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Old December 26, 2005, 05:40 PM   #1
jeffrice6
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Rifle .44 load

Happy holidays all . I am trying to work up a load for my marlin 20” 44mag. I have a box of Laser-Cast 240gr rnfp and I would like some data for a fun and accurate target load. I have some random leftover brass, I just need some powder and primer recommendations.
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Old December 26, 2005, 09:12 PM   #2
jeffrice6
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Come on guys
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Old December 26, 2005, 09:19 PM   #3
Poygan
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Tried to give you a site but it wouldn't work. Assuming you have a microgroove bbl, try to keep the velocity below 1600fps.
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Old December 26, 2005, 09:30 PM   #4
jeffrice6
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its the deep **ballard**
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Old December 26, 2005, 09:30 PM   #5
Poygan
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OK, from the site I couldn't get to work: START with 16 grains of 2400, for 1363fps. I'd STOP at 19 grains. Personally, I use regular primers for 2400. The bullet they used was a 240grain SWC with a bevel base. OK, the ballard rifling should be more user-friendly than the microgroove that mine has. The above data should be OK but always cross-check with other sources. Data is available on line. Be safe - trust no one, including me!
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Old December 26, 2005, 09:33 PM   #6
jeffrice6
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Would there be a difference between the SWC and the rnfp?
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Old December 26, 2005, 09:37 PM   #7
Poygan
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Yes, there may be some small differences but that's why we should always begin with starting loads. Bullets in tubular magazines must have sufficiently flat noses to prevent setting off a primer from the recoil. Perhaps you know this already but I prefer to be safety-minded. Also, cycle some loaded rounds through the action to ensure they will function.
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Old December 27, 2005, 12:13 PM   #8
Quantrill
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My Marlin .44mag has the deeper rifling. What is your experience (if any) with the muzzle supressor holes at the end of the barrel and lead bullets? I have not yet fired this carbine. Quantrill
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Old December 28, 2005, 09:32 PM   #9
Poygan
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Quantrill,

My Marlin is an older model without the safety and has no such device on it. I shoot cast bullets in almost everything but none has such a contraption. However, I can't think of any reason why it would create any great problems.
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Old December 29, 2005, 12:48 AM   #10
Al Norris
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jeffrice6, I use 8.5gr of tightgroup in both my vaquero and marlin with those 240gr laser-cast RNFP, with a WLP primer. Makes for a good plinking load that is very accurate. Very little leading in the marlin.
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Old December 29, 2005, 02:40 PM   #11
Quantrill
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Poygan
I'll just have to try it and see what happens. I had read somewhere that cast lead bullets tended to block off the suppression holes. At the most. it will mean more attention to cleaning. Thanks, Quantrill
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Old December 31, 2005, 11:10 PM   #12
maxwayne
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Start with 7 or 8 grains of Unique.
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Old January 2, 2006, 05:07 AM   #13
jeffrice6
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anyone use ww-296?
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Old January 2, 2006, 05:26 AM   #14
Hal
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17.5 gr of 2400 under a cast or swaged lead SWC or SWCHP - makes for a good plinking load that's a littel on the warm side in my winchester Trapper.

H110 and W296 are really meant for full boogie flat out loads.
Suggest using a very hard cast or cast with a gas check if you use H110/W296.

Re: Unique.
I used 8 gr of Unique under a 240 gr swaged lead and had problems with the bullet tumbling due to excessive leading. When I went with the slower Alliant 2400, and loaded it to a higher velocity, the leading problem vanished.
Just under 8 gr of Unique perfomed very well with any of the jacketed bullets I tried. W/gas checks and/or hard cast, 7 to 8 gr of Unique should perform well.
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Old January 2, 2006, 08:37 AM   #15
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Jeffrice, my experience is with the microgroove barrel, so I'm not sure how much use it will be to you, but the most common causes of trouble with cast bullets are undersized bullets and trying to push plain base bullets too fast. You've been getting good advice, but if you still have problems, don't give up on cast. Going to a .431 or .432 diameter can work magic.

My all time favorite is Lyman's 255 grain GC Keith type. Sized .431 of a hard alloy, it will shoot as well as jacketed bullets with full charges in my rifle.
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