444 Marlin First Model

[6pt-sika]

I just scored my fourth "First Model" 444 Marlin
It hasn't gotten to me yet and should be here in the next eight days I would say

I already had First Models from 1965 , 1968 and 1971 . This latest one is from 1966 !

Now if I can somehow lay my hands on one from 1967 , 1969 and 1970 . I'll have one from each year that model was made !

Then I suppose I'll have to start on the Second Model's they made them from 1971 to 1975 and I only have one from 1971 !



Above is my 1965 First Model with a Weaver K2.5 . I have this one sighted in with the Ranch Dog 432-265GC bullet and backed with XMP5744 !




I thought I had individual pics of each of these four but I can't seem to find them !

At the bottom is my 1965 First Model with a Charles Daly 3-9 as I purchased it . That scope has since moved elsewhere .

Above that is my 1968 First Model . This one is wearing another Weaver K2.5 and is loaded with the Ranch Dog 432-285GC bullet and XMP5744 !

Above that is my 1971 First Model , this was the only year the first model had a square lever . Not in this picture but now this one also has a Weaver K2.5 on top and is loaded with the Ranch Dog 432-300GC bullet and XMP5744 .

And at the top is my only Second Model . This one was made in 1971 also and is wearing a real nice Weaver K3 . I got a mould from castboolits for "Boomer Mikeys" 434-330GC , this bullet actually drops at about 310-315 and I have it also loaded with XMP5744 .


I happen to have a group buy mould coming for a 434-207GC and that is what I plan to use in the 1966 First Model ! I was fortunate enough that someone let me have about 120 of these bullets cast from 50% WW's and 50% Linotype . That should be enough to get me a load worked up quickly before hunting season and give me maybe two dozen bullets to kill a deer or two ! Already scraped up another Weaver K3 and some Weaver extension mounts for this rifle also !

[mescalero1]

Smart man, stick with those fixed power K models; they will last you for life.

[6pt-sika]

Smart man, stick with those fixed power K models; they will last you for life.

I'd actually like to put Leupold VX2 1-4's on them all . But I don't for two reasons .

The first being the cost I can normally pick up decent used K2.5's and K3's for about $40-60 a piece . Where as the Leupold VX2 1-4 costs about $300 new !

And the second reason is I think the older Weaver's are what most likely would have been put on the old rifles back when they were new !

[mescalero1]

It's late, and I don't want to open a can of worms; PM me tommorow and I will explain my reasoning.

[Paladin]

Great collection.

[dr walker]

6pt-sika,
You are building one nice collection. That would be great to get one from every year. Good stuff. I always enjoy your range reports and photos.

[6pt-sika]

6pt-sika,
You are building one nice collection. That would be great to get one from every year. Good stuff. I always enjoy your range reports and photos.

Thanks ,

I appreciate that

[Ysabel Kid]

Hmmm... I think I spotted a potential theme in that collection there somewhere...

[6pt-sika]

Hmmm... I think I spotted a potential theme in that collection there somewhere...

Hmmm , you may very well be correct ! Since a circa 1970 found its way here sunday

[6pt-sika]

Well the first of the two new ones is here !

This is the 1970 First Model !





Here's a picture of the Weaver K3 60B I mounted on it tonight along with a Weaver 63B base abd a set of Weaver extension rings !



Here's a halfway decent picture of the 1970 Medallion in the stock ! And amazingly the seriel number also has a "70" as the first two digits ! I forgot to ask the guy before I bought it to make sure the seriel number was correct !




When I picked the gun up at my dealers today it was a little grungy on the outside . So when I got home I cleaned the ENTIRE rifle with Hoppes #9 . That took away anything sticky , waxy or whatever on metal and wood !

Next I took a towel and wiped the wood off followed by a session with a blow dryer to evaporate any moisture .

Then I pulled out my old can of "Bowling Alley Wax" and applied a coat followed by the blow dryer to get a nice hazy look . Then a T Shirt to buff it good . Followed this procedure 3 or 4 times and got a nce coat of wax on the stock and forend !

Now I thought the old rifle looked pretty decent . Only two small details that I'll need to fix . The first being the missing "Bullseye" in the stock and the second and more importantly the missing "square" hammer extension . I think they both will be fairly easy to replace !

After that I started loading up some of the Lyman 429640HP bullets I had ready.I think there is a range trip in the very very near future for this rifle ! Like thursday or friday !
And hopefully the 1966 First Model will be here as well !

[6pt-sika]

Well last weekend I cast a bunch of bullets out of a mould I had for about 6 years . The present manufacture Lyman 429640HP "Devastater" . Plan on using that bullet in the rifle above as I already said !

But a few days ago I also purchased one of the no longer made Lyman 429640 two cavity moulds ! This is the same thing as the HP mould except it weighs 270-280 grains without the HP !

And I have been looking all over the place for a Lyman 429649 which is a 325 grain GC mould that they no longer make !

Later today I was looking at the NEI printed catalog and decided to call them !

I told them I was intrested in a 6 cavity aluminum mould , but I wanted three holes cut for the #263B which is a 310 grain GC with a WIDE meplate made originally for the 444 Marlin and I wanted the other three holes cut for the #266 which is a 330 grain GC bullet originally designed by J.D.Jones or Larry Kelly (I think) for the Contenders in 44 MAG and 444 Marlin .
The guy at NEI told me that he didn't like to cut bullets that large in 6 cavities , but he told me he would suggest doing 5 instead !
Okay , so I had him cut 2 holes with the 310 grain cherry and 3 holes with the 330 grain cherry ! Also asked that he make me Lyman style top punches for both bullets .
Gave him my CC info and was told I should have in less then 3 weeks

So now I need to look for the other two year rifles I'm missing as I have more moulds then rifles again ! And sometime soon Ranch Dog will be having a 432-350GC mould available I think !

Ahhh yes to many moulds , too many rifles and I'll have to make enough time

[6pt-sika]

Well here's my circa 1966 First Model , FINALLY



The rifle has a good bit of blueing wear , but all in all I think it should be alright !


Here's a closer picture of the action . And it's alot easier to see the blueing wear on the action . Also you can see the Weaver K4 scope I mounted on this rifle !

[mescalero1]

Thats an OLD Weaver

[6pt-sika]

Shot them both yesterday and today !

Here's the First Model 444 that was made in 1966 with a Weaver K4 on top !




Here's what the 1966 rifle did with the "castboolits group buy" 434-207GC bullet !




And here's what the 1966 rifle did with the Lyman 429640 solid nose bullet !





I'm kinda pleased with both to be honest

[6pt-sika]

Here's a picture of the 1970 First Model 444 at the range with a Weaver K3 up top !




Now here's the results of the first shots with the Lyman 429640HP .




And as I did with the 1966 rifle I tried the 429640 solid nose in this rifle as well !



Again all in all I'm satisfied enough to shoot deer with these loads in the two rifles

[6pt-sika]

Well it seems another "Second Model" 444 has found its way to me !

They only made this rifle from 1971 to 1975 ! I now seem to have a 1971 and 1975 !

Pictures pending of course

This should be a good gun for the Lyman 429640 solid nose bullet and it just so happens I have a spare old Weaver K4 laying on the table along with a Weaver 63B base and a set of Medium Weaver Extension rings !

[6pt-sika]

Okay I picked up my 1975 Second Model today ! While doing the call in I mounted the Weaver K4 and bore sighted ! Then left shortly for the range !








Here's a couple targets I shot with the 1975 rifle ! Was shooting the Lyman 429640 solid nose with 34 grains of XMP5744 and a CCI200 .

[6pt-sika]

The 1975 Second Model had some light surface rust on the barrel and lever ! Also had some scratches on the stock !

So when I got home this afternoon I immediately cleaned the metal with Hoppes and fine steel wool ! Then cleaned the wood with Hoppes and a rag ! After that I got out the old blow dryer and dried any moisture left after I wiped it all off !

After I felt pretty happy with the dryness factor I put a coat of "Bowling Alley Wax" on the wood , bow dried and buffed with a rag ! Did this 3 times and it looked pretty decent or at least I think so !

When I got upstairs I took a couple pics of the 1975 Second Model with my 1966 and 1970 First Models !