For sale a very special Ruger #3 chambered in 444 Marlin. You have to wonder why Bill Ruger never chambered the #1 or #3 for such a performing straight walled rimmed cartridge but that is another story. Anyway my late Brother knew and used Parker Ackley for quite a bit of gunsmithing in his Salt Lake shop years ago. They came up with the idea of a #3 chambered 444 and best I know the gun was built in the mid to late 70’s.
About the gun. It has a Ackley 25” mild taper sporter barrel with 1-18” twist and old style blue-black deep bluing. Action was worked and barreled by Ackley. The stock is high grade California Claro or Bastogne oiled walnut classically carved with pistol grip cheek comb and very little drop. Nice checkering on pistol grip and forearm both of which are capped with lighter colored oak. Buttstock has a Neidner checkered steel but plate. Rifle includes a classic Weatherby rare German twin top turret 2-7 Scope with European style post cross hair reticle on a custom front base with the name RL Phillips ? 1 “ rings. Barrel muzzle is .650” and there is a custom long ramp front sight with fine anti glare checkering and gold bead. Rifle is in very nice condition overall, no red flags.
Gun weight: 8.75# LOP: 13.5” Trigger: 3.25 lbs 300 gr Barnes 2250fps 265 gr Hornady 2360 fps
Ackley was a great barrel maker and the three Ackley rifles my Brother had all shot great and consistently with different weight bullets. This rifle is no exception and shoots well under MOA with either 265 Hornady or the big Barnes 300 grain FP’s. If you want better long range performance with pointy bullets this is the gun. I once broke up the fore and aft shoulders at close to 200 yards on a 900 lbs moose that needed to drop before going into a NH swamp with very little meat loss.
I don’t know of another rifle like this that shoots so well and looks so nice. Those 444 fans will be amazed at its performance. I want what I think is a fair price for such a piece and a friend at Amoskeag Auctions agrees I’m close but tells me in the right auction it could bring much more. He recommended a 1800.00 reserve. Sorry for being so long winded but I’ve had this rifle forty years and it’s hard to sell ( reverse shoulder surgery ) so I’m asking $2000.00 for something special. I will split cost of transfer and shipping. PM me for photos I have a hard time attaching here
Come on folks are you telling me nobody in a forum like this with so much experience and diversity isn’t interested in such a special an unusual rifle built by PO Ackley ? Especially a sought after Ruger #3 in 444 Marlin. I’m not sniveling just shaking my head. PM me please if you need some more detailed photos. I’ll include the dies, brass and some no longer made 300 grain Barnes bullets.
I'd love to have a rifle that was barreled by Ackley, but have bought 4 rifles already this year! Did sell one on Saturday. Hoping to trade into a handgun on Sat. Than need to cool it.
