Back to the Big Marlin II

[HAWKEYESATX]

After a long 30 years of waiting, since I was a young man of 20 years old, and 2 years into my 4 year enlistment in the Air Force, as a Security Specialist (Security Forces), I finally got the new Marlin 444 in .444 Marlin!
I had read articles written in Petersen's Hunting, by Craig Boddington, and in Shooting Times, by Layne Simpson, about the virtues of having, shooting, and hunting all sorts of game animals from white tail, all the way up to elk, with the awesome .444 Marlin cartridge, and the even more awesome Marlin 444s.
3 years ago, I bought a Marlin 1895 in .45-70, but for some reason it didn't appeal to me like the .444! So, I sold it to a man that just had to have it. I used the money I got from it to fund the T/C Venture .280 Remington I bought. I didn't really miss having the Marlin 1895 in .45-70.
But as it turns out, just a few short months ago, Guy had mentioned in one of his posts that Marlin was coming out with a new Marlin 444. I was astonished to find out, and immediately started salivating, and my eyes got Misty, and I broke into a cold sweat. Finally, the rifle of my dreams was going to be back in production!
Well.... I have searched every month, several weeks in a row, to finally purchase my bucket list rifle this past week. I didn't know how, or when I was going to buy one, but, it's like the heavens split apart, and I came into enough money to buy my bucket list rifle!
Now, granted, I'm not as good of a writer as Guy, nor do I take as good of photos as he does, but I wanted to show off my new beauty!!
I hope to make a range report in a month or so, maybe less.

I've got the lever action rifle bug bad, and I can't help myself!!!!



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[DrMike]

That's pretty cool. Congratulations on your acquisition. Oh, and the photos are pretty doggone good. No worry there.

 

[gerry]

Very cool, I always liked the big Marlin in 444 too. Sounds like you and I are about the same age and read the same authors :lol: The 45-70 is nice too of course but there is just something about the big 444 that is appealing. Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together for you with your loads and how you end up outfitting it.

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

That's pretty cool. Congratulations on your acquisition. Oh, and the photos are pretty doggone good. No worry there.

Thank you very much Dr Mike!
I appreciate it!

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[HAWKEYESATX]

Very cool, I always liked the big Marlin in 444 too. Sounds like you and I are about the same age and read the same authors [emoji38] The 45-70 is nice too of course but there is just something about the big 444 that is appealing. Looking forward to seeing how it all comes together for you with your loads and how you end up outfitting it.

Thank you Gerry!
Yes, there has been something about the 444 that has stuck with me all these years. You as well, I see.
I'm excited to work some loads up, and see what the little 444 can manage. Haven't been this excited in a long time!

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[gerry]

Getting a dream gun is really awesome, you have every reason to be excited about it. Any idea of what bullets you are going to try? Off the top of my head Hornady, Speer and Swift make excellent bullets for the 444 and if Woodleigh does they would be a top choice too.

 

[noslerpartition]

I was dreaming about that gun, too and it might join my small collection this year.
Any suggestions about lead-free bullets? I have to use them in some areas :-(

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[HAWKEYESATX]

Getting a dream gun is really awesome, you have every reason to be excited about it. Any idea of what bullets you are going to try? Off the top of my head Hornady, Speer and Swift make excellent bullets for the 444 and if Woodleigh does they would be a top choice too.

Gerry,

I will try Hornady, the 265 XTP, the 265 gr FN, the Speer 270gr Deep Curl, and the 300 gr Sierra, and probably as heavy as I can get in .429-.430 cal.
I think there are some cast lead heavies out there too, that the Ballard rifling and 1-20 rifling twist can handle, as well.

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[HAWKEYESATX]

I was dreaming about that gun, too and it might join my small collection this year.
Any suggestions about lead-free bullets? I have to use them in some areas :-(

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noslerpartition,

Barnes makes a solid copper 200 gr & 225 gr bullet for the 444.
I'm not sure if they were made for 444 velocities, or for the 44 Magnum, but probably worth getting, because Barnes makes excellent solid copper projectiles.

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[FOTIS]

Excellent. Get any bullet from 265 to 350 and some H335. My fave is the 300 with about 55-56.5 (rifle pending) gr H335 (work up) and Win LRP. Good for 2100 fps and deadly on anything you will see in NA.

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

I did some online shopping, and got me 100 Starline 444 Marlin Brass, bought some H335 powder, ordered 300 gr WLFN gas check bullets. Can't wait to load some up and shoot it.
I had my buddy sell me an excellent short range scope to top it with.
I ordered reloading dies when I ordered the rifle, so I think I'm set!
Anyone else have some good loads that they've used in their 444?

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[Guy Miner]

EXCELLENT!

Looking forward to your range reports - and hopefully a successful hunt report with your 444 Marlin!

Guy

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

EXCELLENT!

Looking forward to your range reports - and hopefully a successful hunt report with your 444 Marlin!

Guy

Guy,

Thank you!
I blame you mostly for fueling my "addiction" and wanting to get the Marlin 444! [emoji1787][emoji38][emoji28]
Texas finally passed a law that we don't need to have a hunting license to hunt feral pigs, so that will be on my short list after I work some loads up for her. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Coyote is the same now as well, so I will be going after Hogs, and Yodel Dogs here in the near future.

Bryce


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[Guy Miner]

Well, the Triple Four ought to work out just fine for that!

 

[SJB358]

Very cool. My little brother just grabbed one of the newly made Marlin 444's as well and we immediately put a box of the FTX loads through it just to see how it functioned and I was very impressed. It's a very nice looking rifle with good wood and metal, along with the most important, it functioned really well and shot to point of aim at 50 yards.

My little brother is so excited with it, hope you love yours as well. He's throwing an XS sight on top of his for now, and trying out some 270 Speers and RL7. A proven combo in my older Marlin 444 as well.

Great pick and cannot wait to hear how you like yours.

 

[HAWKEYESATX]

Very cool. My little brother just grabbed one of the newly made Marlin 444's as well and we immediately put a box of the FTX loads through it just to see how it functioned and I was very impressed. It's a very nice looking rifle with good wood and metal, along with the most important, it functioned really well and shot to point of aim at 50 yards.

My little brother is so excited with it, hope you love yours as well. He's throwing an XS sight on top of his for now, and trying out some 270 Speers and RL7. A proven combo in my older Marlin 444 as well.

Great pick and cannot wait to hear how you like yours.

Thank you!
I'm putting a Burris Full Field 1.5-5x on her, and going to see she does with that.
I'm seriously thinking about getting the Speer 270 gr Deep Curl myself, except with H4198, or H335. I've heard good things about RL-7 too.
To start out with, I'm using the 300 gr WLFN, with Starline brass, and WLR primers.
I want to get some factory loads as well, but around my part of the woods, the .444 Marlin Cartridges are as scarce as hens teeth.

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[HAWKEYESATX]

I've heard from a little bird that Bear Tooth bullets work very well in the Marlin 444, past and present.
They have .429 cal bullets ranging from 240grs all the way up to 400 grs.
I've bought the 300 gr WFN, as Bear Tooth describes it.
Other pics follow.
The one I bought is in the middle.

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[SJB358]

All of those Beartooth’s have shot great. The 290 is like a varmint bullet. Makes the rifle think it’s a 22-250.

 

[FOTIS]

What diameter did you order

 

[SJB358]

What diameter did you order

.432’s I believe Fotis.