If the barrel is really too rough to shoot jacketed bullets well (try it--sometimes they look lousy but shoot fine), you can get it relined to new. There are several people who do this well. Not cheap, but you get a better-than-new bore (steel is better than what was used in original 44s). I like Mark Beinke (Ben-kah) in Klamath Falls, OR for relines. Don't hotrod the .25-20 in a 44 or it will loosen up rapidly--it can handle the standard lead/jacketed loads but not the "WHV" equivalent loads meant for a Win '92 or '85.
I have only one 44, in .22 WRF. If only cheap rifles were made that nice now!
