Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Need suggestions on getting a 44 Mag rifle.

Just mount a Leupold 2.5x or 1-4X in Weaver low rings and Warne one piece base and it will be nice and low, not much higher than iron sights. Marlin stocks work quite well with this setup.

I have a Ruger 77/44 All-Weather and like it quite a bit.

I chose it over the Marlin lever due to 1/20 twist in the Ruger vs 1/38 for the Marlin, and I prefer a 300 grain bullet.

It has a free-floated barrel, Volquartson trigger kit, and shimmed bolt. Accuracy is now a reliable 2 MOA with round groups and sometimes it does better. I really haven't done a lot of load development, just simply shooting Lil 'gun and 300 grain Beartooth Bullets 300 grain WFNs. OAL is a 1.6" proposition ONLY, no latitude in the mag for seating out and increasing performance, but a 300 grain WFN at 1600 fps is nothing to sneeze at anyway.

I tried a Leupold FX-II 2.5X20 on it for a while, then changed to a VX-2 1-4X20, and prefer that scope, mainly due to the field of view on 1X.

Here is a pic with the FX-II

If you don't mind single shot rifle, T/C pro-hunter with recoil reducing stock is a nice platform for my 445Supermag or 44mag. 445SM will outrun 44mag velocity wise + accuracy will be improved. Range will definitely be extended some. You can still shoot 44mag rounds thru barrel, (recommended cleaning before shooting 445SM again though), not sure if I'll ever want to after seeing what the 445SM can do.

Seven to ten years ago, every gun show went to had lots of Ruger carbines for sale cheap. I bought one of the early ones with an integral rear peep for $300. After spending another $100 getting it functioning right, I stuck it in my closet.

That crappy carbine stock causes the apparent recoil to be real. I wish they had been manufactured with shotgun style buttstocks and a raised comb. The comb is too low even for irons.

As a boy, I wanted one of those in the worse way. The ads said they were perfect for "brush country deer".

Seen a lot of complaints about them over the years, but don't know how much of it's true. I was hopeful about the new version, but it died young too. Not sure why.

My current dream is that Lipseys orders up some 77/44 RSIs to go with my RSI .22. That would get my wallet throbbing.

Sweet gun Vic in VA. I am thinking that exact setup.

Another option would be a Ruger 96/44 lever gun. Have used one the past couple years with good results. Unfortunately not made any longer so you would have to go the used market.

Thank you, sir.

I do recommend the 1-4 over the fixed 2.5 for field of view purposes, given the intended usage, and the other changes I made were to suit my tastes but not really necessary.

It's not for long range, but is a nice, light woods rifle.

I have a Ruger 96/44 and the semi-auto Ruger 44 Carbine. And I did have a Marlin 1894 44 mag lever action. Last week I sold the Marlin because it would not feed the 310 & 320 gr cast bullets I wanted to shoot. The 96/44 magazine had to be altered to feed the bullets but there was no way to make the Marlin feed them. I like the 96 the best. It handles and shoots better than the other two did. My youngest brother keeps the Carbine for me at his house. He calls it is his home defense gun. I pity anyone breaking into his home!

Not ever owning a bolt action Ruger 44, I can't advise you about them. But I don't think they would be as handy as the 96. Today there are 30 Ruger 96/44 mags for sale on GB. Prices start around $500. Get you one, you will love it.

I have had to Rossi Model 92, and now have a Marlin 94.Only because I have to use optics due to poor old eyes. Mine is the one with the cross bolt safety ,which I overrode with an O ring. I really hate those fat forearms on Marlins, so I carved a new stock and forearm and have a cheaper little NcStar 2-6 x scope on it. I have killed one elk with it. Shooting semi jacket Speers 240 gr FP will shoot 2&1/2 " groups at 100 yards.

I'm right behind you.
Nice work on that Marlin.

Nice job!

Dont need it now.

Problem solved

yea.....I like them Marlin 44's......

here's another......

just call me a 'Marlin Slut'

45 Colt will throw heavier slug.......

RAS,
Congratulations on the Wife! The Present! Taking Command!
You obviously make wise choices in life.

I have 2.

Which one do you wanna buy?





Marlin Limited 16" Trapper 44 mag



336-44 20" 44 mag

MacKay,

If I didnt get the pistol, I would have picked the 16' Trapper. Nice little gun.