Marlin 444 Question

[bearhunter338-06]

For all you 444 shooters:

I was wondering if anyone has tried shooting 44rem. Mag. ammo out of the Marlin 444 lever action. Would you recommended it for pinking.

 

[mikeystew]

no, don't do it. the .44 mag is a smaller diameter at the base than a 444 and can rupture in the 444 causing damage to the gun. the myth about the 444 being a longer version of the 44 mag is false. even if it could be used the pressures are high enough that the unsupported 1" jump to the lands would quickly cause throat erosion killing the rifles accuracy. the only cheap plinking loads for the 444 are handloads. i make a homemade version of hornady light magnum with 265 grain FP IL and RE-7 for about $11 for a box of 20 including the prorated cost of brass.

 

[sunray]

Like mikeystew says, the .444 isn't just a longer .44 Mag.

 

[sgt.rock]

If you do shoot .44 mag ammo out of it anyways, even though we are saying not to, Please take video of the event for youtube. (Just kidding, you will be hurt if you try it. )

 

[ben hunchak]

Just load the .444 down to .44 levels, although you won't be able to use all the .44 mag. bullets available as they will have to much OAL.

 

[bearhunter338-06]

Thank people thats what I thought.

 

[pastway]

Just load the .444 down to .44 levels, although you won't be able to use all the .44 mag. bullets available as they will have to much OAL.

I tried loading the 444 down, using several different recipes. I never could get results that satisfied me. I found a really good solution to the problem, bought a Trapper in 44 mag.

Standard answer to these kind of questions, buy one of each.

 

[ben hunchak]

I guess that I find the .44 Mag. a much nicer cal. to use and esp. to reload for.

 

[07blackwater]

If you want to plink, get a Rossi lever action in .357 and shoot .38's in it. It's cheap.

Save the .444 for a camp (bear protection) gun.

I have both. I love my .444 but that ##### is heavy and expensive to feed just for fun!

 

[pastway]

If you want to plink, get a Rossi lever action in .357 and shoot .38's in it. It's cheap.

Save the .444 for a camp (bear protection) gun.

I have both. I love my .444 but that ##### is heavy and expensive to feed just for fun!

I use cast bullets (from wheel weights), 265 gr and 300 gr bullets in the 444, and the same ones in the 44 mag. So the only difference in price is the difference between H110 powder in the 44 and H4198 powder in the 444. But the 44 is much more fun to shoot after about 10 rounds. I also load some light stuff in the 44 using 200 gr cast bullets and a few grs of titegroup powder. You can shoot them all day and neither your wallet nor your shoulder will complain.