Pistol Caliber Barrels?

[Duramax33]

So my state just opened up the use of rifles but in straight wall cartridge's only (Pistol calibers). So is there any options for this without it being cheaper to go buy a 77/44 or 77/357 I already have a 111 in .300 win. mag.. Thanks for the help.

[bootsmcguire]

Depends on what your state considers pistol calibers.

The 44 and 357 mag are both rimmed cartridges and can be difficult to get to feed (if at all) from Savage magazines because of the rim. Most pistol rounds are going to be short enough that they will probably have feed issues from the magazine due to the design of Savage's feed ramp inside the action. For either of those you will need a custom bolt head made or open up a 223 head with a lathe.

If a single shot will suit your needs, that opens up some options like the 45ACP or 45 Win Mag for examples along with many others. The 45ACP will work with a standard 308 sized bolt head, but you could have a bolt head opened up or custom made to work with some cartridges.

You might check and see if the 450 Bushmaster qualifies for your state's regulations. I have one built from a Stevens SA-CF and it feed and shoots great. If the 450BM is legal for you, give Jim at Apache Gunworks a call and talk to him about making you a barrel. He made mine and it is great.

[the Ranger]

I really like the 450Bushmaster in that situation, of course .458Win mag/.450Marlin is also a straight walled case, although belted. depends on exactly what they will let you get away with. if a cheap build is a major factor, you could look at building on an Axis/Edge.

[BoilerUP]

What state?

450B is the best Savage option IMO, if legal in your state.

[psharon97]

You couldn't use something like the 444marlin?

[Duramax33]

The state is Ohio. These are the choices we have to go with I guess for now.

Legal deer hunting rifles are chambered for the following calibers: .357 Magnum, .357 Maximum, .38 Special, .375 Super Magnum, .375 Winchester, .38-55, .41 Long Colt, .41 Magnum, .44 Special, .44 Magnum, .444 Marlin, .45 ACP, .45 Colt, .45 Long Colt, .45 Winchester Magnum, .45 Smith & Wesson, .454 Casull, .460 Smith & Wesson, .45-70, .45-90, .45-110, .475 Linebaugh, .50-70, .50-90, .50-100, .50-110 and .500 Smith & Wesson.

I like the .444 idea but kinda would like to stick to a pistol cartridge if I could but I guess I'll take what I can get if all its going to cost me is a barrel and some work.

[bootsmcguire]

Hmm, I guess for me the .444 or one of the 45-XX variants would be what I would look at. All the others are so short, that even ignoring any potential rim issues (which may or may not even be there) the longer length will greatly help the feed and extraction to be reliable. The others are so short that they will likely fall free of the extractor before clearing the action's port and cause jams and such.

Personally I would consider building that 300WM into something else and just buy a Marlin set up for the 44 Mag, 444, or 45-70. JMHO.

[Apache]

Of all the pistol cartridges you have listed there, the one that makes the most sense to me is the 45 Winchester Magnum. It would use a standard 06 sized bolt head and will duplicate and possibly exceed the 44 Magnum. More than likely you will have feeding issues with any pistol cartridge though.


What Boots suggested would probably be better unless you just want something different.

[Duramax33]

That's kinda what I figured it would be but since the Savage is kinda the Swiss army knife of the rifle world I thought I would ask. I would dream of finding a Marlin .41 Magnum but those are rare as hen's teeth. Thanks guy's.

[bootsmcguire]

I hear ya. It's always the ones you really want are the hard ones to find.

I want to try to do something like a 444 on a Savage, but ol' Jim and a couple others there talked me into a 450BM so it has been filling that need for now. Since I don't see Iowa allowing rifles for even pistol rounds like these in their regular seasons I had thought about doing one on a Striker but alas still haven't found that killer deal on a Striker yet. One of these days....

[spook1]

So is it possible to build a 444 repeater bolt action. If so, please let me know how and what is needed.

[bootsmcguire]

Yes and no. With standard parts, no. You will probably have to get or make a custom bolt head for the 444 diameter base and I am going to bet that some magazine tweaking/modification would be in order. Also due to the design of the feed ramp in the action you may be forced to run bullets like the FTX to get the pointed nose to help with feeding.

Possible yes, easy probably not. I have not tried it as of yet. I am considering the 444 or the 460 S&W as well (since they are legal pistol rounds for deer here in Iowa) but that is some time in the future, if I ever get to it I will certainly post up my findings, but at this time all I can tell you is my observations and theories, and I think some modification may be needed to play with the rimmed rounds for reliable feeding.

[spook1]

thanks for the reply boots. A 460 S&W would be my ultimate choice if I were able to build anything. But I figured it would be the hardest to get to work. If I could figure out what would be my best chances of making one work, I would try it. I don't know whether a stagger or center feed, etc. Or would I be better off (with the goal of building a repeater) of using a mauser action.

If I can get some input and think there may be a chance to make it work, I am going to start gathering parts for a 460 S&W build.

What would you use or do to try and make this work?

[bootsmcguire]

I would be more inclined to think that a Centerfeed would be a better choice than a Staggerfeed, but I am more partial to centerfeed as I have had better luck with them overall for normal stuff. I have CF and SF actions available for me to try so I am covered either way. That being said, and thinking a bit more on it, it strikes me (upcoming pun intended :P) that if I were to try and do a 444 or 460, it would be on a Striker, and that would require me to use a SF magazine.

I have minimal experience with the Mauser actions so I cannot say. A CRF may be a great idea. Me, when I get ready to do it, I am going to use a Striker and make the barrel maybe 18" so that way if it doesn't work, I can set it back a bit and rechamber to something else if needed.

[GaCop]

That's kinda what I figured it would be but since the Savage is kinda the Swiss army knife of the rifle world I thought I would ask. I would dream of finding a Marlin .41 Magnum but those are rare as hen's teeth. Thanks guy's.

Heck, in my area Marlins, in anything but 30-30, are about as scarce as uranium or made from unobtanium.

[Duramax33]

Yea I hear you 30/30 must be the most produced gun of all time they are everywhere. Every now and then the .44 Magnum's pop up but prices are crazy on them .357 Magnum you don't see often but if you do I can't afford it lol.

[Duramax33]

Found a Hens Tooth lol pretty happy I found this
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
1894FG Marlin .41 Remington Magnum Now I can just build the .300 Win. Mag in to a long range gun.

[bootsmcguire]

Wow, that is a find. Hope it didn't cost you your right arm.

FWIW since this thread started I did find a Striker, and rebarreled it to 444 Marlin. Shoots and functions fine, but I did have to open up a .473" SA bolt head to .521" to get it to work perfectly. Easy to do with a lathe, and any machine shop should be able to handle it for a couple of bucks in a bout 10 min.

[Duramax33]

I still have all my body parts for now the wife's not really happy with me but I figured it was my only chance to own one and jumped for it. All stuff I can go buy anywhere. Vary nice on the .444 build.

[bootsmcguire]

Ahh and unhappy wife. So you still have all your body parts for now then, I'd sleep with one eye open. That rifle might cost you your right arm yet. LOL.