sierra states in their 5th edition...the best  accuracy usually comes from at or near max loads for it...so if your going to load it up...why not load at a lower rate to get what you want???
 
In my humble opinion...going the 444 route would be more practical and  advantagous then just having a lenghtend 44 mag with the brass hassle and all...sorta like the difference between a 30-30...and... a 308 velocity wise...and jump up to the real heavy weights...300-350 grainers...no comparison....but...if your just wanting a improved pistol cartridge.....


Mac

[Doubletap]

In my 10" Contender 445 I'm able to push the Lee 430-310 slug out at just about 1800 fps.  The extra 10 inches of barrel should get you something over this for a Handi conversion.  This is using mil-surp 1680  powder.  Recoil is stiff in an iron sighted Contender.   My guess is it will be stiff in a Handi, just slightly lighter than the 444 with the same bullet at it's max velocity with the same slug.
  The practical conversion for the 44 mag is to Triple 4.  Much easier to find brass.  The twist in the factory barrel will be plenty fast to stabilise slugs to about 320 gr.  My current '78 vintage Marlin with micro groove and 1-38 will work with paper patch slugs to over 350 gr.s, so I'm figuring the NEF should do about as well.