Marlin 444 of 1964 vintage !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:01 pm

I just committed to buy ANOTHER Marlin in 444 .

Only intresting part is the fact that this on seriel numbers to 1964 and is marked "444 Magnum" on the barrel . This gun "supposedly" hit the market in 1965 so this is in my mind kinda rare !

It also comes with a 4x Marlin marked scope on top !

So now I have First Model 444's made in each year from 1964 to 1972 !

As well as the Second Models from 1971 to 1975 .

While I'm still in the Philippines I will get my gunsmith buddy to take care of the transaction and have it arrive after February 5th when I "should" be back stateside !

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Jan 26, 2011 11:36 pm

.

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6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:16 am

AJMD429 wrote:. x =

Well I made a statement on another forum that the only other Marlin's that could get my intrest would be a nice old 336-44 or 1894 Sporter in 44 MAG .

But I gotta say this 1964 in 444 got my intrest very quickly !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:18 am

The First Model as it has become to be known was supposedly manufactured from 1965 until 1971 .

Now with the addition of this rifle I have First Models made in two years when they were'nt supposed to have been made (1964 and 1972) !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 12:21 am

In February of 2010 i was in the Philippines and purchased a pair of Marlin's in 444 via Gunbroker and a another forum !

Now this year of 2011 should be no different !
As I am sitting here in the Philippines again and while here I've bought a pair of Remington 722's and this Marlin 444 all via Gunbroker !

Post by **Hobie** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 8:46 am

You post more when you're there than when you're here.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 9:19 am

Hobie wrote:You post more when you're there than when you're here.

I'm less occupied here to be honest

kimwcook · Post by **kimwcook** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:27 pm

Now that's pretty cool.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 7:47 pm

With my other twentytwo pre ballard 444's I have been using a seperate mold for each one !

And it just so happens I have a LBT 433-340GC mold that doesn't have a seperate rifle . While Veral calls this one a 340 in actuality with WW's it drops at about 332 grains which is okay with me !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:16 pm

I hate to say it but since about the middle of the 2010 deer season until a couple days ago I wasn't much intrested in my accumulation of 444's .

But to say this 1964 Marlin in 444 has rejuevenated me is an understatement !

I am truely looking forward to getting home and seeing and shooting this one !

If it shoots okay it will be first on the list next year during the july/august DCP season for deer and bear

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Jan 27, 2011 11:19 pm

Hunting season 2011 is gonna be difficult to say the least !

I still have maybe 10 Marlin's in 444 and another in 45-70 that need to be blooded . As well as about 6 Ruger #1's and my very new to me Remington 700CDL in 257 Weatherby !

Then there's the Mannlicher Schoenauer 308 I used for one slick last year that I really like to hunt with !

Even after selling a bunch of stuff I still cannot get caught up blooding all the new additions !

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 12:45 pm

Very, very cool!

Looking forward to the pictures. Congratulations!!!

RIHMFIRE · Post by **RIHMFIRE** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 2:40 pm

you have 15 444s

......no wonder i cant find one.....

have fun with it!

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 6:52 pm

RIHMFIRE wrote:you have 15 444s ......no wonder i cant find one.....
have fun with it!

Well not exactly fifteen !

I have twenty three of the rifles made from 1964 to 1975 and one that was made in 2002 !

Lets just say in all likelyhood I have the worlds largest accumulation of early Marlin 444's

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:51 pm

Awesome find!

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Jan 28, 2011 8:58 pm

Actually I am beginning to question this purchase !

I failed before I hit the buy it now to check seriel number letter designations and by most of the reference material I've found "Y" was the letter for 1963 and not 1964 . Although on the other hand I can't imagine someone trying to fake one of these for the $450 I paid for the gun !

Now thats not to say an early 1964 gun couldn't have had the "Y" prefix . When I get back in country I'm gonna call Marlin and see if they can shed any light on this one !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Jan 31, 2011 7:29 am

Well Ranch Dog has given me some assurances that this should be the real deal !

And since I value his opinion that makes me rest easier until I get the rifle in my hands !

A couple posts earlier I stated I had a LBT 433-340GC mold I thought I'd use in this rifle . Now that I think about it more perhaps a custom LBT mold of say 433-365GC would be more fun to mess with as I already have tested loads for the LBT 433-340GC in a couple of my other rifles !

After all a new to me rifle deserves a BRAND NEW MOLD !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Tue Feb 01, 2011 6:48 am

Okay I'm ready to see this 63/64 rifle (actually chomping at the bit) and am almost as wound up to get another one of Veral's nice molds !

Now if the weather and the crummy Delta planes hold out long enough to get me back to the USA friday all will be good !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Feb 05, 2011 5:14 pm

Since being home and being able to check some of my printed reference material I'm even more assured that this thing is correct for 1964 !

Now hopefully Mr. UPS will deliver it first thing monday morning !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 6:57 am

Well I got to the shop bright and early monday as I had possibly three rifles coming in !

First and foremost this Marlin 444 of 1964 vintage as well as Remington 722's in 244 and 300 Savage .

The 722 in 300 Savage was there already and it was a little less then what I wanted so I declined on it ! Not a good start !

The 722 in 244 was already at our buisness office , so I walked up the street and brought it down to the shop to check it out . I was quite satisfied with this one ! It's a nice replacement for the one my grandfathers brother owned and I let get away from me 20 years earlier !

Now I awaited the UPS man who normally drops off at our shop around 9:15 AM each day . When it was 9:45AM I called his cell to see if he had anything for us . And his answer was no cigar !
So I then called the folks I purchased the gun from to get the UPS tracking number . Low and behold the UPS tracking number turned out to be a FEDEX tracking number and my 1964 444 should be here sometime today !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Tue Feb 08, 2011 2:13 pm

Just got it !

Needs a little cleaning . But other then that I'm pretty well pleased !

Although it wouldn't have made or broken the deal . The scope was a period correct marlin as well !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Feb 09, 2011 2:02 pm

Well just got back from trying the circa 1964 Marlin 444 !

Tried it at only 50 yards but it was promising non the less !

Everything I used had been loaded for other rifles so here goes .

First three shots out of a cold clean barrel were the Saeco 265 grain GC bullet pushed with 53 grains of H322 . POI was where I was aiming with no adjustment . And the group was an inch center to center .

Second three shots were with the Saeco 300 grain GC bullet pushed with 51 grains of H322 . POI was a tad to the left and a tad high but group size was 7/8's of an inch center to center .

Third group of three shots were fired using the MiHec 295 grain GC HP pushed with 50 grains of H322 . They were not quite as nice , however I'd warmed the barrel a bit by then . Anyway they measured 1 1/2" center to center !

Rather promising I think for a old 1964 rifle with a same period 4x scope and three loads that were for three other rifles

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Tue Feb 15, 2011 6:30 pm

I had the 1964 rifle out again today !

Was shooting all three of the Saeco bullets (250 , 265 and 300 grain) at 100 yards !
And while I certainly CANNOT do my best work with a 4x scope at 100 yards all three were shooting well enough for deer at that distance !

I may have to rethink the LBT 365 grain mold for this rifle as it truely seems to like all 3 of these bullets ! And two of them don't have there own rifle yet

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 10:49 am

While the old Marlin 4x Micro Power is doing very nicely on this rifle and I am quite certain came with it when it left the factory , I am thinking on putting a nice old Weaver K8 or K10 on top just to shoot paper . Just so happens I have a couple laying around here doing nothing with Weaver rings attached no less

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 3:59 pm

I'm kinda thinking if the three Saeco bullets continue to shoot as well or better when I switch the scopes I may just use one of the Saeco bullets in this rifle and opt not to get a new mold from LBT !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Feb 19, 2011 7:57 pm

Well it seems the Marlin mounting system of that time period was incompatible with Weaver rings !
The standerd Weaver rings on my old Weaver K8 do not clamp up on the Marlin base which to the naked eye looks just like a Weaver base .

So I'll just keep the Marlin 4x on now !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sun Feb 20, 2011 10:52 am

Well I reconsidered my original thoughts of not removing the Marlin scope from the Marlin rings and have taken it out and replaced it with one of my old Weaver K8's for paperwork .

Now hopefully I'll see if that makes any difference on tuesday !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:01 pm

As I mentioned earlier the old K8 is on top of my 1964 444 ! Atleast 10 rounds per weight of Saeco bullet are loaded and the rifle was bore sighted . Everythings sitting at the front door with 3 other rifles for a EARLY start tommorrow !

We're supposed to have some sort of parcipitation tommorrow but I don't think it'll hinder me to much

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Feb 21, 2011 6:02 pm

As I mentioned earlier the old K8 is on top of my 1964 444 ! Atleast 10 rounds per weight of Saeco bullet are loaded and the rifle was bore sighted . Everythings sitting at the front door with 3 other rifles for a EARLY start tommorrow !

We're supposed to have some sort of parcipitation tommorrow but I don't think it'll hinder me to much

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Feb 23, 2011 2:00 pm

Well I finally got out this morning and tried the 1964 444 with the old Weaver K8 on top !

Best three shot group I shot with the Saeco 250 grain bullet and 54 grains of H322 was .983" , the best group I shot with the Saeco 265 grainer and 53 grains of H322 was 1.50" exactly and the best group I shot with the Saeco 300 grainer and 51 grains of H322 was 1.075" .

Strangely it seems the barrel shot tighter as it heatd up !

I'm not done with this one yet !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Feb 28, 2011 9:12 pm

Since I'm going to the range wednesday anyway I decided to load up some more of all three Saeco bullets for the 1964 444 !

Turned out I only had 4 of the 250 grainers left so thats all of those I loaded !
Loaded a dozen of the 265's so I can shoot 4 groups and 10 of the 300's so I can shoot 3 groups and a fowler !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Mar 02, 2011 10:21 pm

Got to the range todat around 10AM and had the 1964 rifle with me as well as four others !

Shot the 1964 gun at 100 yards only with the Saeco 265's and a little with the Saeco 300's !

Thsi time I got the Saeco 265's down to 1 1/8" at 100 yards for 3 shots . Thats with 53 grains of H322 and a CCI200 primer !

You can see the old Weaver K8 I mounted on this rifle for paperwork !

The rifles leaning against the bench are left to right a Remington Model 7 Stainless Synthetic in 300 SAUM , a Ruger #1B in 6mm REM , a Remington 722 in 244 REM and finally a nice old Remington 700BDL Varmint in 222 that I owned for a whopping 5 days (sold it this afternoon right after I left the range) !

Today was rather pleasent !

I'll see if I can't make it to the range again monday !

Need to finish up the 722 as well as the 6mm and possibly the 300 SAUM and then I wanna start resighting in all my 444's with a 100 yard zero ! Which means I need to swap scopes on the 1964 rifle again and then start pulling stuff from the safe !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Thu Mar 03, 2011 3:21 pm

Cast some bullets today !

Saeco #431 , #432 and #433 !

Think I'll decide this weekend

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:15 pm

Got all 300+ bullets lubed , sized and checked this evening .

Now if I can get some of them loaded tommorrow or sunday I can shoot some more on monday !

dr walker · Post by **dr walker** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 9:51 pm

I am just catching up on this. What a great find. The rifle looks great and cool 444 Magnum roll mark.

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Mar 04, 2011 10:06 pm

dr walker wrote:I am just catching up on this. What a great find. The rifle looks great and cool 444 Magnum roll mark.

The rifle shoots pretty darned well with all three of the Saeco bullets as well !

The 250 grainer with 54 grains of H322 !
The 265 grainer with 53 grains of H322 !
And the 300 grainer with 51 grains of H322 !

I've gotten groups with the 250 grainer just a hair under an inch for 3 at 100 yards !
Got 3 shot groups with 300 grainer just a hair over an inch for 3 at 100 yards .
And also have gotten 3 shot groups at 100 with the 265 grainer at a hair under 1 1/8" !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:24 pm

Well I just picked up 500 pieces of NEW nickel plated Remington 444 Marlin brass !

That along with my 700-800 pieces of plain brass I already have should keep this rifle and the 23 others well supplied for awhile

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Sat Mar 05, 2011 9:32 pm

Well lets see that'll give me enough brass to where I can relegate 50 pieces of brass for each rifle in a seperate ammo box !

Wow this new brass and the 3,000 44 cal Gator checks I ordered from the guy on castboolits last night outta keep me going for a good while !

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 12:02 am

Well I just pulled the Weaver K8 off the top of my 1964 rifle !

Gonna replace it with the Marlin 4x that came with the rifle and will sight it in tommorrow with the Saeco 265 grainer !

Have a 1972 Second Model thats supposed to be sighted in with the Saeco 250's already and I'll check that one as well !

Am also taking one of my 1974 Second Models to check the 100 yard sight in with the Lee 430-310GC .

And I'm also taking the 1970 square lever medallion to check the 100 yard sight in with the LBT 433-320GC .

And of course I'll cart along my Remington 722 244 to make the final sight in with the 85 grain Nosler Partition . The Ruger #1B 6mm with the 95 grain Honrady SST and my freinds Remington Model 7 300 SAUM with the Barnes 168 grain TSXT .

Should be a good two hours worth of work if everything goes well

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Wed Mar 09, 2011 11:08 pm

Well I got up this morning and they were calling for rain !
And when you looked outside it looked like rain !

I left the house anyway at about 9:15 AM and got to the range before 9:30AM !

Took along four 444 rifles to check the sights on all at 100 yards as well as a Ruger #1B in 6mm , a Remington 722 in 244 and a Remington Model 7 on 300 SAUM !

My newest addition the circa 1964 rifle in 444 was first out the block !
I had remounted the Marlin 4x scope that came with the rifle when I bought it !
Shot the Saeco #432 265 grain GC bullet pushed with 53 grains of H322 and set off with a CCI200 primer !
Got this one sighted in dead on at 100 yards and even managed to shoot a 1.15" 3 shot group with the old 4x scope while sighting in !

Next was my 1970 Medallion stock rifle that has the square lever that they "supposedly " started using in 1971 !
I was shooting the LBT 433-320GC in this one . It has a nice old Weaver KV (2 3/4 to 5x) mounted on top and the scope was not exactly doing what I wanted so the 10 loaded rounds I brought for it weren't quite enough !
That one will need another range trip !

Next up was my 1972 Second Model and this one also has a nice old Weaver KV on top !
Was sighting this one in with the Saeco #431 250 grain GC bullet pushed with 54 grains of H322 and lit with a CCI200 . This one took less then 10 shots to do what I needed and shot a nice 1 1/4" 3 shot group in the process !

The last 444 to go on the bench was a nice old circa 1974 Second Model with a Weaver K3 on top !
I'm shooting the Lee 430-310GC bullet in this one with 48 grains of H322 and the same CCI200 primer as the others used . Now I am by no means the best shot with low power scopes on paper at 100 yards . SO you will imagine my surprise when the first two shots were in the same hole dead center of the target and my third shot was about an inch away . Needless to say I was done with this one with 3 shots !

Took along my Remington 722 244 , as well as a Ruger #1B in 6mm and the Remington Model 7 in 300 SAUM !
Got those three set as well , no big deal !

t.r. · Post by **t.r.** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:24 am

I remember that model. It had barrel bands, long barrel and straight butt stock. At the time, Shooters Bible declared the mighty 444 as genuine replacement for the fading 348. Since then better bullets have been developed for the 444. In my opinion, a magazine article of an African adventure featuring the 444 would be most appreciated.

TR

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Fri Mar 11, 2011 12:35 pm

t.r. wrote:I remember that model. It had barrel bands, long barrel and straight butt stock. At the time, Shooters Bible declared the mighty 444 as genuine replacement for the fading 348. Since then better bullets have been developed for the 444. In my opinion, a magazine article of an African adventure featuring the 444 would be most appreciated.

TR

To be quite honest I never really cared for the 444 . Even when I first started collecting Marlin's 10 years ago . I got a 444P and killed a deer with it and then killed a deer with the Nosler 250 grain Partition . After that I put the gun away for awhile and kinda got intrested in these older barrel band models . Once I got into them with the cast bullets then my intrest took off !