444 Marlin Question

[OdinAEon]

I know that the marlin levers are really great firearms. I am actually wondering about the Winchester big bore that was offered in that caliber. Did they offer the 444 big bore in a non angle eject, or even sans safety? all the ones I have seen listed have had both of those features, and the earlier 375 WIN have been normal eject and without the safety. Any info would be awesome. and I am sure it is in some book about gun values or the like, but I don't have any of those.

Thanks, Len

 

[DMH]

I have looked in some books I have, I cannot answer your question directly. In the 2003 gun digest they list the 94 Big Bore in .444 this is with angel eject. It does not mention the cross bolt safety, but other model 94's from 2003 have cross bolt safety. In late 1978 through 1983 I only see the .375 and not the .444. although the .444 was already in production by that time. If I find more information I will reply again.

David

 

[jmr40]

I could be wrong, but believe there were only a few 444's made by Winchester and believe all were made in the last few years before Winchester closed their New Haven factory in 2006. At that point all should have had the safety and angle eject. I know I held 1 or 2 back then, but am not 100% sure.

 

[eastbank]

my win. 94 timber carbine in mar. 444 is angle eject and has the cross bolt safery. eastbank.

 

[DMH]

I would say that the .444 marlin was never factory released in a model 94 Winchester without the angle eject. The Big Bore 94 first came out in 1978 as the fifth model receiver in the 94 line up. Prefix "BB" top eject and only in .375 win. In 1983 the 94's receiver model 5A came out as Big Bore Angle Eject. The 5A was available in .307 win. and .356 Win. So for you to find a pre angle eject model it would have to be prior to 1983. And from what I have found so far is only .375 Win. caliber. Can you live with the angle eject?

David

 

[OdinAEon]

It wasn't ever a huge issue. I just wanted to know. I have been wanting a bigbore for a while, and the 444 wass the biggest I could think of. So I wager I need to go down to 375 or take AE. I think I may try the AE. A 444 is much more up my alley.

Thanks, Len

 

[DMH]

1998 was the first year the .444 Marlin was available in the Winchester model 94 big bore. And of course it had angle eject. The Big Bore receivers are very well made, and solid. I do not own any .444 Marlin rifles, but that cartridge did cross my mind a time or two. I'm settling in on 45-70 and will work with that caliber for awhile. Although if I ever run across a Big Bore 94 at a far price I may need to pick it up. I think a model 71 in .348 would be fun but the cost of the rifle is more than I want to spend on a shooter/hunting setup. Good luck.

David

 

[StrawHat]

At one point Winchester offered the 444 Marlin in a plastic stocked version of the 94. I don't recall much else about it except I thought it would be a good hunting rifle for swamps and such.

 

[StrawHat]

Finally located the article I needed. The Black Shadow was introduced in 1998, synthetic stock and angle ejector.

In 2000, the Timber Rifle was introduced , 444 Marlin, 17 1/2" ported barrel, wood stocks. Of the two, I like the idea of the Black Shadow.

 

[DMH]

I like the 94 Timber carbine that Eastbank has, That's a very nice looking rifle and with Deluxe wood. Try to see if you can find one like that.

DMH

 

[eastbank]

the only deer(four point) i killed with the 94 big bore was a head shot very close(stuck it,s head out of a dead fall). one very dead deer. deer on the bottom was the .444 deer. on the top is a doe shot with a rem 7600.eastbank.

 

[CraigC]

No, all Winchester 94 .444's were angle eject with the crossbolt safety.

There were Big Bores in .307, .356 and .375 without the safety but no .444's.

 

[Badlander]

You can always go with the 45-70.

 

[StrawHat]

If you want to step away from the Model 94, you could go with Badlander's suggestion and step into the past with the Model 1886. Or step into the future with the Winchester 1895! Several cartridges there would satisfy your need for a big bore. Neither of the rifles are as light as the 94 but they do hit with a thump.