Things to make you go Hmmmmm

[Old Ironsights]

I was lying in bed a few minutes ago and had an epiphiny:

What is a .444? well, it seems to be a high-pressure .410 with a shorter throat, heavier barrel and rifled bore - with the rifling adding .015 or so to the bore.

Hmmm.

So I ran downstairs and grabbed my McPhereson MCR 3rd Ed.

Ah HA! The .444 holds 51gr water with a 240gr bullet, but runs to thr 44,000cup range - BUT - on the next page the Trapdoor Springfield loads run between 9000 & 15,000 CUP at roughly 67gr water.

Hmmmmmmm.....

Can anyone tell me why using powders rated for .45-70 trapdoor (like a case full of Black) in a .444 case or full brass .410 hull would hurt the 9410? It is a Win 94 action after all...

The barrel/breech thickness of the 9410 has got to be 2x - 3x that of my 12ga - so I really don't see how the "normal" .410 SAAMI specs apply. :confused:

Heck, it would almost seem possible to rifle the barrel up to .425 so you could make it into a ".444 Light" and use regular .444 components.

Hmmmmm.....:twisted:

[44man]

I can't see it hurting anything, after all, the 9410 is basically a rifle with a smooth bore. Sounds like a fun gun too.

[9.3X62AL]

Interesting idea. For darn sure, a Marlin 444/Microgroove would be prone to foul-out in very few rounds when shooting The Holy Black. I haven't looked closely at specs for the 444 rifles, but I don't recall reading or hearing that Marlin changed to Ballard rifling in this caliber. I also seem to recall a few 94's put up in 444 by Winchester, too.

I caution that my memory at times can be about as reliable as a street corner drug informant--so verify this info before taking it to the bank. The 444 with conventional rifling at a faster twist rate than the 1:38" that Marlin handicaps its rifles with would be a definite upgrade--regardless of fuel used. I would consider the 1:28" pitch favored by the sabot slingers.

[Scrounger]

Interesting idea. For darn sure, a Marlin 444/Microgroove would be prone to foul-out in very few rounds when shooting The Holy Black. I haven't looked closely at specs for the 444 rifles, but I don't recall reading or hearing that Marlin changed to Ballard rifling in this caliber. I also seem to recall a few 94's put up in 444 by Winchester, too.

I caution that my memory at times can be about as reliable as a street corner drug informant--so verify this info before taking it to the bank. The 444 with conventional rifling at a faster twist rate than the 1:38" that Marlin handicaps its rifles with would be a definite upgrade--regardless of fuel used. I would consider the 1:28" pitch favored by the sabot slingers.

I believe all but the .30-30 and .41 Mag Marlin Lever Actions are Ballard Rifling now. I know the .357, .44 Mag, .444 Marlin, and .45-70 are. They also changed the twist on the .444 to 1 in 18" or something like that but they left the .44 Mag at 1 in 38". Strange decision.

[felix]

If they wanted to economize on the buttons, I would have chosen the 26 twist like winchester did. That twist seems to do everything correctly with all kinds of boolits. If the market was primarily for larger boolits in the 444, then upping the twist to 22 or 24 wouldn't hurt the 200-250 grainers. 18 twist would allow 500 grainers with ease up through 300 yards nicely. That is 45-70 territory? ... felix

[dawei]

I believe all but the .30-30 and .41 Mag Marlin Lever Actions are Ballard Rifling now. I know the .357, .44 Mag, .444 Marlin, and .45-70 are. They also changed the twist on the .444 to 1 in 18" or something like that but they left the .44 Mag at 1 in 38". Strange decision.From 1998 onward the 444's twist & rifling is 1:20", Ballard.