damienph wrote:I really like your short barreled 444. I am surprised that you didn't like the regular comb on the 444P, mine works well for me with a scope. I am a HUGE fan of the XTP bullet (in several calibers and weights). I have had good luck with the 240 and 300 grain XTPs in my 444P. Mine seems to shoot best with either H335 or H4198 for either bullet. I've tried RL7 but I cannot get it to group as well. I also have used the Hornady 265 JSP but really prefer the 300XTP.
Again, that is one fine looking rifle.
The first 444 I ever owned was a 444P ! I had a very nice load for it ! The no longer made Nosler 250 grain Partition with 52 grains of XMR2015 ! At the time I had a LEupold Vari XIII 2.5-8x on top .
The monte carlo stock on these earlier rifles fits me better with scopes then the stock on any of the Guide Gun type Marlin's .
I went thru most all of the jacketed bullets about 5 years ago shooting deer with them all just so I could say I did LOL's !
For me the two best jacketed 444 bullets were the afore mentioned Nosler 250 grain Partition and the Swift 280 grain !
In all actuality the Honrady 265 is a pretty darned good bullet , but some other folks on another forum kinda tainted that bullet for me ! They were of the type that believed whatever they said was gospel and no one else could ever be correct if it didn't agree with them !
Without sounding like one of them I think I've shot about as many different bullets as anyone in a 444 jacketed and cast alike ! And no that does not make me an authority however I have done it and will continue for a while longer provided I stay on this earth
FWIW , I also have a standard Marlin 444 just for shooting 400 grain cast bullets . I bought this gun used last summer . It was made in 2001 going by the seriel number . Anyway this rifle has some pretty decent but not great factory wood . The same day I bought this rifle on Gunbroker I went to "Macon Gunstocks" website and picked out some more figued wood that was pistol grip with amonte carlo so the gun would feel more like my older First Model 444 !
Couple pics of my 2001 444 rifle after it was restocked !
In those pics it has a 70's era Weaver 2-7 that didn't hold up ! Think it's previouse life on a SKS with brass battering it did it in before I got my hands on it !
Here are two pics of the same rifle with one of the new Redfield 3-9's ! This scope has held up very nicely to all my heavy loads to date !
And here are a couple pics with the factory stock the day I recieved the rifle !
Gun came with a Leupold 2-7 shotgun scope which I sold on Gunbroker for a fair price . Also sold a friend a less then perfect Marlin 1893 I had in 32 Special and I ended up with nothing except the cost of the custom wood in this gun . The guys at the shop inletted , finished etc for me for free since I do certain PC things for them LOL's !