Whip
08-26-2005, 04:29 PM
My first lever action was a Win 94 22 mag I got several years ago. I just got my Marlin 444 last winter. A friend gave it to me. The reason he gave it to me, his house caught fire. It melted the scope he had on it and chared the forearm and stock pretty good. They must have put it out just in time.To save what they did. He kept it like that for about 15 years. I took it this spring and had it checked out. Every thing was fine except for the stock and forearm. The barrel had a little rust in it , but it lapped out good. I restocked it with a pretty piece of curley Ash and brought it back to life. I have only hunted with Flintlock muzzleloaders for the last 15 years or so. Except for shooting varmits with my center fires. I shot a Hog with it after checking it out. I have never Reloaded any straight wall cases before. This has been a nice change for me. I have really injoyed it. I never thought lever actions shot so good. Now. I am all ready thinking about other lever actions and other calibers. I can see the real advantages in a smaller calibers if I shoot much. The 444 does have an ump to it at both ends. I am not recoil sensitive but after 15 shots with 444 hot loads and heavy bullits, it does start to ware on a person. A 32-20, 32 H&R mag. or what I would like to have is a 25-35 improved. I have a friend that has a 92 Win chambered in 256 mag. It is a neat little gun. I have even thought of takeing a 357 maximum and neckeing it down to 25 cal. A little more than the 256 mag. or to 32 cal. I found this site and while I was testing the 444 I entered the postal match. Why not? I have been shooting muzzleloaders in competition for around 15 years. I am use to open sights. But the 42 inch or 47 inch barrel that I shoot does have a better sight radius than the shorter barrel on the marlin. The peep sight or the red dot is better than the open sight on the muzzleloader. Any way I just may have to get a smaller cal. Marlin in the future just for more fun.