Marlin 444 issue

[wisconsinteacher]

Good afternoon. This afternoon, I had a few minutes to relax and look over a few rifles before I use them next month for deer season. I wanted to make sure they all ran smooth so I took them outside to a safe place and ran sound live round through them. When I got to the 444, I could not load a round into the tube. It will go in about 7/8 of the way and then get stuck. I am able to get a finger nail on the shell and remove it but as of now, I have a single shot 444. Any ideas as to what would be causing the trouble?

 

[DrMike]

Are these your hand loads? If so, remember that OAL is critical. Even a slightly longer OAL will not allow feeding from the magazine.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Feeding from the magazine is not the issue. The issue is getting them in the magazine. I can't load one in the mag tube.

 

[JD338]

Sounds like you over crimped the shells, causing a slight swell.
Try a feed a few more shells.

JD338

 

[DrMike]

Sounds like you over crimped the shells, causing a slight swell.
Try a feed a few more shells.

JD338

Precisely. It happens rather frequently.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

Okay, I tried all 20 rounds again and they all fed well. I think there is a little rust in the mag tube and after I got a few rounds through the rifle, it got things opened up. I need to remove the spring and clean the tube and lube it a little bit.

 

[Guy Miner]

Well... "That was easy"

 

[Wis65x55]

Sounds like you over crimped the shells, causing a slight swell.
Try a feed a few more shells.

JD338

This is the exact issue that I experienced yesterday with my 280 Remington .
Keith