Powder recommendations for 444 Marlin loads?

Phil in Seattle · May 27, 2001, 06:20 PM

I have a new 444 Marlin rifle that I will be loading for (Have you seen the cost of factory ammuntion for this cartridge!). and I don't have any personal experience with powders suitable for this cartridge.

I like the same thing in my powders that everyone else does, constancy, clean burning, and meters nicely. Among the following powders does anyone have any input?

IMR4198
H4198
RL-7
VIHT N-130
H335

444 · May 27, 2001, 07:06 PM

I think you will find that for serious loads, H335 is THE powder. Welcome to the club. If you start playing around with the .444 you will see a very versitile caliber. Right now I am playing around with "silent" loads using a 300 grain cast bullet and about 4 grains of Bullseye powder. No noise, no recoil and one hole accuracy at 25 yards. My "go to" load for the .444 is H335 and a 300 grain Hornady JSP at about 2200 fps. I was going to mention the charge but I see that it is over max for several of the manuals so I will leave that up to you. I am shooting the Marlin and at 100 yards, it is hands down the most accurate rifle I own. And I have never had a load that wasnt' accurate. My next project is to load shotshells for the .444 approximating a .410 bore shotgun. Check out some of the articles by Paco Kelly at http://www.sixgunner.com on the .444

dundee · June 10, 2001, 04:16 PM

Beg to Pardon but I realllly don't like to use h335 powder in the 444. The flash and boom are very impressive, more so than I like. THE powder for the 444 is 4198, in either IMR or Hodgdon flavor. Second choice is 3031.

Until I got my 44 lever gun I was using 20gr of 2400 under a 255 cast lead bullet for a moderate 100/200 yd plinking load in the 444.

Phil in Seattle · June 10, 2001, 09:52 PM

I got my hands on some H335 yesterday and I'll be making some loads up this week and trying them out on Saturday.
I'll see if I can get some 4198 this week and I'll compare the two.

I have to admit though that the big flash and boom sound appealing to me althouhg it might be too much from this short barrel.

Kernel · June 10, 2001, 10:59 PM

My Powley Computer agrees with dundee. It says powders in the speed range of 4198 are THE ones to use with 240 and 300 gr bullets. Also try your Reloader 7, it's only a tad slower and I've had very good results with it in the similar .375 Winchester. -- Kernel

May 27, 2001, 07:06 PM	#2
444 Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2000 Location: Ohio Posts: 3,968	I think you will find that for serious loads, H335 is THE powder. Welcome to the club. If you start playing around with the .444 you will see a very versitile caliber. Right now I am playing around with "silent" loads using a 300 grain cast bullet and about 4 grains of Bullseye powder. No noise, no recoil and one hole accuracy at 25 yards. My "go to" load for the .444 is H335 and a 300 grain Hornady JSP at about 2200 fps. I was going to mention the charge but I see that it is over max for several of the manuals so I will leave that up to you. I am shooting the Marlin and at 100 yards, it is hands down the most accurate rifle I own. And I have never had a load that wasnt' accurate. My next project is to load shotshells for the .444 approximating a .410 bore shotgun. Check out some of the articles by Paco Kelly at http://www.sixgunner.com on the .444 __________________ You know the rest. In the books you have read How the British Regulars fired and fled, How the farmers gave them ball for ball, From behind each fence and farmyard wall, Chasing the redcoats down the lane, Then crossing the fields to emerge again Under the trees at the turn of the road, And only pausing to fire and load.

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May 27, 2001, 06:20 PM	#1
Phil in Seattle Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Posts: 97	I have a new 444 Marlin rifle that I will be loading for (Have you seen the cost of factory ammuntion for this cartridge!). and I don't have any personal experience with powders suitable for this cartridge. I like the same thing in my powders that everyone else does, constancy, clean burning, and meters nicely. Among the following powders does anyone have any input? IMR4198 H4198 RL-7 VIHT N-130 H335

June 10, 2001, 04:16 PM	#3
dundee Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 1998 Location: mytown,mi,usa Posts: 162	Beg to Pardon but I realllly don't like to use h335 powder in the 444. The flash and boom are very impressive, more so than I like. THE powder for the 444 is 4198, in either IMR or Hodgdon flavor. Second choice is 3031. Until I got my 44 lever gun I was using 20gr of 2400 under a 255 cast lead bullet for a moderate 100/200 yd plinking load in the 444.

June 10, 2001, 09:52 PM	#4
Phil in Seattle Member Join Date: January 29, 2000 Posts: 97	I got my hands on some H335 yesterday and I'll be making some loads up this week and trying them out on Saturday. I'll see if I can get some 4198 this week and I'll compare the two. I have to admit though that the big flash and boom sound appealing to me althouhg it might be too much from this short barrel.

June 10, 2001, 10:59 PM	#5
Kernel Senior Member Join Date: November 21, 1999 Location: Madison, WI.... "78 Square Miles Surrounded by Reality" Posts: 923	My Powley Computer agrees with dundee. It says powders in the speed range of 4198 are THE ones to use with 240 and 300 gr bullets. Also try your Reloader 7, it's only a tad slower and I've had very good results with it in the similar .375 Winchester. -- Kernel