Long Barrel Marlins, unknown and unappreciated!

BIGREDD

BIGREDD

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So I finally found a MARLIN 444S after shooting one about Ten years ago... I realized way back then that these guns were very good. I watched Toomer spank a 400 yard steel silhouette target repeatedly in the vitals off hand and that 150 pound target swung hard! I found the recoil on his straight stocked model manageable and learned that the pistol grip 24 inch barrels were even more forgiving.
We took my new acquisition out on the range and shot some Leverevolution ammo at the 200 yard target. After shooting one low and off the board I adjusted my hold over and put the next three shots into two and a half inches. Toomer did the same and his group was nearly identical. I am gonna pull the scope off the .356AE drop it on the 444 and give it another go on the weekend.
I think these guns are very underestimated for accuracy at mid to long range and with the new bullets from Hornady they really show their stuff.
Anybody else got one of the 24" Marlin 444 or 444S?
Does yours shoot like these ones?
 
The Marlin 444 & 45/70 are probably the only Marlin lever actions I've ever admired. I put one of these rifles on my "want" list years ago..like you maybe when I hit the 20yr from now mark I'll actually get one. Enjoy yours!!
 
BIGREDD,

I had a Marlin 444S a few years ago, and it would consistently shoot 1/2" - 3/4" 3-shot groups at 100 yards for me, with a powerful handload I made up for it. This load had a 300 grain Speer JSP going an honest 2150fps. That rifle was a GREAT shooter!

I have no idea why I sold it.

Jeff.
 
Well g'day BIRRED, nice to see you back :)

Marlins are the best of the newer "can openers" :D IMHO!

I had one in .375BB.
With a scope most rounds would go into 1-1/2" groups.
One load in particular that was a max load would shoot less than an inch consistanly :eek:
I sold that gun after hunting with it for 8-10yrs, I never killed a thing with it :mad: There is such a thing as a "lucky" or "unlucky" gun & it was one of them!

I like the new Cowboys in 38-55, loaded properly a 220gn Horn at 18-1900fps would be a deadly deer & B Bear gun.
 
BIGREDD, good you checked in. I can cancel the plane we had chartered, there were a bunch of us strapping lads ready to head to Ontario and get a search party organized. We thought you might have been abducted by some radical vegetarian group and they might be doing awful things to your personage. We weren't interested in taking any names just kicking some ass.:D

Sounds like you found yourself quite a smoke pole.:)
 
Sorry to say that mine is a 22" barrel, but that 'lil .444 is probably one that will be with me 'till trail's end. I took my bull elk with it this season. Never have I seen such an authoritive take down. Hornady 265gr. FP IL behind 42.8 gr. IRM 4198 (2100 fps). I've topped it with a B&L Balvar 1.5-6 that I bought from M1Garandfather.
 
:eek:I had to pinch myself and reread this thread. BR talking nicely about a "can opener" rifle!!!:D Here is my Triple 4. Not a 24" though. Plain jane 22 incher i am afraid.

DSCF2544.jpg
 
If I were to sleep with one of my rifles it would be my XLR .45-70. What a riot to shoot, but the LeveRevolution isn't he be all and end all of ammo. It did in m y bull moose at a hair under 200 yds this past fall and quite impressively, but a buddy has loaded me up a bunch of real smokers. With the pistol grip and off a lead sled, they're still startling to shoot but manageable. (You should be hearing Tim the tool man here) Manly stuff, a 500 gr TSX. There's something about a lever gun - everybody owes it to themselves to own at least a couple. They carry so well, rarely screw up and are just plain a pile of fun.
 
sbtennex said:
they're still startling to shoot but manageable. (You should be hearing Tim the tool man here) Manly stuff, a 500 gr TSX. There's something about a lever gun - everybody owes it to themselves to own at least a couple. They carry so well, rarely screw up and are just plain a pile of fun.
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Well said!!!!!
Bah, try some John Y Canuck handloads with a 500 gr hardcast @ 1860fps... startling indeed:eek:
 
Win94 said:
:eek:I had to pinch myself and reread this thread. BR talking nicely about a "can opener" rifle!!!:D Here is my Triple 4. Not a 24" though. Plain jane 22 incher i am afraid.

DSCF2544.jpg
Click to expand...

Holy walnut batman... that is some serious figure on that Marlin. As far as the difference between the long and short barrels I really don't know... but I would like to do some chrony comparisons with both. All I know for sure is the long barrels are accurate as hell at ridiculous ranges.

For what it's worth.. my first rifle was a lever and my last will be the same.:cool:
 
Win94 said:
:eek:I had to pinch myself and reread this thread. BR talking nicely about a "can opener" rifle!!!:D Here is my Triple 4. Not a 24" though. Plain jane 22 incher i am afraid.

DSCF2544.jpg
Click to expand...
Very nice!! The wood on my short 444S pales by comparison. I like my 1895GS in 45-70 but the 444 is a keerper as well. The Hornady 265grFP with IMR 3031 or IMR 4198 has worked well accuracy wise and on Moose & Deer.
I've recently started 'trying' some cast SWC 250grGC and 325grGC loads that show promise.
 
I think its shooting time:):):)

My good buddy has an 1895 SS up at the cottage I'll bring down to shoot with my guide gun. I'll bring the dies and some filler:) for em, and we can try a few different loads. I know a guy on the way to your place who is on here with a 444 version of the guide gun too. I think you know him too. That other guy above us making the cowboy comment has a 28 inch 1886 in 45-70. ;)

I dont know what it is with some of those older marlins. My buddies 1895 has very nice figured wood on it too, and for a 25 year old gun, its in as new shape. THe wood is 10X nicer than on the guide gun.
It might be good to have a few different shooters to get an opinion on the ported vs non ported. I think the porting makes a big felt difference, but some dont agree.
 
Rembo said:
Win94 said:
:eek:I had to pinch myself and reread this thread. BR talking nicely about a "can opener" rifle!!!:D Here is my Triple 4. Not a 24" though. Plain jane 22 incher i am afraid.

now...I'm a straight grip Marlin kind of guy...but with wood like that one I could have a pistol grip....;):cool:
Click to expand...

I know what you mean...the wood on that Marlin stock gives me wood! :eek:
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