[Jeff Higgins]

You are going to have to stick with the lighter bullets in that .44 mag Marlin, oddjob. I had one years ago that didn't like anything over about 220 grains. Those things retain the traditional twist used in the old .44-40, which was 1:38 to stabilize its 200 grain bullet. Lots of folks have been after Marlin to fix this, but for whatever reason, they won't. I traded mine off for something else and picked up a Cowboy Limited in .45 Colt. It has a 1:18 twist. The .45 Colt can be loaded to match, or even exceed .44 mag ballistics in that rifle. Mine loves 270-300 grain bullets, which the .44 would never stabilize.

If you are going to scope it, these things just cry out for a scout scope set up. I ran mine with an XS Sight systems rail for awhile, before I decided scopes and lever guns didn't do it for me. It's a pretty cool set up; it mounts to all of the receiver holes, plus the rear sight dovetail. I put the Leupold scout scope on it. Great combination. As much as I liked it, though, all three of my remaining Marlin lever guns now wear the XS ghost ring sights. I really like them.