[Learning444]

Here's some pictures of the new addition to my family.

The gun as I found it:

I really like the balance of this gun without a scope. I decided on the Williams FP-94/36 sight, since it seemed to have a lower profile that some of the others. I've never installed this - or worked on removing the older dovetail rear sight, but it wasn't too hard.

I did notice that the sight wasn't completely flush on top of the receiver. There was about 1/16" between the receiver and the horizontal bar. I've been doing some careful filing on the contact point and I almost have it flush. I've been taking off just a little at a time and checking the fit. Once I get it down where I want, I plan on going over it with a stone to smooth things out.

A couple of questions:
1. What stones do you recommend for me to purchase? I'm just getting into some of this and want to do it right.
2. Is there a finish I should do on the exposed Aluminum? I'm more worried about damage to the gun than to the sight.

I'll post a couple of close-ups of the sight when I'm finished.

Thanks

 

[fhmusa]

Learning: Welcome to MOs. Beautiful rifle. Good luck with it. I like peep sights also. Only use them when target shooting. Eyes got too old to use them hunting pretty much anymore.

 

[NFG]

I used peeps way back in my youth all the time on many rifles out to ~200 yds...now I need thick X-hairs even on scopes, my eyes are getting so bad.

Don't worry abouts the gap between the sight and the receiver...that amount depends on WHERE the groups are hitting...you might need to stone it down, but more likely you will need to run the sight up a bit to get the right POI...I like 1.5" above the center which gives you a point blank out to about 200-225 yds...no need to figure drop or hold over just put the bead on the shoulder and go collect your steak. ;D

Brownells has a nice selection of stones of every sort...a fine/extra fine diamond or hard Arkansas will work and Aluminum black will work or just plain nail polish, epoxy glue, paint or there are many ways to hard coat or anodize aluminum...or leave it alone...

LUCK

 

[Learning444]

I haven't shot peeps that much - especially on my hunting rifles. My Dad has an 03 Enfield (he bought it surplus when he was a kid). I've watched him take deer from 300+ yards with it - so I know that you can make accurate shots at distance. I probably won't be shooting the .444 at much over 100 yards at game. I bought it mainly to carry for bear here in MT (when I'm not the one hunting, but going out as a gutter / dragger). There's good thick timber hunting around Missoula for elk, so I might pack this along once I get comfortable with it.

I will probably have to have the gap between the sight and the receiver once I get to the range as start putting holes in paper. It's a little distracting seeing more light below the peep. It'll probably be a good thing - make me focus a little more on a clean sight picture.

Thanks for the advice on the stones and ways to finish the aluminum. I tend to be a little anal on my guns (more so because I'm an analytical chemist)

 

[NFG]

Attention to detail is very good...in your line of work or anywhere else...but...you really need to let the small stuff be forgotten, or noted and put behind you...locking onto anything extraneous can do nothing but feed the bars...and you will be the main course.

Get anal on learning to shoot WITHOUT locking onto the target TOO much...remember what happened to the hunter in one of the Jurassic Park movies when he was consentrating too hard on one velociraptor while the other one was setting him up for a good ol' lick...you need to use all 10 eyes in your head or maybe more, so you can see all those other, better targets/dangers, all around you...it's a war out there and you can be the hunter OR the target.

It takes time, practice, and effort to get all your senses working at the same time, especially when the adrenaline is pumping and you can just taste bear steak. ;D

Actually when you have the rifle in the correct position and you are sighting correctly you shouldn't see anything but the front sight through a fuzzy circle as the eye automatically centers the front sight in the peep and the target will also be fuzzy...it takes practice...the eye CAN'T focus on 3 objects at the same time, that's why a scope is the best and quickest device for sighting...the target AND the X-hairs are in ONE plane and you just have to put the hairs where you want the bullet to go.

LUCK

 

[444Hal]

Got the same sight on my 444XLR. It doesn't go down to touch the receiver. It just needs a taller front sight.

 

[Learning444]

Get anal on learning to shoot WITHOUT locking onto the target TOO much...remember what happened to the hunter in one of the Jurassic Park movies when he was consentrating too hard on one velociraptor while the other one was setting him up for a good ol' lick...you need to use all 10 eyes in your head or maybe more, so you can see all those other, better targets/dangers, all around you...it's a war out there and you can be the hunter OR the target.

It takes time, practice, and effort to get all your senses working at the same time, especially when the adrenaline is pumping and you can just taste bear steak. ;D

The practice is the fun part Plus, I'll have to handload to get cheap enough ammo to practice with.

It will take awhile before I get as comfortable with the iron sights as I am with scopes (in serious reaction situations). It's all about instinct when things are moving fast - the times where I've missed close-encounter game is when I've thought too much. If I let my shooting instincts kick in - things go the way I want them to. My Dad never let us use scopes until we were proficient with the iron sights - but if I'm going to put my life in the equipment's hands - I have to 100% know that I can do my end (otherwise I'll pack the gun I'm confident with).

I've had elk double back on their trail so many times - you definitely need to be completely aware of your surroundings - especially when the tendency is to get locked in to a specific task.

Actually when you have the rifle in the correct position and you are sighting correctly you shouldn't see anything but the front sight through a fuzzy circle as the eye automatically centers the front sight in the peep and the target will also be fuzzy...it takes practice...the eye CAN'T focus on 3 objects at the same time, that's why a scope is the best and quickest device for sighting...the target AND the X-hairs are in ONE plane and you just have to put the hairs where you want the bullet to go.

This is definitely where my practice will focus. Thanks for that gem.

Got the same sight on my 444XLR. It doesn't go down to touch the receiver. It just needs a taller front sight.

Hal - what front sights have you used / would recommend?

 

[444Hal]

Mine came with two fiber optic front sights. I usually buy something around .350 to .400 to go with my receiver sights. Most places sell the rear sights by themselves, but recently I've found a set with two fiber fronts at Natchez for my new 336SS.
As far as solid post types, I've used .400 Millett Sights with wide white ramps for my big bores. If you want thinner for aiming at smaller critters than XS sights have white ramps at about 1/3 as thick.

 

[picketpin]

You did good with that auction 444, wish I would have heard about that rare MT. 444.. Congrats it is a nice one.

James

 

[Eli Chaps]

I have several Williams FP's including one 94/36 and I'm not sure what you're trying to do with the filing. All of mine sit up off the receiver to some degree or another. As Hal said, if you're shooting high, then you would need a taller front sight.

As to shooting with peeps, maybe this thread will help: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,60482.0.html

 

[Learning444]

Mine came with two fiber optic front sights. I usually buy something around .350 to .400 to go with my receiver sights. Most places sell the rear sights by themselves, but recently I've found a set with two fiber fronts at Natchez for my new 336SS.
As far as solid post types, I've used .400 Millett Sights with wide white ramps for my big bores. If you want thinner for aiming at smaller critters than XS sights have white ramps at about 1/3 as thick.

Thanks for the info Hal. I'll take a look at these. I'm hoping to shoot this weekend.

You did good with that auction 444, wish I would have heard about that rare MT. 444.. Congrats it is a nice one.

James

Thanks James - it's proving to be a fun new project. I'm looking forward to start doing some load development on it.

I have several Williams FP's including one 94/36 and I'm not sure what you're trying to do with the filing. All of mine sit up off the receiver to some degree or another. As Hal said, if you're shooting high, then you would need a taller front sight.

As to shooting with peeps, maybe this thread will help: http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,60482.0.html

Eli: As NFG pointed out, I was being a bit too anal with the sight. After I put the sight on the first time, in my mind (analytically crazed to be sure) it should have been flush with the receiver. My wife was laughing at me last night when I told her that filing the sight down wasn't necessary (she thought I was crazy too).

I did see and read your post before I became a member. Thanks for breaking down the functions so clearly.

 

[Mactavish]

Tis a fine looking rifle..

 

[Eli Chaps]

Eli: ... My wife was laughing at me last night when I told her that filing the sight down wasn't necessary (she thought I was crazy too).

...

You'll get used to that. ;D

 

[Learning444]

You'll get used to that. ;D

She's used to my very structured ways - but she's an engineer so is very understanding about it. Never the less, she won't let it go without a good ribbing!!

 

[Learning444]

I thought I'd show a couple of closeups on the rifle.

Here's the action and stock, the stock has a couple of small dings:

Barrel doesn't show much wear:

 

[375Win]

looking at that picture of the end of the barrel: that's one aspect of the .444 I like ..... look at the size of that hole !!!!

Cheers,

Carl

 

[Learning444]

Here's one of the fore-arm.

I really like the wood on this. Something about the uncheckered wood - I like the feel.

 

[twodot]

Drag it on over the hill to our shoot in Billings on June 25.
That triple 4 should have what it takes to knock over the rams!
..

 

[CalvinMD]

Those couple of things in your buttstock are not dings...they're called character,...only the best and most accurate rifles acquire it...tis a sign somebody loved her enough at one time to drag her through some forest or sit in a tree with her ;D ...I'm glad she got a new home as shes too pretty to be locked up doing nothing....Yup, gotta luv those big holes in the muzzle,..in this case the bite is every bit as nasty as the bark

 

[Learning444]

Drag it on over the hill to our shoot in Billings on June 25.
That triple 4 should have what it takes to knock over the rams!
..

It does sound like a great time - plus my folks live in Billings, so I have a free place to stay (and free child care, the little one is just over a year).