Marlin 444

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Marlin32
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Marlin 444

Post by Marlin32 »

Was turkey hunting in Kansas this week, strolled into local gun shop, found a used Marlin 444, had 24" barrel and a monte carlo type stock. That it was quite unusual, anyone know anything about this variant?
Not sure what it is worth, I know what he was asking for it, but not sure if worth that price, and not sure what I would use the gun for, elk at close range, might be a bit much on deer, I don't shoot hogs, but be it would be good hog weapon maybe.
TomF
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by TomF »

444T. I had one, a fine shooter. Too heavy for my worn out elbows. I took several whitetails and axis with mine. '71 model, square lever, dovetailed front sight.

TomF
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6pt-sika
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by 6pt-sika »

TomF wrote: Sat Apr 21, 2018 12:53 pm 444T. I had one, a fine shooter. Too heavy for my worn out elbows. I took several whitetails and axis with mine. '71 model, square lever, dovetailed front sight.

TomF
The configuration he mentions was made from 1964 to 1972 . Actual “444T” guns were ONLY made in 1971 and 1972 . And not all the guns made in 1971 were “444T’s” . All the ones that were roll stamped “444T” have a dove tailed front sight rather then the earlier style that had a pair of screws holding it to the barrel . Now before you tell me I know not of what I speak I had two “T’s” serial numbered to 71 and two more serial numbered to 72 . I also had several other 444’svserial numbered to 71 that were not roll stamped with “444T”. The earliest 444 I found with a squared lever was serial numbered to 1970 . From 64 to some point in 1970 they used rounded levers . And before you tell me they didn’t make the guns in 1964 I owned one rifle that was serial numbered to 1964 and was roll stamped on the barrel “444 Marlin Magnum” . In the 64-72 rifles with 24” barrels and Monte Carlo stocks I had two dozen I had atleast two in each year except 64 (only one serial numbered to 64) . There were some minute variations in 70 and 71 otherwise the other years were pretty cut and dry .
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Marlin32
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by Marlin32 »

Thanks, I am really unfamiliar with 444's
Shop was asking $1150 and I thought that was way out of the ball park. Its in good condition, granted, but not sure I would pay $1150 if it was new in box.
Been doing some reading up on the 444, be okay for short range elk, moose, more ammo out there than I expected. But don't really need a short range big game rifle, have short covered, trying to go longer distance in a lever.
Still, was very interesting gun that I had not seen before.
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Blaine
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by Blaine »

Marlin32 wrote: Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:32 pm Thanks, I am really unfamiliar with 444's
Shop was asking $1150 and I thought that was way out of the ball park. Its in good condition, granted, but not sure I would pay $1150 if it was new in box.
Been doing some reading up on the 444, be okay for short range elk, moose, more ammo out there than I expected. But don't really need a short range big game rifle, have short covered, trying to go longer distance in a lever.
Still, was very interesting gun that I had not seen before.
I'm not sure what you consider short range, but I'd use it to any distance that I could reliably hit a paper plate. I've never used anything but 240 Greenbox.
If it was in real, real nice shape, I'd go 600.
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6pt-sika
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by 6pt-sika »

Marlin32 wrote: Sat Apr 21, 2018 1:32 pm Thanks, I am really unfamiliar with 444's
Shop was asking $1150 and I thought that was way out of the ball park. Its in good condition, granted, but not sure I would pay $1150 if it was new in box.
Been doing some reading up on the 444, be okay for short range elk, moose, more ammo out there than I expected. But don't really need a short range big game rifle, have short covered, trying to go longer distance in a lever.
Still, was very interesting gun that I had not seen before.
Of the ones I had I sold several for over 7 or 8 hundred . The 1964 rifle brought about a grand and that was about four years ago .
Parkers , Mannlicher Schoenauer’s , 6.5mm's and my family in the Philippines !
Pete44ru
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by Pete44ru »

.

I bought a new .444 in 1965 - those early .444's with the monte carlo buttstock were the only ones made with a 24" bbl - and promptly (after 2 outings) cut the barrel back to 16" & rasped the monte carlo comb off the buttstock (who knew, back then ?).

It was a good shooter, but the rather fragile 240ge JSP factory loads of the day ( the ONLY load then available) got me loading 265gr Hornady JSP's after the 240gr stuff blew up the nearside shoulder of a couple of Maine bucks I shot with it (making recovery a PITA, and also making a lot of bloodshot meat).

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Blaine
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by Blaine »

Pete44ru wrote: Sat Apr 21, 2018 5:56 pm .

I bought a new .444 in 1965 - those early .444's with the monte carlo buttstock were the only ones made with a 24" bbl - and promptly (after 2 outings) cut the barrel back to 16" & rasped the monte carlo comb off the buttstock (who knew, back then ?).

It was a good shooter, but the rather fragile 240ge JSP factory loads of the day ( the ONLY load then available) got me loading 265gr Hornady JSP's after the 240gr stuff blew up the nearside shoulder of a couple of Maine bucks I shot with it (making recovery a PITA, and also making a lot of bloodshot meat).

.
I've been lead to believe, and I'm willing to be corrected, that the first 240s were the .44 Mag pistol bullets and that later ammo used a different 240 that held together much better.
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Pete44ru
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by Pete44ru »

.

Having witnessed the early JSP blow-ups, I would say that's correct, Blaine. :)

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buckeyeshooter
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Re: Marlin 444

Post by buckeyeshooter »

Dang, I cant imagine cutting down a 24 inch barrel and rasping off the monte carlo. I have been looking for that configuration for years... they dont show up often.
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