.444 Marlin/ .44 Mag???!!!

[Geordie]

Is the .444 Marlin a .44 Mag on steroids?
What I mean; is it like the .38 special/ .357 Mag and the .44 Special/.44 Mag?
If you had a rifle, such as the Handi style, in .444 Marlin could you safely shoot .44 Mag in it?
Hope this is the proper forum.
Thanks,
Geordie

 

[swampshooter]

No, there's too much difference in case dimensions. It might fire, but would not be a good idea to even try.

 

[NCsmitty]

The base of the 44 mag case is .010 smaller than the 444 so the 44 case might balloon and rupture and you know that wouldn't be good. I'm sure it's been tried before though.

NCsmitty

 

[Wil Terry]

No !!! You cannot safely use the 44mag as a subload in the 444marlin.

On the other hand the correct 44-40 handloads works great as a subload in 444MARLIN guns.

 

[Clark]

I blew up an old Ruger 44 mag carbine with leading in the bore.

I replaced the barrel with a Marlin 444 lever action barrel surplussed out of Numrich.

The breech only needed to be shortened, as the front half of the chamber is so much like a 44 mag chamber.

The rifle shoots very accurately, but is heavier now.

What does it all mean?
Cheap, no reamer fit... cut off the rear of a 444 Marlin barrel and you have a 44 mag barrel.