Looking for .444 Marlin loads

[Jim-Iowa]

Just got my first Deer Rifle & $1.20 per round I need to reload.
Have Die and cases. If you've got a Hummer of a load I would like to hear it. I am pretty conservative, so am not looking for arm buster loads. I'd rather let the large diameter bullets do the work. Primarily uses would be Plinking, Deer and hpoefully Hogs.
This is my first venture outside the .22 Centerfire arena.
Any advice is welcome.

[Adam Helmer]

Jim,

I like the 444 Marlin and got mine in 1984. I handload and like the 265 grain jacketed softpoint bullets and IMR4198 powder. You say you have the dies and cases; do you also have a recent reloading manual listing the .444?

You will get some good load data for other peoples' rifles. Work up loads to find your rifle's accuracy load, record the data and good shooting.

Adam

[Jim-Iowa]

Yes Adam I have a Lyman #47 I can't seem to find right now.
I also have Hogdons 2004 & 2006 and Accurate 2002 & 2006.
And the Lee Modern Reloading manual.
One of the reasons I chose the .444 was that per the manuals, my favorite powders for my .223 work well in the 444 as well.
I have H322,H335 & Accurate 2015 as well as Blue Dot for plinking loads.
I have some Sierra 240 grn JHC for starting loads.
I'll probably start with a H335 starting load and bump it till it shows best accuracy.

[Rapier]

Jim,
Own and shoot a 444, a 1st model Marlin rifle with micro grove rifling that I bought in 69 or 70 as I recall. First thing, check the seating plug in your die, it may be for the flat nose, solid 240 that the factory rounds are loaded with. When you seat a HP bullet with that plug, it tends to crush the edges of the cavity, as the case is crimped. You might want to get a RN plug from the die mfg.

As with all rimmed and crimped cases, it is very important that you trim all cases to the same length in order to get consistent crimping of the bullet.

A few hints, I have found, in my particular gun, 4064 to be the most accurate powder with jacketed bullets and Unique to be about the best with cast. If you have a source, the 444 shoots the 215 and 240 lyman SWC GC bullets real well. The old Lyman books list accuracuy loads with the Marlin and the loads are pretty good loads, right off the shelf. Suggest you use large rifle primers and not magnums. Oh, check your bullets, some companies list their bullets as .429 when in fact the bullets are .428 If your bore diameter is .429, the .428 bullets might not give you the best results.

You might want to pick up a decent low power scope with a with a very wide field of view and a tip off mount. I have a 2x (36' @ 50 yards) with a Weaver mount and find the mount returns to zero every time. I like the low power scope in the woods better than the naked eye. The scope also helps a great deal for load development.
Good shooting and best of luck with the new toy.
Ed

[garzen7]

Here's some .444 loads tht have been worked up by some of us.

A. Light loads.

Using any of the 250 grain Keith sixgun bullets from Lyman, H&G (now Ballisti-Cast), RCBS, or LBT molds with 15 grains of A Unique. The bullet seated and crimped over front driving band. These will shoot into and inch or less at 25 yards and velocity will be from 1450-1500 FPS. Good plinking and deer medicine.

B. Jacketed bullet loads for Deer, Antelope, and other thin skinned game without big bones.

Remington 240 JSP, 45 grains IMR 4198, Velocity 2008, ES 27 SD 10 5 shots 100 yards 1 1/4"

Hornady 265 JFP, 43 grains IMR 4198, Velocity 2031, ES 34 SD 14 5 shots 100 yards 1 3/16"

Speer 270 Gold Dot, 43 grains IMR 4198, Velocity 2008, ES 14 SD 5 5 shots 100 yards 1 1/8"

Speer 270 Gold Dot, 52 grains H 322, Velocity 1990, 5 shots 100 yards 1 7/8"

Speer 300 Plated Soft Point, 43 grains IMR 4198, Velocity 2106 ES 28 SD 11 4 shots 100 yards 1 11/16"

Speer 300 Plated Soft Point, 50 grains H322, Velocity 2030, 5 shots 100 yards 1 3/4"

C. Heavy Cast bullet loads where penetration is needed on big game with big bones, such as Moose or Elk.

290 Keith Style SWC GC Linotype alloy, 40 grains IMR 4198, Velocity 2007, 5 shots 100 yards 1 13/16"

325 LBT LFN GC, 40 grains IMR 4198, velocity 1970, 4 shots 100 yards 1 5/16"

340 Ballisti-cast LFN GC 7/2 alloy, 38 grains IMR 4198, velocity 1834

330 Ballisti-cast LFN GC Linotype alloy, 38 grains IMR 4198, Velocity 1900, 3 shots 100 yards 1 1/4"- 1 3/8"

365 LBT LFNGC, 36 IMR 4198, velocity 1819, 5 shots 100 yards 2 1/8"

240 Remington JSP, 47 grains IMR 4198 , Velocity 2225. Penetration Wet print 13" expanded to 1.35 / Recovered weight 215 grains. Penetration Wet print and cow bone, falls apart in bone - destroys bullet with just small pieces found.

265 Hornady JFN, 43 grains IMR 4198 , Velocity 2031. Penetration in wet print 16 1/2" expanded to .960 / Recovered weight 242 grains. Penetration in Bone and print combined 7" expanded to .810 Recovered weight 226 grains.

270 Speer Gold Dot JFN , 43 grains IMR 4198 , velocity 2008. Penetration wet print 18" expanded to.780 / Recovered weight 192 grains. When shot into the print and bone bullet falls apart in the bone with only small pieces found.

290 Keith Style SWC GC Linotype alloy, 40 grains IMR 4198, velocity 2007 / Penetration wet print 24" expanded to .450 Recovered weight 226 grains. Penetration in print and bone 21" expanded to .500 recovered weight 193 grains.

300 LBT WLN GC, 43 IMR 4198 , velocity 2092 / Penetration wet print 22" expanded to .495 / Recovered weight 182 grains. Penetration print and bone 18" expanded to .460 recovered weight 170 grains. Note: Big entrance hole and cut good hole straight through.

300 Nosler JHP, 43 IMR 4198, velocity 2078 / Penetration wet print 13" expanded to .835 / Recovered weight 199 grains. Jacket core separation. Did not test in bone no sense.

300 Hornady XTP HP , 43 grains IMR , 4198 velocity 2060 penetration wet print 12" expanded to 1.090 / Recovered weight 228 grains. Did not test in bone.

300 Speer Plated Soft Point , 43 grains IMR 4198 , velocity 2106 / Penetration wet print 14" expanded to .905 / Recovered weight 290 grains. Penetration print and bone 10" expanded to .955 recovered weight 284 grains and bullet stayed together.

325 LBT LFN GC , 40 grains IMR 4198 , velocity 1970 Penetration wet print 18" expanded to .710 / Recovered weight 278 grains. Penetration print and bone 16" expanded to .450 recovered weight 181 grains.

330 Ballisti-cast LFN GC Linotype alloy , 38 grains IMR 4198 velocity 1900 / penetration wet print 28" expanded to .440 Recovered weight 216 grains. Penetration print and bone 17" expanded to .465 recovered weight 222 grains.

340 Ballisti-cast LFN GC 7/2 alloy , 38 grains IMR 4198 velocity 1849 / penetration wet print 27" expanded to .460 Recovered weight 225. Penetration print and bone 19" expanded to .520 recovered weight 162 grains.

365 LBT LFN GC Linotype alloy , 36 grains IMR 4198 , velocity 1813 / penetration wet print 38" no expansion just flattened nose some what. / Recovered weight 353 grains mainly from gas check loss. Bullet looks unfired except rifling grooves. Penetration print and bone 20" expanded to .580 recovered weight 295 grains.

[Adam Helmer]

garzen7,

Welcome to the Forum; I see this is your #1 post. You came to the right place. I am impressed with your post and data. I am an old 444 fan and I will print out your post and keep it handy.

Again, welcome.

Adam

[jacktalley]

Garzen7

This my first post as well. In fact, I just registered earlier today. I'm also a .444 fan and have a '70 Marlin plus dies for reloading. Your info will definitely be printed out and held as future reference. Thanks for the data, have a great day, and, shoot straight ~~

[Rapier]

Jacktalley,
Welcome to the boards... Good folks herebouts, you will fit right in.
Ed