.444 Marlin Powder

Dixiedog1

Dixiedog1

Active member
I just got a 444 Marlin Pro Hunterbarrel for my Encore and need to get ready for hunting season. So far I've only tried one load using TAC and a Hornady 300 gr XTP bullet. It's the dirtiest shooting load I've ever seen....after 3 shots my barrel looks like I was shooting a black powder. Accuracy sucks as well so I'm looking to try a different powder. What powder do you prefer for the .444 Marlin?
 
H322 with a 270gr or 300gr Uni-Cor/Gold Dot.

Not sure why you found TAC so dirty. Most, including myself, feel that it burns very clean.......
 
Originally Posted By: 2muchgun

Not sure why you found TAC so dirty. Most, including myself, feel that it burns very clean.......

I'm not sure, in my 223 it's clean as a whistle but with the 444 Marlin it's one of the dirtiest powders I've seen.


Originally Posted By: Rich44H-4198 is a good one also
I believe I've got 4198 on the shelf, I'll have to go take a look and if I do I'll try that first.



Anybody have any luck with Varget in the 444?
 
Turbo: I think you will have good luck using Reloader "7" for that straight walled case, I used the powder with the 45-70 with very good accuracy.
 
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I'll have to go take an inventory of what I have for powders right now, I don't think Reloader 7 is one of the powders I've used. Might have to add it and H322 to my inventory.
 
In my marlin, I shot a one grain over max load of the old lyman book of IMR 4198 with a 265g Hornady...very accurate in my Marlin.

IMR 4198 was typical for most Marlins for many, many years.
 
I would have to agree. Varget would be too slow also.

4198 was the standard for a long time, like Ackleyman said.. I don't think a whole lot of load development has been done in the 444 for some time now.

R-7 and 2015 are good powders also.

However, I have loaded nothing but H322 in mine for at least 10yrs or more now. It is that good, IMO. With a 270gr GDSP it has hammered deer/black bear, and accuracy is excellent....
 
H4198 here also behind Hornady 265 grain inter-bond, 2097fps average Chrono speed. Deer dead right where they stand, gosh I love this gun
 
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