Your favorite 44 rem mag powder/bullet

marklyftogt · July 29, 2012, 12:22 AM

I am thinking about getting a Marlin 1894 rifle in 44 mag.

Looking for loads on the lower end (close to starting loads). I don't need or want cannon shells.

What do you guys load??

Shootest · July 29, 2012, 12:45 AM

The standard Keith load of a 240g JHP over 20g of 2400, works just fine for me. Its no cannon shell, but not a wimp either.

bedlamite · July 29, 2012, 06:10 AM

Depends on what rifling tour Marlin has.
Ballard rifling- 240gr cast or plated over Unique or Universal
Micro Groove-240gr JSP over Blue Dot.

Salmoneye · July 29, 2012, 06:55 AM

The myth that Marlins with Micro-Groove rifling will not shoot cast, is just that...Pure Myth...

Slug your bore, and size your bullets .001"-.002" over...Keep the alloy on the harder side, and you will find what Micro-Groove can do...

Also remember that the twist of the .44 Mag 1894 likes bullets 270 grains or lighter, though I have seen some that will toss 300gr XTP's quite well to 100 yards...

Here is an Sticky thread at MarlinOwners that has to do with shooting cast in Micro-Groove barrels:

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/bo...oove-bbls.html

Here is a page with a whack of low end load cast data for lever guns...Click on the bullet weight you want under the caliber of your choice in the left hand pane:

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

bedlamite · July 29, 2012, 07:12 AM

Yes, they will shoot cast. They will also lead up very easily if it isn't just right. If the OP is asking what to load, I'd bet that he doesn't cast his own, so using jacketed for micro groove is much easier.

Salmoneye · July 29, 2012, 07:38 AM

He also asked what we load, and buying hard cast from a vendor is no more difficult or involved than buying jacketed...

I don't cast, and finding bullets in whatever hardness or size I wish is simple...

Edward429451 · July 29, 2012, 08:20 AM

Marlin (microgrooves) do like fat cast bullets. I use water dropped WW alloy or 20/1 and have no leading issues. I don't have a 44 Marlin, but for my 45/70, and for my friends 30/30 is what we cast for.

I do cast for my 44s, just not rifle. My most used load is a 245gr Keith boolit over 19.0 gr of 2400. Great load, and more accurate than warmer loads in my guns.

Finding .430 or .431 boolits shouldn't be a problem for you.

PawPaw · July 29, 2012, 08:34 AM

A good 240 grain bullet and 2400 powder has long been the standard for the .44 magnum. It's the standard because it works.

Al Norris · July 29, 2012, 09:53 AM

Hmmm... Instead of telling you what I use, I have two questions for you, Mark.

1) What will you be using your carbine for?

2) Why hobble your Marlin by using "starting loads?" (you do know that even heavy 44 loads in a carbine do not have a great amount of recoil?)

marklyftogt · July 29, 2012, 09:59 AM

BTW I do cast my own bullets. Thanks for the info.

I will mostly be doing target shooting.

Al Norris · July 29, 2012, 10:25 AM

Ah, target shooting!

You might find that the upper loads will work better for you, if you are shooting 240gr - 270gr bullets. Midrange for 180gr - 200gr bullets.

IMR4227 (nowadays, that also means H4227), H110/W296 and Alliant 2400 are all good powders for heavier bullets (these all shoot best near the upper limit of the load data). I like HP-38/W231 for the lighter stuff at mid-range loading (curiously enough, these "mid-range" loads are still near the top of that loading data).

Part of the fun of reloading is finding the load(s) that shoot best in your gun. They won't necessarily be what shoots best in my gun(s).

Ozzieman · July 29, 2012, 11:30 AM

The myth that Marlins with Micro-Groove rifling will not shoot cast, is just that...Pure Myth...
That’s for sure!!!
I have two rifles, an older marlin with the micro and a new Ruger 77/44. I use 3 different bullets with two of them being Penn cast lead with his premium cast. One is a 200 Round nose flat point bevel base, the other the 240 truncated cone bevel base.
I use .431 sizing for both and can get 3 inch groups at 100 with the Ruger and the 200's.
For zippers the Sierra 180 Gr Jacketed will send ground hogs to another time zone. Good accuracy also.
For powder and max loads I use either H110 or H4227. I have clocked the 180’s out of my Ruger at over 2100 FPS with H110 and that was below max book numbers.
With the lead even with the premium cast I keep them under 1500 and never had a problem with leading.
But to answer your question for starting loads I like Herco. Use a nice firm crimp and upper end loads.
If you’re looking for some starter loads for non magnum rounds I have had the best accuracy with Herco. I know it’s a shotgun powder but for 44 special and light 44 magnum loads using lead it’s been the most accurate for the guns I have.
12 GR of Herco behind a 240 will get you 1150 FPS (MAX= 13.3GR).
The one bullet I have had poor luck with is the Hornady FTX or Flex Tip which is made for tubular magazines. I know that they will work, a friend uses them for hunting and has had good accuracy and very good kill results with it but they are factory loads. But for reloading no factory seater will work without deforming the tip or slightly bulge the face of the bullet. I have 3 different 44 Dies and none work without belling the case enough to drop the bullet most of the way in,,, plus they are expensive.

oldpapps · July 29, 2012, 03:42 PM

"marklyftogt
Your favorite 44 rem mag powder/bullet
I am thinking about getting a Marlin 1894 rifle in 44 mag.

Looking for loads on the lower end (close to starting loads). I don't need or want cannon shells.

What do you guys load?"

I run two loads, both in .44 Mag brass, both 240 grains. One is cast lead over 5.6 grains of 231/HP38 and standard large pistol primers for 850fps out of a 6 1/2 in revolver. The second is JHP over 630 powder (bet you don't find it listed many places anymore) and Mag primers for 1280fps.
Granted I don't run many jacketed rounds but I have them and the cast lead does very well.

Enjoy,

OSOK

totaldla · July 30, 2012, 03:55 PM

If you don't want 44 mag loads at 44 mag levels, why don't you buy a 22lr instead? Get a nice used 39a for low-cost plinking.

chuckee · July 30, 2012, 04:21 PM

240gr. mo.lead bullet 16.5gr of 2400 good groups shooting this.

rclark · July 30, 2012, 04:25 PM

8.5g of Unique under 240g SWC gives you the comparable Skeeter .44Spec Load.
10.0g of Unique under 240g SWC my 'standard' .44Mag load (it isn't a Magnum load but good all around load).

Clark · July 30, 2012, 06:50 PM

I have been shooting the same 44 mag load since I started reloading 12 years ago; 240 gr JHP 24 gr H110/W296 roll crimp into cannelure.

When I blew up the muzzle of my $180 Ruger 44 carbine with Lead fouling, there were no replacement barrels. A collector of the rifles told me this was common failure and problem. I realized that a 444 Marlin chamber was the same as a 44 mag, just longer. I got a new old stock micro groove 444 Marlin barrel from Numrich. For $80 I got Randy Ketchum to cut off the rear of the barrel, drill a gas hole, and weld on a gas fitting over the hole. The barrel is too fat for the stock.

I took it to the range:
Measured 1720, 1756 fps
Quickload predicts 1752 fps, 31401 psi
.9" 3 shot group at 100 y

To give you an idea of how accurate that rifle and load must be, I can barely SEE 0.9 moa through a 4X scope.

crowbeaner · July 30, 2012, 10:15 PM

I used to have a 44 carbine, but mine was Model 94. I CAN tell you this- it had a recoil pad on it when I bought it and I thought the previous owner was a wimp until I shot some full power 240 grain jacketed loads through it. That little beggar kicked harder than my 300 WinMag!!! I ended up shooting the RCBS 44-240-swc over 17.5 of 2400 seated deep and crimped over the front drive band to function in the action. Seated normally the rounds would hang up on the lifter.
If you want to load the Marlin with full house ammo, try a 240 grain JSP over 24.0 of H110/WW296 and a magnum primer. Be prepared to get rocked! CB.

Clark · July 31, 2012, 02:41 AM

Quote:

crowbeaner
I used to have a 44 carbine, but mine was Model 94. I CAN tell you this- it had a recoil pad on it

I have a Win 94 in 45 Colt, 250 gr at 1536 fps from the 16" barrel makes me wish the rifle was a little heavier. My brother never punched my shoulder THAT hard.

Arub · August 2, 2012, 09:08 PM

240gr LRN cast w/7.3 grains of Alliant Green Dot = 1163 ft/sec

240gr JHP w/18.5 Alliant 2400 = 1543 ft/sec

both mild loads

warnerwh · August 2, 2012, 11:16 PM

I'm not sure what you mean by "starting loads". Do you mean starting loads using a faster powder like Unique or a slow powder like 2400 or 296? There's a big difference. My favorite .44 load is 9.0 grains Unique under a 240gr swc. It's a mid power load that is very versatile. Velocity from a handgun is around 1000fps. A starting load using 296/110 is about 23 grains. That load has a much higher velocity and recoil. The difference is quite a bit.

July 29, 2012, 12:22 AM	#1
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	Your favorite 44 rem mag powder/bullet I am thinking about getting a Marlin 1894 rifle in 44 mag. Looking for loads on the lower end (close to starting loads). I don't need or want cannon shells. What do you guys load??

July 29, 2012, 12:45 AM	#2
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	The standard Keith load of a 240g JHP over 20g of 2400, works just fine for me. Its no cannon shell, but not a wimp either. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

July 29, 2012, 06:10 AM	#3
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	Depends on what rifling tour Marlin has. Ballard rifling- 240gr cast or plated over Unique or Universal Micro Groove-240gr JSP over Blue Dot. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

July 29, 2012, 07:12 AM	#5
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	Yes, they will shoot cast. They will also lead up very easily if it isn't just right. If the OP is asking what to load, I'd bet that he doesn't cast his own, so using jacketed for micro groove is much easier. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

July 29, 2012, 08:20 AM	#7
Edward429451 Junior member Join Date: November 12, 2000 Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Posts: 9,494	Marlin (microgrooves) do like fat cast bullets. I use water dropped WW alloy or 20/1 and have no leading issues. I don't have a 44 Marlin, but for my 45/70, and for my friends 30/30 is what we cast for. I do cast for my 44s, just not rifle. My most used load is a 245gr Keith boolit over 19.0 gr of 2400. Great load, and more accurate than warmer loads in my guns. Finding .430 or .431 boolits shouldn't be a problem for you. Last edited by Shane Tuttle; August 10, 2012 at 09:14 AM.

July 29, 2012, 06:55 AM	#4
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	The myth that Marlins with Micro-Groove rifling will not shoot cast, is just that...Pure Myth... Slug your bore, and size your bullets .001"-.002" over...Keep the alloy on the harder side, and you will find what Micro-Groove can do... Also remember that the twist of the .44 Mag 1894 likes bullets 270 grains or lighter, though I have seen some that will toss 300gr XTP's quite well to 100 yards... Here is an Sticky thread at MarlinOwners that has to do with shooting cast in Micro-Groove barrels: http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/bo...oove-bbls.html Here is a page with a whack of low end load cast data for lever guns...Click on the bullet weight you want under the caliber of your choice in the left hand pane: http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

July 29, 2012, 07:38 AM	#6
Salmoneye Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 2011 Location: Vermont Posts: 2,076	He also asked what we load, and buying hard cast from a vendor is no more difficult or involved than buying jacketed... I don't cast, and finding bullets in whatever hardness or size I wish is simple...

July 29, 2012, 08:34 AM	#8
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	A good 240 grain bullet and 2400 powder has long been the standard for the .44 magnum. It's the standard because it works. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

July 29, 2012, 09:53 AM	#9
Al Norris Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 9,660	Hmmm... Instead of telling you what I use, I have two questions for you, Mark. 1) What will you be using your carbine for? 2) Why hobble your Marlin by using "starting loads?" (you do know that even heavy 44 loads in a carbine do not have a great amount of recoil?)

July 29, 2012, 09:59 AM	#10
marklyftogt Senior Member Join Date: March 11, 2012 Location: Salinas, CA Posts: 138	BTW I do cast my own bullets. Thanks for the info. I will mostly be doing target shooting.

July 29, 2012, 10:25 AM	#11
Al Norris Moderator Emeritus Join Date: June 29, 2000 Location: Rupert, Idaho Posts: 9,660	Ah, target shooting! You might find that the upper loads will work better for you, if you are shooting 240gr - 270gr bullets. Midrange for 180gr - 200gr bullets. IMR4227 (nowadays, that also means H4227), H110/W296 and Alliant 2400 are all good powders for heavier bullets (these all shoot best near the upper limit of the load data). I like HP-38/W231 for the lighter stuff at mid-range loading (curiously enough, these "mid-range" loads are still near the top of that loading data). Part of the fun of reloading is finding the load(s) that shoot best in your gun. They won't necessarily be what shoots best in my gun(s).

July 29, 2012, 11:30 AM	#12
Ozzieman Senior Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 6,117	The myth that Marlins with Micro-Groove rifling will not shoot cast, is just that...Pure Myth... That’s for sure!!! I have two rifles, an older marlin with the micro and a new Ruger 77/44. I use 3 different bullets with two of them being Penn cast lead with his premium cast. One is a 200 Round nose flat point bevel base, the other the 240 truncated cone bevel base. I use .431 sizing for both and can get 3 inch groups at 100 with the Ruger and the 200's. For zippers the Sierra 180 Gr Jacketed will send ground hogs to another time zone. Good accuracy also. For powder and max loads I use either H110 or H4227. I have clocked the 180’s out of my Ruger at over 2100 FPS with H110 and that was below max book numbers. With the lead even with the premium cast I keep them under 1500 and never had a problem with leading. But to answer your question for starting loads I like Herco. Use a nice firm crimp and upper end loads. If you’re looking for some starter loads for non magnum rounds I have had the best accuracy with Herco. I know it’s a shotgun powder but for 44 special and light 44 magnum loads using lead it’s been the most accurate for the guns I have. 12 GR of Herco behind a 240 will get you 1150 FPS (MAX= 13.3GR). The one bullet I have had poor luck with is the Hornady FTX or Flex Tip which is made for tubular magazines. I know that they will work, a friend uses them for hunting and has had good accuracy and very good kill results with it but they are factory loads. But for reloading no factory seater will work without deforming the tip or slightly bulge the face of the bullet. I have 3 different 44 Dies and none work without belling the case enough to drop the bullet most of the way in,,, plus they are expensive.

July 29, 2012, 03:42 PM	#13
oldpapps Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2011 Location: Middle America Posts: 518	"marklyftogt Your favorite 44 rem mag powder/bullet I am thinking about getting a Marlin 1894 rifle in 44 mag. Looking for loads on the lower end (close to starting loads). I don't need or want cannon shells. What do you guys load?" I run two loads, both in .44 Mag brass, both 240 grains. One is cast lead over 5.6 grains of 231/HP38 and standard large pistol primers for 850fps out of a 6 1/2 in revolver. The second is JHP over 630 powder (bet you don't find it listed many places anymore) and Mag primers for 1280fps. Granted I don't run many jacketed rounds but I have them and the cast lead does very well. Enjoy, OSOK

July 30, 2012, 03:55 PM	#14
totaldla Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2009 Location: SW Idaho Posts: 1,294	If you don't want 44 mag loads at 44 mag levels, why don't you buy a 22lr instead? Get a nice used 39a for low-cost plinking. __________________ Lee Auto Bench Prime Castor Oil Case Lube

July 30, 2012, 04:21 PM	#15
chuckee Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2012 Posts: 36	240gr. mo.lead bullet 16.5gr of 2400 good groups shooting this.

July 30, 2012, 04:25 PM	#16
rclark Senior Member Join Date: February 12, 2009 Location: Butte, MT Posts: 2,622	8.5g of Unique under 240g SWC gives you the comparable Skeeter .44Spec Load. 10.0g of Unique under 240g SWC my 'standard' .44Mag load (it isn't a Magnum load but good all around load). __________________ A clinger and deplorable, MAGA, and life NRA member. When guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns. Single Action .45 Colt (Sometimes colloquially referred to by its alias as the .45 'Long' Colt or .45LC). Don't leave home without it. That said, the .44Spec is right up their too... but the .45 Colt is still the king.

July 30, 2012, 10:15 PM	#18
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	I used to have a 44 carbine, but mine was Model 94. I CAN tell you this- it had a recoil pad on it when I bought it and I thought the previous owner was a wimp until I shot some full power 240 grain jacketed loads through it. That little beggar kicked harder than my 300 WinMag!!! I ended up shooting the RCBS 44-240-swc over 17.5 of 2400 seated deep and crimped over the front drive band to function in the action. Seated normally the rounds would hang up on the lifter. If you want to load the Marlin with full house ammo, try a 240 grain JSP over 24.0 of H110/WW296 and a magnum primer. Be prepared to get rocked! CB. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

August 2, 2012, 09:08 PM	#20
Arub Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2001 Location: UCLA (upper corner of lower Alabama) Posts: 533	240gr LRN cast w/7.3 grains of Alliant Green Dot = 1163 ft/sec 240gr JHP w/18.5 Alliant 2400 = 1543 ft/sec both mild loads

August 2, 2012, 11:16 PM	#21
warnerwh Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2009 Posts: 329	I'm not sure what you mean by "starting loads". Do you mean starting loads using a faster powder like Unique or a slow powder like 2400 or 296? There's a big difference. My favorite .44 load is 9.0 grains Unique under a 240gr swc. It's a mid power load that is very versatile. Velocity from a handgun is around 1000fps. A starting load using 296/110 is about 23 grains. That load has a much higher velocity and recoil. The difference is quite a bit. __________________ Portland, Or