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Thanks for the warning.
I have read the thread(s) about stressed rifling in here as well as Graeme Wright's coverage of the topic.
I am not too concerned for a couple of reasons.
One is obvious and you mentioned it: modern barrel steel.
The second is not so obvious and has to do with the somewhat arcane original specs for the 444.
As I mentioned above no one really knows now why the 1/38" twist was decided on by Marlin.
That puts a limit on the length of bullets that will stabilize.
Anything over about .9" is questionable.
But the important detail here is the fact that all 444's until near the end of Marlin's existence were made with micro-grooved barrels.
These almost always have slightly over sized bores as well compared to 44 revolvers.
They shoot best with .432" gas-checked cast bullets which is usually the largest size 44 you can get.
For the last few years Marlin finally got wise and changed to a 1/20" twist barrel with "Ballard" rifling but the CIP stayed with the original specs.
Or Rizzini sourced some of the older barrels already rifled.
Anyway the double rifle has the older style rifling exactly like my 1980 444S.
There isn't a whole lot of rifling to stress.

The number of A-Frames I plan on putting thru it will be limited to a handful as well.
They are expensive and currently unavailable so I'll be husbanding them closely
All regulation and practice shooting is done with the Hornady or Sierra JHC until the final 4 or 6 rounds.
I consider the 240 a good size for whitetails and the 280 Woodleigh or A-Frame suitable for elk, moose, bison, and larger bears.
There is a remote possibility I could regulate (or come close enough) the Beartooth 295 gr. WLNGC.
I have several boxes of them and they have a very good reputation in the Marlin owner's forum.
If confronting the big brown bears or grizz, I'd want a load like that.
Sadly Beartooth bullets no longer exists.
Not only did they make excellent bullets but were at the forefront of 444 experimenting and documentation.

Spare old 444SS barrel I got from Numrich after a bunch of cleaning:

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Nemo -- Everything 44

Edited by Nemo (11/09/23 02:52 PM)

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