I recently traded for an early Pedersoli rolling block in .444 marlin. It is the 24 inch barrel version from Navy Arms. Rolling blocks are new to me,if anyone here has used one in .444 any help would be greatly appreciated.
thank you.

I have a Lone Star Rifle RB in 45-70.
The Remington Rolling Block has an interesting history fron military to target to hunting guns.Check that out .

Some of the early Pedersoli rollers had problems with their extractors rolling too far to the rear. This would allow the next cartridge to go into the chamber AHEAD of the extractor hook, thus jamming the rifle until the cartridge was removed.

A good single shot smith can easily correct this problem.

It's a strong action for a roller, and any factory-equivalent load would be safe. You'll be limited mostly by the amount of recoil you find comfortable.

I've had good luck with heavy (300 grs or more) bullets and heavy loads of Re7. IMR3031 is also good in heavy loads with a heavy crimp to encourage full combustion.
Regards, Joe

Some of the early .45-70 rifles also had issues with the land diameter being smaller than .450. I don't know about the .444 ones, but I suggest that you slug the bore. All that said, they do shoot well.

The .444 is a bit of a goofy cartridge and rifling combination when the twist is the slow 38" version.
It used a relatively long case for the 336 Marlin that worked with the stubby pistol bullet. In turn the rate of twist of the rifling was originally one turn in 38" inches. If you are happy with the stubby bullets I guess you are covered.
In a single shot this round could use a long heavy bullet loaded at a much longer OAL. These bullets would weight anywhere from 350 grains up to maybe 500 grains - except they would require a 1 turn in 18" to 22" twist.
I would recommend that you check the twist of your rifling and report back.
Using the rate of twist you can look at the maximum bullet length and the estimated weight.
I suggest the heavier bullets if you want accuracy with lead bullets at longer ranges. If you are happy plinking with the light bullets you are already set with the standard loading data in manuals using 4227,4198 and 3031.
Withthe really slow 38" twist rifling significantly reduced loads may not shoot well.

I have a marlin 444 with the 1-38 twist. 300 grn, both cast and jacketed are the best shooting bullets I've used in it.

quote:

theback40
one of us
Posted 05 October 2012 03:47Hide Post
I have a marlin

Please advise where and what brand mold you got for the 300 gr bullet ? Thanks

What are the actual bore and goove diameters for the .444? Someone told me they are the same as a long 44 magnum with the grooves being .429-.430.

My friend had one of the first ones .Slow twist and was loaded with the handgun bullet >That bullet driven much faster than the handgun would come apart in the deer .The gun was sold.Now with better twist and better bullet it should work better .
I'll keep my 45-70 !

Concho, fwiw, one of my friends has a Marlin 444. He shoots the Lee 310-429 bullet out of it with AA 2200 and just screams about the accuracy he gets.

quote:

Originally posted by dwheels:
What are the actual bore and goove diameters for the .444? Someone told me they are the same as a long 44 magnum with the grooves being .429-.430.

Doesn't matter what the SAAMI specs are for the bore, Perdersoli doesn't care. My .45-70 RB has a groove diameter of 0.454", well under the standard 0.458" value. Land diameter is around 0.445", pretty darn tight. That said it shoots 400-grain RCBS cast bullets extremely well (sub-moa) if I used gas checks.

quote:

Concho, fwiw, one of my friends has a Marlin 444. He shoots the Lee 310-429 bullet out of it with AA 2200 and just screams about the accuracy he gets.

Sure, modern Marlins have a 1:20" twist. He may not be so happy with the old 1:38" rate, although a short blunt cast bullet has a better chance of stability in the slow twist than a similar weight jacketed bullet does.

.

quote:

Concho, fwiw, one of my friends has a Marlin 444. He shoots the Lee 310-429 bullet out of it with AA 2200 and just screams about the accuracy he gets.

Thank You Doubless ! I have a 1901 and I'm making it a .444 + a 20 Shotgun , the action is like new and it will be a beauty when completed if I ever settle down to get it done ?

As others have stated, check the twist of rour 444. Also does it have the microgroove rifling?

If it has the 1 in 38" twist I would try the Hornady 265gr bullet, it was originally made for the 444 or their 300gr XTP bullet.

My barrel is new from Green Mountain 1/38 twist , I wqill chamber it .444 and also have a new half octagon 20 ga shotgun BBL to mount on same action with Lock rings so can remove and have a rifle, shotgun .

I have a Marlin 444S with the old mirco groove barrel and use both the 265 hornady and the XTP in 240 gr and find the excellent killers on pigs and deer.
Woodleigh released last year a 280gr for the 444.
When i spoke to Geoff and Eric from woodleigh at the last SSAA show in sydney they said they have made them with what they call there black powder jacket which means they are designed with the velocitys of the 444 in mind. i bought a box but have not tried them yet.