FrankenMauser
New member
We'll see, come fall.
As much as I want to smack something with one of these .475" bullets*, my priority is likely to fall on another project that's been in the works even longer - a Marlin 336 converted from .30-30 to .444 Marlin. As Cornbush is aware, that project is in the home stretch now, approaching the point where metal finishing and load development will be the only remaining tasks.
And even if the metal finishing isn't done by then, it's just a cosmetic delay. It won't stop me from hunting with the rifle. It'll need to be oiled well to keep the flash rust from going crazy; and it won't stop all rust from forming where the steel is raw; but I'm willing to do it.
On the up side....
In all likelihood, the 444 will be using the swaged 275 gr bullets that got this all started.
*(I'd like to hunt with these bullets once they're fine-tuned. But, as of now, I'm still waiting on proper sizers, bottom punches ("pushers"), and drill rod for ejection.)
Some recent, or fairly recent photos from the 444 project:
And, Cornbush actually has the "other" 336-to-444 conversion that is essentially made from the 'left over' parts (and extra action), from after I finally made up my mind about what I direction I was taking my rifle.
It started with a pair of .30-30 Marlin 336s, built 23 years apart:
(Complete rifles, but this is the only photo of both.)
As much as I want to smack something with one of these .475" bullets*, my priority is likely to fall on another project that's been in the works even longer - a Marlin 336 converted from .30-30 to .444 Marlin. As Cornbush is aware, that project is in the home stretch now, approaching the point where metal finishing and load development will be the only remaining tasks.
And even if the metal finishing isn't done by then, it's just a cosmetic delay. It won't stop me from hunting with the rifle. It'll need to be oiled well to keep the flash rust from going crazy; and it won't stop all rust from forming where the steel is raw; but I'm willing to do it.
On the up side....
In all likelihood, the 444 will be using the swaged 275 gr bullets that got this all started.
*(I'd like to hunt with these bullets once they're fine-tuned. But, as of now, I'm still waiting on proper sizers, bottom punches ("pushers"), and drill rod for ejection.)
Some recent, or fairly recent photos from the 444 project:
And, Cornbush actually has the "other" 336-to-444 conversion that is essentially made from the 'left over' parts (and extra action), from after I finally made up my mind about what I direction I was taking my rifle.
It started with a pair of .30-30 Marlin 336s, built 23 years apart:
(Complete rifles, but this is the only photo of both.)