Micro groove or..........?

[muleshoe]

According to the serial # I've got a '79 444SS. Since the barrel is not stamped micro-groove, does that mean it isn't?

More of a question out of curiousity than anything else, as it shoots great and is plenty accurate.

And a follow up.........What is the big diiference 'tween ballard and MG rifling?

[Ranch Dog]

According to the serial # I've got a '79 444SS. Since the barrel is not stamped micro-groove, does that mean it isn't?

More of a question out of curiousity than anything else, as it shoots great and is plenty accurate.

And a follow up.........What is the big diiference 'tween ballard and MG rifling?

It has a Micro-Groove barrel. The difference between the barrels are the number of grooves and the depth of the grooves. There are more MGs and they are shallower. I like them.

[muleshoe]

Mucho galoshes.

I've got a '75 model 39A that does say micro-groove. It's a shooter too.

[VerySavage]

[size=18px]The 444s that I sold last fall was of 1978 vintage & had microgrouve rifling, all I have to say about it is, that every animal I ever shot at with that rifle died from a single shot, no follow up shot required.
The new 444XLR I bought after selling my 444s is keeping that tradition alive, I fired two shots from my XLR in a hunting situation, one for the Moose & one for the Whitetail both of which are packed away in my freezer being slowly consumed.
--Ken[/size]

[Starrbow]

They can have the ballard 1-20 twist, give me the 1-38 twist
Micro-Groove anyday............................................ ............Marko

[Dawei]

They can have the ballard 1-20 twist, give me the 1-38 twist Micro-Groove anyday............................................ ............Marko

I've never shot a newer 1:20" Ballard 444 so I don't know how accurate they are. (Supposed to be great with the LEVERevolution®). My 1:38" Microgroove® is superbly accurate with the 265gr Light Magnum® loading. I can place 3 shots into a ¾" group @ 100yds from the bench. Many folks are like you & prefer the slower twist Microgroove®. I'm just starting to experiment with Cast Boolits (290gr FPGC) that Ranch Dog sent me last fall.

Since 99% of all 444 use (hunting) is 200yds or less I don't think it much matters which barrel you have. Just my $.02

[muleshoe]

I've been loading 265 Hornadys on top of 45grs of IMR4198 and getting >2" groups at 100. This is open sighted of course, so it's likely some of the group size is my doin's. Found some 270gr Gold Dots on sale for $6/box and plan on working with those a bit, but been plenty satisfied with the 265's performance.

[Starrbow]

I've been loading 265 Hornadys on top of 45grs of IMR4198 and getting >2" groups at 100. This is open sighted of course, so it's likely some of the group size is my doin's. Found some 270gr Gold Dots on sale for $6/box and plan on working with those a bit, but been plenty satisfied with the 265's performance.

If your shooting a Micro-groove 1-38 there is no need to go past 2100fps with the Speer 270gr, at around 2100fps they are some accurate.
.................................................. ........................................Marko