.444 marlin reload question

holiday132 · November 28, 2005, 10:39 AM

I am totaly new to reloading, (have no gear, haven't read any books YET new)

the main 3 calibers atm that i am looking to reload is .444marlin. 38 spl, 45lc

i have not found any bullets on any web site i have been too that say .444 i have seen several .44

as well as plenty for the 38 & 35 the 38 uses a.357 and 45 a .451 bullet correct. what should i look for in diamiter on a bullet that will work for the .444 marlin?

Leftoverdj · November 28, 2005, 11:22 AM

Quote:

as well as plenty for the 38 & 35 the 38 uses a.357 and 45 a .451 bullet correct. what should i look for in diamiter on a bullet that will work for the .444 marlin?

Well, sorta. There's some allowable slop. With jacketed bullets, you might run across some .356 or .358 that'll work fine in the .38/357, or .452s for the .45. They'll work fine. The .444 Marlin will take either .429 or .430.

If you try cast bullets, they absolutely must be oversized. The lead alloy is so soft that as long as the loaded cartridge will chamber freely, it's safe to shoot. The smallest even worth trying in the .38 is .358, .430 in the .444, and .452 in the .45.

dodgestdshift · November 30, 2005, 04:54 PM

If you use the 444 for hunting you have to make sure the bullet is contructed well enough to take the additional velocities in the rifle. A 44 mag bullet is the same diameter as the 444, but might not work well on a tough game animal.

ClarkEMyers · November 30, 2005, 05:10 PM

As noted the .444 Marlin will take .44 pistol bullets and overdrive them to failure on game.

There are twist issues with the .444 which is sort of an express design (though not to be confused with a blackpowder express the intent was somewhat the same) so the longer heavier rifle bullets may well be unsatisfactory.

Buy some manuals by the various major bullet manufacturers and start with their suggestions - or read the books at the store or better the library.

mbartel · November 30, 2005, 09:46 PM

If you are using an older .444 with the Micro-Groove rifling, you will need to stay below 300 grs. of bullet weight. The slow 1 in 38 twist rate will not properly stabilize the heavier and longer bullets. The newer .444s use a more conventional land and groove arrangement and have a faster twist rate that should stabilize most if not all .429/.430 bullets.

Ben Shepherd · November 30, 2005, 11:01 PM

A good slug in the 444 marlin is the 265 grain hornady. It will handle the 444 marlins velocity. Why? Because it was designed FOR the marlin, not the 44 mag. VERY tough slug.

SakoL61R · December 1, 2005, 12:32 AM

Ben Shepherd says it all reference the 265 Hornady

Ben Shepherd · December 1, 2005, 10:35 PM

How do I know this, you ask? Easy- Says so in the hornady manual.

There, not so tough to figure out, eh?

Good shooting, that's a fun caliber.

6mm4me · December 29, 2005, 01:47 AM

Been loading .444 Marlin for years. Have used 240, 265 and 300 grain bullets but the 265 Hornady have been the most accurate by far. Anything that big and that slow tears up a lot of meat what ever bullet is used. I figure accuracy helps in selecting what I want to dismember.

November 28, 2005, 10:39 AM	#1
holiday132 Member Join Date: October 25, 2005 Posts: 65	.444 marlin reload question I am totaly new to reloading, (have no gear, haven't read any books YET new) the main 3 calibers atm that i am looking to reload is .444marlin. 38 spl, 45lc i have not found any bullets on any web site i have been too that say .444 i have seen several .44 as well as plenty for the 38 & 35 the 38 uses a.357 and 45 a .451 bullet correct. what should i look for in diamiter on a bullet that will work for the .444 marlin?

November 30, 2005, 04:54 PM	#3
dodgestdshift Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2002 Location: Marilla, N.Y. (outside Buffalo N.Y.) Posts: 113	If you use the 444 for hunting you have to make sure the bullet is contructed well enough to take the additional velocities in the rifle. A 44 mag bullet is the same diameter as the 444, but might not work well on a tough game animal. __________________ The shortest distance between two politicians is through your wallet. Don N.

November 30, 2005, 05:10 PM	#4
ClarkEMyers Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2004 Location: PacWest Posts: 455	Buy a few manuals - Hornady, Nosler and such As noted the .444 Marlin will take .44 pistol bullets and overdrive them to failure on game. There are twist issues with the .444 which is sort of an express design (though not to be confused with a blackpowder express the intent was somewhat the same) so the longer heavier rifle bullets may well be unsatisfactory. Buy some manuals by the various major bullet manufacturers and start with their suggestions - or read the books at the store or better the library.

November 30, 2005, 11:01 PM	#6
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	A good slug in the 444 marlin is the 265 grain hornady. It will handle the 444 marlins velocity. Why? Because it was designed FOR the marlin, not the 44 mag. VERY tough slug. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

December 1, 2005, 10:35 PM	#8
Ben Shepherd Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2001 Location: Utah Posts: 1,462	How do I know this, you ask? Easy- Says so in the hornady manual. There, not so tough to figure out, eh? Good shooting, that's a fun caliber. __________________ From my cold dead hands......... NRA certified rifle, pistol and shotgun instructor. Hunter education instructor

November 30, 2005, 09:46 PM	#5
mbartel Member Join Date: March 15, 2005 Posts: 77	If you are using an older .444 with the Micro-Groove rifling, you will need to stay below 300 grs. of bullet weight. The slow 1 in 38 twist rate will not properly stabilize the heavier and longer bullets. The newer .444s use a more conventional land and groove arrangement and have a faster twist rate that should stabilize most if not all .429/.430 bullets.

December 1, 2005, 12:32 AM	#7
SakoL61R Member Join Date: July 4, 2005 Location: Savannah, GA Posts: 27	Ben Shepherd says it all reference the 265 Hornady

December 29, 2005, 01:47 AM	#9
6mm4me Member Join Date: November 30, 2004 Location: kansas city area at the present, but Colorado and Wyoming have been home. Lived 2 years in the middle east. Posts: 33	.444 Marlin Been loading .444 Marlin for years. Have used 240, 265 and 300 grain bullets but the 265 Hornady have been the most accurate by far. Anything that big and that slow tears up a lot of meat what ever bullet is used. I figure accuracy helps in selecting what I want to dismember.

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