hey guys! question for the experts - .444 Marlin

[9w1911]

I had seen a Marlin 444 for sale in my area its used and 399.00 and is a pre Remlin, I did not have my glasses on to read the barrel stamp, however it did not have a cross bolt safety and the fit was very nice and tight. I will try to get more info on it today as I will go put 100.00 down on it. Yes just 100.00 I am a self employed graphic designer so money is tight.
Does this seem like a good deal sight unseen?(I did not check action or look down the barrel but overall I give it a 90 outta 100 for looks, no nicks no scratches etc)
What should I look for? rifling? (this is a micro groove right?)

I wanted a big bore lever and I feel I need to jump on this asap.

Thank you guys I appreciate it. I really want to get a pre-Remington Marlin so maybe this will be my first crack at one.

( I do own a .44 mag Remlin, but to me it seems the .444 and the 1894c are just two different animals)

[pressonregardless]

If this rifle is in good shape, $399 is a dang good deal.

[9w1911]

On the outside I think it looks fantastic, I did not have time to look down the barrel because i was with the woman

[Reg]

Good price on a good rifle !!

[Shuz]

If the rifle bore is in as good a condition as the rest of the rifle as you describe it, it is a fantastic deal. When you look at the serial number, subtract the first 2 digits from 100 and that will give you the year of manufacture. If your gun has a Micro-Groove bbl it will be stamped on the bbl. The twist rate will then be 1:38.

[9w1911]

thank you Shuz, i will check back in after I go recon the rifle again.

[9w1911]

also guys if you can give me a heads up on what die set to get, I have a Dillon 550b, and I do load 44 mags so I assume I can use the Dillon powder through expander die to bell cases? and i am open to the die set, Lee, RCBS, Redding, etc.

[9w1911]

it sold someone else nabbed it ugh

[Scharfschuetze]

Sorry to hear that 9w911.

It's now one of those that got away; and I can probably fill up a whole thread on the ones that got away from me.

[Shuz]

it sold someone else nabbed it ugh

Too bad, but for the future, yes you can load the .444Marlin on a 450-550 Dillon. It takes an "N" designated shell plate and powder funnel 543X, which are different than the .44 mag shell plate "4", and powder funnel "G". Locator buttons #4, however, are the same for both.

[9w1911]

thank you Shuz I am now hot for a 444 so I will check in when I find one,

[OverMax]

To bad you lost it. Next time you'll be better prepared because of what you've learn here. +1 in your column 9w1911 you still have that 44 yet.

O/M

[6pt-sika]

FWIW if the gun didn't have a crossbolt safety it was made before 1980 . Marlin rifled ALL the 444's with Micro Groove 1-38" twist up until 1998 when they changed over to Ballard and 1-20" .

In my ALWAYS biased opinion I prefer the pre crossbolt guns over those that have it . I am also an advocate of the slower twist Micro Groove rifling regardless of whether I choose to shoot cast or jacketed bullets .

Now if you happen to run across a nice 1998 to about 2006 vintage 444 or a Micro Groove from 1981 to 1997 you can always get the cross bolt delete kit . I installed one of those on my circa 2001 Marlin 444 and it works fine . And of course I like the looks of the gun better without that protruding button !

[9w1911]

thanks again guys, for some reason I am set on finding a .444 :) I love my 1894c but I have had extensive work on that guy