6.5X444 Improved

[BRGUY]

A different 6.5 caliber cartridge in a whole new light! The 6.5X444 Improved, based on the full length 444 Marlin case, necked down to 6.5 caliber. Remington brass match prepped, and you can even use nickel plated brass for a more unique looking cartridge. Just stay away from Hornady brass for this particular cartridge.

Here is a list of specs on this rifle -

ACTION: Remington 700 short action / blue-printed / bolt face modification / Sako extractor / oversize bolt knob / bolt stop / Tubb oversize and tapered recoil lug / set-up as a single shot / re-drilled and tapped for the larger 8-40 screws / bushed firing pin / lightweight firing pin / heavy duty firing pin spring

Trigger: Jewell / 6 oz. pull weight / .003 over travel

BARREL: Lilja / 1.250" straight bull barrel / 1-8" twist rate / 3 groove / chambered in 6.5X444 Improved

STOCK: McMillan Tooley MBR / weighted to 5 pounds / pillar and glass bedded

BASE & RINGS: 40 MOA Picatinny rail / modified to the larger 8-40 screws / Burris Signature Zee rings

SCOPE: Vortex 6.5X-20X-50mm for initial testing / now wears a Nightforce Precision Benchrest 12X-42X-56mm













Full length 444 Marlin case on left, formed case in middle, then a fully fire-formed 6.5X444 Improved.




To the left is a 260 Remington cartridge, 6.5X444 Improved in the middle, then a 6.5-06. All three cartridges are loaded with Hornady's 143 gr. ELD-X bullets.



Average accuracy at 600 yds. is less than 1 1/2".

Average accuracy at 1,000 yards is just under 3".

Groups are always 3-shots in a minute or less, because this is a "hunting" rifle and not a target or match rifle

Since this rifle was build more for "hunting" at long-range, the scope will most likely be changed out one more time, for one that allows better light gathering at dawn and dusk.

Why such an odd ball cartridge in a bolt action rifle? Just to be a little bit different, and have something that everyone else on the block doesn't have.

It may not be the prettiest, and it certainly is not the most accurate, but is does exactly what it was built for, and you can't get any better than that!

 

[JSH]

Is there a gain over the 444 (hard to find at times) to. A reformed 06 family case?

 

[BRGUY]

JSH,

one of the biggest gains to using the 444 case vs. that of the '06 based cartridges, is a much longer barrel life.

The Improved case design, with it's minimum body taper and sharper shoulder angle, is easier on the throat, meaning that it does not erode it no where near as fast as the long sloping shoulder of cartridges like the standard 6.5-06. I have proven this concept many times over the years, when comparing 444 based cartridges, vs. that of '06 based cartridges.

Just like a 6.5-06 Improved would be easier on a barrel, vs. that of a 264 Winchester Magnum.

To "me" at least, the 444 Marlin case has the perfect size, shape - (when reformed) powder column and powder capacity for a 6.5 caliber cartridge, when compared to other 6.5 caliber cartridges on both ends of the spectrum. I found the 6.5 Grendel, 260 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor to be less than what I was looking for, but did not want the extra recoil or barrel wear from a 6.5 based off the '06 case, and felt the 6.5X444 Improved to be a very happy compromise, and it is.

Forming cases is very easy and straight forward, and reloading dies are not an issue.

I also shoot the same cartridge necked down to 6mm, and it does VERY WELL!

6mmX444 Improved on the left, 6.5X444 Improved on the right.

 

[bsekf]

I have a 7x444 AI and A 30x444 AI for my Encores, so am familiar. Do you turn necks? I never got quite the accuracy I expected and blamed resizing so much brass getting for 444 to 7mm, getting to 6.5 or 6 would be worse. I found a 7x307 AI was just about right. I like rimmed cases with the Encore platform and the 308 family case capacity about right for the pistol length barrel.

Bill

 

[BRGUY]

These were the first rifles and handguns built in 6.5X444 Improved, which in the hands of a competitive shooter, proved that a break open single shot like the T/C Encore is more than capable of high levels of accuracy at 600 and 1,000 yards.

According to the owner of this handgun, it has beat several bolt action rifles in 1,000 yard competition!

In a single shot like the encore, a "rimmed" cartridge is consistently more accurate than a rimless cartridge, which is one reason why the 6.5X444 Improved was chosen to go the distance.

 

[BRGUY]

Bill,

I make a light clean up pass around the complete circumference of the case neck, and do this before fire-forming to eliminate the "donut" at the base of the neck.

Also, the first brass trimming is not done until after the case has been fore-formed, then all cases are trimmed to the same exact length.

Only on my 308X444 Improved Super 14" Contender do I not bother to turn case necks, as I find run-out to be very minimal. It's only when necking the 444 Marlin case down smaller than .30 caliber do I find neck turning very beneficial.