That's...BS...on the Winchester...They were and are a ***!!!!! I had one. The stock cracked.......The forend slid forward like a pump gun and it started snapping.......Sent it back and they sent another rifle.....Second one the forend/barrel bands & magazine tube shot loose...... I fixed and promptly sold that ***.......Purchased first Marlin 444P in 1999.......Have shot the H!!!! out it..........ALL ITS EVER NEEDED IS........ammo and an oily rag for clean up.
Sorry about your 94 BigBores.
I have never owned one and now may never!
I was repeating what I have read about the designed allowable chamber pressure: ~50 kpsi as opposed to ~45 kpsi.
That does not seem like a lot but I have in the 444 binder I have assembled over the years some loads specifically for the 94BB.
My 444s was made in 1981, has no safety, and shoots very well as you can see from the target I posted.
The Marlins also come apart and go back together way easier than the Winchesters.
The screw sets are still available and I suggest anyone wanting to work on their Marlins get one or 2 while they can.
I have also put the Happy Trigger in it and am well.... happy with it.
trigger-happy-kit/
They are expensive but well engineered, and easy to install if you are comfortable taking down and rebuilding lever guns.
The trigger pull was reduced and more importantly the creep was all but eliminated.
This without replacing or lightening any springs which I am leery of.
I also think nickel plate (could be chrome) looks better than the cheesy gold wash on the stock trigger.
Also available in blue.
I agree Mike.
The 444 Marlin is (pun intended) bulletproof.
I do clean it from the rear.
Simply take out the lever screw and then the lever.
The bolt comes right out and you can then insert the cleaning rod from the breech.
There are custom jacketed bullets like the Hawk which are less expensive than the $1 apiece (or more) Swift and Woodleigh.
Hawk Bullets master list but these are swaged cup and core and may not be bonded as well as factory bullets.
The Hornady 265 JFN (not the FTX) was the first and remains the most used jacketed bullet designed for the 444.
It works.
But as I have said, the WFNGC is much more versatile and much less expensive.
And don't believe the oft repeated "wisdom" from gun writers who have obviously never owned or shot the 444
that the 1/38 twist will not stabilize 300 grain or heavier bullets.
Read those articles by Marshall Stanton I posted and join the Marlinowners forum.
Real people have shot real bullets with accuracy up to 355 grains.
It's the length that determines stability not the weight.
In fact heaviness adds to stability.
The WFN is about as short as you can get for a given weight.
I see no need for anything heavier unless pursuing large dangerous game like brown bears..
John Taylor thought 400 grain 41 caliber bullets were ideal for elephants (450/400 NE).
Those of you lucky enough to own the later 1/20 twist Marlins or single shots don't have to worry about any of this.
If Marlin had simply chosen to rifle the 444 with as little as a 1/30" twist in the beginning, this decades long debate would never have started.
