Best platform for rebarreling to 44 RM

cptmclark · August 25, 2009, 04:33 PM

What is a good place to start to build an accurate (more or less) repeating rifle using the 44 RM cartridge. Existing units I know of provide dismal accuracy and I'd be willing to rebarrel a bolt action if success is attainable. No doubt some lend themselves better than others. Has anyone succeeded with this effort? By accurate, I think consistently sub 2 MOA would suffice. Thanks

Scorch · August 25, 2009, 05:30 PM

Ruger 77/44 is already done for you, if you feel up to it.

You can rebarrel a 1893 or 1895 Mauser to 44 Mag, it's pretty cool. You have to do the magazine work on it, though.

dbldblu · August 25, 2009, 08:05 PM

I have a 77/44. It shoots very well, approaching MOA, with 300 Gr bullets either cast or jacketed. Anything lighter is more like 2-4 MOA. They have a sloppy chamber; I suppose the 300 grain "bridges the gap" better. More than once I have thought about rebarreling just to get a good chamber and see if it would shoot 240 Gr. Plenty good for deer as is, but only accurate rifles are interesting.

cptmclark · August 25, 2009, 08:20 PM

Well the 77/44 would be dandy, but I had not before heard MOA or anywhere close to it. I know they are coming out again. Thank you for that information about the good accuracy. Anybody know the twist rate? Also, regarding the 77/44, would it cycle my favorite 445 SuperMag if I lengthened the chamber properly?

kwells6 · August 25, 2009, 09:16 PM

anyone thought about the nagant? designed for rimmed rounds...

dbldblu · August 26, 2009, 10:12 AM

The twist is 1 in 20". The magazine will accept a cartridge length of 1.660", nothing more. The magazine holds 4 rounds. If you lose count and try to stuff a 5th round in it breaks easily, don't ask how I know.

The very first time I shot it, the front sight fell off on the ground. Even after fixing that, it would string horizontally. I found that the rear of the receiver serves as the recoil surface and unless I don't know how to use a square the receiver is not square and was only touching wood on one side. Glass bedding fixed that.

Not trying to discourage you but if you buy one of these you better like to tinker.

cptmclark · August 26, 2009, 11:20 AM

Thanks for the detailed replies. Info we can use. Concerning the Nagant, do you think it would feed the 44 mag or even the longer 2 inch cartridge (445SM) in that long action? I have one of those. If so, who would be good to rebarrel and tune it?
I know Rem chambered the 788 in 44 once, but I never saw any reviews of it. If it would shoot the 44, maybe then also the 445. Too bad the Marlin 336/1895 platform can't be made to feed the shorter cartridge. I had hoped the 445 pistol cartridge (2") would be long enough to feed in a 444 action, but smithies I've asked said it's not doable and that many have tried. I do know that 1895s have been known to shoot MOA, not sure about the 444.
For DBLDBLU, after you did all the work correcting your 77/44, how did it shoot?

kwells6 · August 26, 2009, 12:46 PM

i bet if you found a way to install a magazine block, it would. they make one for my spanish mauser to take it from 7x57 mauser to 7.62x39. it has a magazine kit that comes with a block and a new follower and spring.

as for the barrel, i have no clue really... i just thought of it as an idea. but i bet if you can find someone with a lathe and a barrel blank, you could get something worked out. maybe even one of these major barrel makers may be able to custom make you one. but that'd cost big $

dbldblu · August 26, 2009, 02:56 PM

After all that work, it shoots well with 300 gr. Attached are some 5 round groups. The range was 50 yards.
The one labeled 4 is a Speer 240 JHP over 21 gr 2400. This is a good group but the load is not consistent.
The one labeled 7 is a Nosler 300 JHP over 17 gr 2400. This is consistent.
The one labeled 8 is a Nosler 300 JHP over 21 gr AA1680. This is consistent.

cptmclark · August 26, 2009, 03:41 PM

Hmmm. That number seven at .6 is a 1.2 MOA load. Excellent and the best I've seen with the 44. 17 2400 should be about 1400 fps in a 20 inch barrel methinks. I wonder how it would like H110. LIke you say the 300 is plenty good for deer at close range and accurate. Still nice to zip them out at 2000 fps IF one could get accuracy with it. Thanks for the data.

dbldblu · September 16, 2009, 02:30 PM

FYI, new article

http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-77-44.htm

August 25, 2009, 04:33 PM	#1
cptmclark Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 432	Best platform for rebarreling to 44 RM What is a good place to start to build an accurate (more or less) repeating rifle using the 44 RM cartridge. Existing units I know of provide dismal accuracy and I'd be willing to rebarrel a bolt action if success is attainable. No doubt some lend themselves better than others. Has anyone succeeded with this effort? By accurate, I think consistently sub 2 MOA would suffice. Thanks

August 25, 2009, 05:30 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	Ruger 77/44 is already done for you, if you feel up to it. You can rebarrel a 1893 or 1895 Mauser to 44 Mag, it's pretty cool. You have to do the magazine work on it, though. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

August 25, 2009, 08:05 PM	#3
dbldblu Member Join Date: May 30, 2006 Posts: 95	77/44 I have a 77/44. It shoots very well, approaching MOA, with 300 Gr bullets either cast or jacketed. Anything lighter is more like 2-4 MOA. They have a sloppy chamber; I suppose the 300 grain "bridges the gap" better. More than once I have thought about rebarreling just to get a good chamber and see if it would shoot 240 Gr. Plenty good for deer as is, but only accurate rifles are interesting.

August 25, 2009, 09:16 PM	#5
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	anyone thought about the nagant? designed for rimmed rounds... __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

August 26, 2009, 10:12 AM	#6
dbldblu Member Join Date: May 30, 2006 Posts: 95	77/44 The twist is 1 in 20". The magazine will accept a cartridge length of 1.660", nothing more. The magazine holds 4 rounds. If you lose count and try to stuff a 5th round in it breaks easily, don't ask how I know. The very first time I shot it, the front sight fell off on the ground. Even after fixing that, it would string horizontally. I found that the rear of the receiver serves as the recoil surface and unless I don't know how to use a square the receiver is not square and was only touching wood on one side. Glass bedding fixed that. Not trying to discourage you but if you buy one of these you better like to tinker.

August 25, 2009, 08:20 PM	#4
cptmclark Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 432	Well the 77/44 would be dandy, but I had not before heard MOA or anywhere close to it. I know they are coming out again. Thank you for that information about the good accuracy. Anybody know the twist rate? Also, regarding the 77/44, would it cycle my favorite 445 SuperMag if I lengthened the chamber properly?

August 26, 2009, 11:20 AM	#7
cptmclark Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 432	Thanks for the detailed replies. Info we can use. Concerning the Nagant, do you think it would feed the 44 mag or even the longer 2 inch cartridge (445SM) in that long action? I have one of those. If so, who would be good to rebarrel and tune it? I know Rem chambered the 788 in 44 once, but I never saw any reviews of it. If it would shoot the 44, maybe then also the 445. Too bad the Marlin 336/1895 platform can't be made to feed the shorter cartridge. I had hoped the 445 pistol cartridge (2") would be long enough to feed in a 444 action, but smithies I've asked said it's not doable and that many have tried. I do know that 1895s have been known to shoot MOA, not sure about the 444. For DBLDBLU, after you did all the work correcting your 77/44, how did it shoot?

August 26, 2009, 12:46 PM	#8
kwells6 Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2008 Location: Central Arkansas Posts: 437	i bet if you found a way to install a magazine block, it would. they make one for my spanish mauser to take it from 7x57 mauser to 7.62x39. it has a magazine kit that comes with a block and a new follower and spring. as for the barrel, i have no clue really... i just thought of it as an idea. but i bet if you can find someone with a lathe and a barrel blank, you could get something worked out. maybe even one of these major barrel makers may be able to custom make you one. but that'd cost big $ __________________ "Make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually they will believe it."

August 26, 2009, 03:41 PM	#10
cptmclark Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2004 Location: Indiana Posts: 432	Hmmm. That number seven at .6 is a 1.2 MOA load. Excellent and the best I've seen with the 44. 17 2400 should be about 1400 fps in a 20 inch barrel methinks. I wonder how it would like H110. LIke you say the 300 is plenty good for deer at close range and accurate. Still nice to zip them out at 2000 fps IF one could get accuracy with it. Thanks for the data. Last edited by cptmclark; August 26, 2009 at 03:46 PM.

September 16, 2009, 02:30 PM	#11
dbldblu Member Join Date: May 30, 2006 Posts: 95	Best platform for rebarreling to 44 RM FYI, new article http://www.gunblast.com/Ruger-77-44.htm