I FINALLY got out to shoot this puppy today!!

This is a rechamber of a 14" stainless factory 44mag barrel. The external finish of this barrel was satin finished after Mike engraved the barrel 444 Marlin. The chamber is nice and smooth without any signs that it originally was a 44mag. The throat was cut to accept 300 grain bullets. Mike drilled and tapped it for a 6 screw weaver style base and i added LOCTITE , the 4x Leupold and rings. No brake was added at my request (no additional noise, thank you!)

The first seven test loads all contained Nosler's 240 JHP, one load with H335 (20 rounds) and the other six with AA 2015BR (20 rounds). The following pic reflects a few groups at 25 yards from both powders, the only difference in the different loads was the shooter! The more i shot the more the groups opened, LOL! The 444 Marlin without a break is a handful. I did attempt a few groups at 100 but my target being a 1" square was too small for the 4x, these groups were approx. 2". I will be shooting again at 100 yards later this week with a larger target.



I will report back on 100 yard accuracy. I am EXTREMELY impressed with this rechamber job. Very high quality work and attention to detail!

THANKS MIKE!! Lookin forward to another barrel REAL soon!!

Great shootin Mike. The problem I find with the 444 in a short barrel is..........the short barrel Kicks like hell don't it??? The thing of it is...The older ya get the worse it hurts
Lookin forward to bringing mine up this summer.

I didn't say I was gonna shoot it now ....just that I would bring it

Good job Mike! Any bruises to tell us about. I heard that barrel draws blood. I'm not going to bother you to try that one out.
Rich Jake

Aww, yeah sure, rub it in ! But then again I wouldn't expect any less from a fellow "gator belly" . You sir, I now believe are ready for one of those "big foot" sightings up there.
Good shooting Mike, looks like it is everything and more as we expected. Good job on your end to mbm .
Jeff

Mike, Who did the rechamber? Thanks, Lone Hunter

Hey,try this load out 47.2grs of H4198 and a 240gr XTP.My 14" .444Marlin just loves this load at 100yrds I can keep them 1.5"

Jules, RJ & Jeff, gotta tell ya, I'm HOOKED!! I already have another box loaded for the next session.

Mike, Thanks. I have a 10" 44 Mag barrel I am thinking of rechambering to 444 Marlin. Should be a handfull. Lone Hunter

I have 2 .444 marlin hand guns a TC contender and a encore. They both shoot 1 to 1.25" groups,I use 180 gr. Hornaday XTP bullets I load them with 56 grs. 4895 &50 grs.4198, these bullets tame the recoil down a bit and give you good velocity for long range shots. I have taken several deer with these guns at ranges from 20-135 yrds. with terrific knockdown power if a deer is hit in the shoulder it will spin him around 180 degrees and he is done. 90% of the time you will find the bullet under the hide on the opposite side retaing 95% of its weight. I believe it will take deer consistently out to 200 yrds.
Recoil wise don't fight it go with the flow believe me but that is another story.
A 10" barrel is a little to short for that cal. you will lose to much velocity because you won't burn all the powder in that short of a barrel.

Way to go Mike and Mike! 300 grain bullets???
I'd be inclined to shoot lighter pills...maybe its just me but I dont like knocking my hat off while trying to hold onto my piece
I bet your thinking about putting more than 4x on there for those 100yd groups aint you?
Good Luck!!

This could be just the thing for the 14" Hunter Barrel I picked up a few months ago! 14" with a break would be loud but may save blood.
What does OTT charge for a rechamber?

Great results and good shooting.

Another target!!



I am starting to get the hand of this thing now. All groups today were shot one handed using a Harris bipod and a "rice bag" under the grip. The largest group ran right at 1". Think i am happy with this barrel??

BTW, Kickedby444 was there to witness this group! He did shoot it too!

[ 04-27-2003, 02:57: Message edited by: MSSmagnum ]

Hey nice shooting there Michael. I knew it was more accurate than me, with or without the swelling. LOL. Hey, you gonna have to change that rice, before it becomes flour and then "hard tack".

Good pic of Jim too riding the wave. You guys kill me.

All groups today were shot one handed using a Harris bipod and a "rice bag" under the grip.

Take care,