Reloading for a .444 marlin

NateDog

NateDog

New member
I'm about to buy one (NEF) and would like any input people have on loads they have used. I would like to go as lite as I can for max velocities. I would like to know if I could use the Hornady .430 diameter 180 or 200 bullets. They are the same diameter, just shorter than the 265 gr .430 dia bullets that they use in their factory loads. I would guess I could get 2500fps out of the 180's easy. This will be used for deer specifically and would like to keep the recoil as light as possible incase my girlfriend shoots it.
Any other good deer loads people have worked up would be great too.
 
I wouldn't use 180 or 200 gr. bullets for deer. These are
designed to expand at .44 Mag velocity. At .444 velocities
they will explode like varmint bullets causing shallow
wounds on deer sized animals. If you use 240s, I would
use flat points not hollow points. I've had good luck with
IMR4198 powder.
 
I have loaded 200 gr Speer JHP and they shoot pretty well, I can get them in 2 inches at 50 yards! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I only have the factory open sights on my M-444P.

I loaded these with 42.5 grains of IMR4227!
No indication of high pressure!
 
Quote:
I have loaded 200 gr Speer JHP and they shoot pretty well, I can get them in 2 inches at 50 yards! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
I only have the factory open sights on my M-444P.

I loaded these with 42.5 grains of IMR4227!
No indication of high pressure!



Any idea what velocities you are getting with that?
 
I have a frame into H&R right now for fitting of a .444 barrel, it was finished earlier this week, but they're doing some testing on it Monday with the 265gr Hornady Light magnums and the Leverevolution ammo. It's one of the first barrels off the production line. When I get the results of the testing, I'll share the results.

The New .444 NEF will have a 1:20" twist rate instead of the obsolete 1:38" of the original Ultra and older Marlins, should make it shoot as good as the current production Marlin .444s. These barrels will be broach rifled by Marlin, they slug at .4248" at the lands, and .4308", in the groove, since these are new broaches, they will cut at the outside tolerance of SAAMI specs, as they wear and are sharpened, they'll cut tighter bores, but that won't be for about 1000 barrels.

Here's some cast data from Marshall Stanton at Beartooth, scroll to the bottom of the page at the link below, lots of cast bullet data for the .444 there. There's also some a bunch more cast and some jacketed data on their Loadswap page.

Tim

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/index.htm

http://www.loadswap.com/
 
NateDog
No idea of the velocity!
I have a Chrony, but I've never shot these through it!
I'll try and run a few through it within the next couple days. If it's not raining tommorow, maybe that will be a good time to do it.
I'll let you know!
 
The 265 gr Hornady Interloct was designed for this round. You can use pistol bullets in it, they tend to explode on game as they aren't designed for the velocities you'll get from the rifle.

I use 4198 under 265 gr Interlocts in mine & it works like Thor's hammer.
 
I have shot alot of different bullets in the .444. The lighter ones, as mentioned above, were designed for 44 mag speeds and will come apart at the velocities the .444 produces.

As mentioned, the 265 Hornady FP is a good bullet for bears and larger game but I have found it is too tough for smallish deer and fails to expand.

My go to loads are as follows All use REM brass and WLR primers and H-322 powder. My rifle has a 24 inch barrel.

Nosler 250 gr Partition over 56 gr. @ 2365 fps ( All purpose load)
Speer Gold Dot 270 gr FP over 54 gr @ 2305 (Deer and black bear load)
Speer plated soft point 300 gr over 52 gr @ 2200 ( larger critters)

Hope this helps.
 
Quote:
How is the recoil on a one? What would the recoil be comparable to with a 265gr bullet?



For me, recoil isnt an issue in the .444...even with the stoutest loads. I am sure the Decelerator recoil pad I have on my rifle helps. I know alot of folks that shoot the 270 gr speer GD load and I have never heard anyone complain of its recoil. I dont shoot factory ammo so I cant compare thier recoil with my handloads.
 
Quote:
I have not had any problems killing deer with the 265 gr load.



Neither did I as long as I hit good bone. I did have 4 different deer hit behind the shoulders the the Hornady 265 gr interlock that didnt leave a blood trail to speak of..and only recoverd two of the 4. The exit holes were caliber size on the ones recoverd. Thus I stopped using the 265 for our smallish deer in favor of the 270 gr speer gold dot which droped them for the most part on the spot. It is a bit softer yet still hold together well enough for through and through shots.... even on black bears.
 
Both my son and I took two wild boar with a Marlin .444, both using handloaded 265 gr. Hornadys. Great performance, not to mention accuracy. I am very pleased with the accuracy of this bullet and caliber. It shoots much better than I had imagined when I first bought the gun.

I took my first deer many years ago with this rifle, using a 240 gr. Remington factory load. The bullet shot completely through a small whitetail buck, penetrating both lungs and exiting with quite a sizeable wound on the offside. Since then, I have used the 265 Hornadys exclusively, though have not taken any deer with them, only the two boar, and a bobcat.
 
The new Hornady bullets will be your best bet for accuracy and vel. I use them in my 45/70 and they are outstanding.
 


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