444 MARLIN

jj320 · January 7, 2013, 08:47 AM

Hello all just ordered my 444 and i am going to reload for it . Any suggestions and recipes will be appreciated. Will be using hunters hard cast bullets 330gr. I just bought them to try for my 44mag.
Both guns are hr handi rifles

CERBERUS · January 7, 2013, 09:27 AM

My only recommendation when using lead bullets, is to make sure the gun isn't a micro groove barrel. They are a lot easier to lead up, even if your velocities are low, because lead is that much softer then copper.

jj320 · January 7, 2013, 09:34 AM

thank you i believe they are regular grove 1in 20

dahermit · January 7, 2013, 09:59 AM

With a very long straight-sided case as the .444, it is a little tricky to get the correct amount of case lube on the case. Too much always will result in lube dents in the case walls. While they blow back out when shooting and are not a danger factor, they can be unsightly and frustrating.

the Black Spot · January 7, 2013, 12:45 PM

I use varget powder in mine

grubbylabs · January 7, 2013, 03:14 PM

When I loaded for one it was pretty straight forward, just make sure you don't use the levereveloution brass unless you have a load for it. It is quite a bit shorter.

I liked IMR 4198 but I was only loading a 270 grain bullet.

What are you going to be hunting with it? That's a pretty heavy bullet.

FrankenMauser · January 7, 2013, 04:25 PM

H4198 and RL7 should be the powders of choice for a 330 gr bullet, if you want to drive them at full velocity.

It is likely to have a barrel in the neighborhood of 0.427"-bore / 0.432"-groove. So, .433" cast bullets are preferred, but .432s can work in a pinch (with some lead removal, afterward).

One thing to watch out for, is the short throat. Standard .444 Marlin chambers only have a 0.050"-long throat (+0.015" / -0.000"). That means you need a crimp groove right below the ogive, to keep the bullet's nose out of the rifling; and you can't use some wide-flat-nose bullets, unless they're deep-seated in the case.

Quite a few common bullets, designed for the .44 Mag, don't work well in .444 Marlin. (that's one of the reasons that many bullets in the 265 to 330 gr weight bracket have 2 or 3 crimp grooves - one or two for .44 Mag, and one for .444 Marlin)

The Hunter's Supply 330 gr FP has a reduced-diameter nose, so it should work alright. The body diameter might result in some leading, though.

Cerberus - the Marlington H&R .444s all have 4-groove, ballard-rifled, 1:20" twist barrels. Micro-grooves aren't a worry, and the twist rate will stabilize bullets in excess of 450 gr (at 1,200+ fps).

Sport45 · January 7, 2013, 08:45 PM

Ramshot X-Terminator does a good job in mine under Hornady 265gr FP or 300gr XTP bullets.

The 330gr bullet is a heavyweight for starting out. Keep in mind it is taking up more of the case volume since you can't leave a whole lot sticking out the end.

If they're sized at .432" a MG barrel would probably shoot them as well as a Ballard barrel.

Sport45 · January 7, 2013, 08:51 PM

Here is a copy of Ranch Dog's load notes for his 350gr mold. Understand these are pressure and velocity predictions using Quickload and not actual pressure tested data.

Ranch Dog Load Notes
Hope this helps!

jj320 · January 7, 2013, 11:09 PM

Thank you these are very helpfully. I am working on a load for large boar 500+ will try to find. Larger diamater bullet

FrankenMauser · January 8, 2013, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Ramshot X-Terminator does a good job in mine under Hornady 265gr FP or 300gr XTP bullets.

I forgot about X-Terminator.

I bought some to try in .444 Marlin, and ended up loading most of it in .223 Rem.

Sport45 · January 8, 2013, 03:10 AM

Quote:

I forgot about X-Terminator.

I bought some to try in .444 Marlin, and ended up loading most of it in .223 Rem.

What problems did you have with it in the .444?

jj320 · January 8, 2013, 08:47 AM

has anyone used h322 i found a couple of loads off beartooth using it and have some . any problems?

FrankenMauser · January 8, 2013, 06:21 PM

Quote:

What problems did you have with it in the .444?

The only problem I have had, is that I loaded almost all of it in .223.
I don't think I have enough left to load up a full box of .444 Marlin.

Sport45 · January 8, 2013, 10:01 PM

That I can understand.

January 7, 2013, 08:47 AM	#1
jj320 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2013 Location: hobart,in Posts: 119	444 MARLIN Hello all just ordered my 444 and i am going to reload for it . Any suggestions and recipes will be appreciated. Will be using hunters hard cast bullets 330gr. I just bought them to try for my 44mag. Both guns are hr handi rifles

January 7, 2013, 09:27 AM	#2
CERBERUS Member Join Date: November 4, 2004 Posts: 50	My only recommendation when using lead bullets, is to make sure the gun isn't a micro groove barrel. They are a lot easier to lead up, even if your velocities are low, because lead is that much softer then copper. __________________ .22 caliber swinging targets for sale

January 7, 2013, 03:14 PM	#6
grubbylabs Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2009 Location: Hansen Idaho Posts: 1,465	When I loaded for one it was pretty straight forward, just make sure you don't use the levereveloution brass unless you have a load for it. It is quite a bit shorter. I liked IMR 4198 but I was only loading a 270 grain bullet. What are you going to be hunting with it? That's a pretty heavy bullet. __________________ * (Swinging club) Whack! whack! whack! * Nope, the old nag's still dead . (Capt Charlie)

January 7, 2013, 04:25 PM	#7
FrankenMauser Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2008 Location: In the valley above the plain Posts: 13,424	H4198 and RL7 should be the powders of choice for a 330 gr bullet, if you want to drive them at full velocity. It is likely to have a barrel in the neighborhood of 0.427"-bore / 0.432"-groove. So, .433" cast bullets are preferred, but .432s can work in a pinch (with some lead removal, afterward). One thing to watch out for, is the short throat. Standard .444 Marlin chambers only have a 0.050"-long throat (+0.015" / -0.000"). That means you need a crimp groove right below the ogive, to keep the bullet's nose out of the rifling; and you can't use some wide-flat-nose bullets, unless they're deep-seated in the case. Quite a few common bullets, designed for the .44 Mag, don't work well in .444 Marlin. (that's one of the reasons that many bullets in the 265 to 330 gr weight bracket have 2 or 3 crimp grooves - one or two for .44 Mag, and one for .444 Marlin) The Hunter's Supply 330 gr FP has a reduced-diameter nose, so it should work alright. The body diameter might result in some leading, though. Cerberus - the Marlington H&R .444s all have 4-groove, ballard-rifled, 1:20" twist barrels. Micro-grooves aren't a worry, and the twist rate will stabilize bullets in excess of 450 gr (at 1,200+ fps). __________________ Don't even try it. It's even worse than the internet would lead you to believe.

January 7, 2013, 08:45 PM	#8
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	Ramshot X-Terminator does a good job in mine under Hornady 265gr FP or 300gr XTP bullets. The 330gr bullet is a heavyweight for starting out. Keep in mind it is taking up more of the case volume since you can't leave a whole lot sticking out the end. If they're sized at .432" a MG barrel would probably shoot them as well as a Ballard barrel. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

January 7, 2013, 09:34 AM	#3
jj320 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2013 Location: hobart,in Posts: 119	thank you i believe they are regular grove 1in 20

January 7, 2013, 09:59 AM	#4
dahermit Senior Member Join Date: October 28, 2006 Location: South Central Michigan...near Posts: 6,501	With a very long straight-sided case as the .444, it is a little tricky to get the correct amount of case lube on the case. Too much always will result in lube dents in the case walls. While they blow back out when shooting and are not a danger factor, they can be unsightly and frustrating.

January 7, 2013, 12:45 PM	#5
the Black Spot Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2009 Location: arkansas Posts: 218	I use varget powder in mine

January 7, 2013, 11:09 PM	#10
jj320 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2013 Location: hobart,in Posts: 119	Thank you these are very helpfully. I am working on a load for large boar 500+ will try to find. Larger diamater bullet

January 8, 2013, 08:47 AM	#13
jj320 Senior Member Join Date: January 7, 2013 Location: hobart,in Posts: 119	has anyone used h322 i found a couple of loads off beartooth using it and have some . any problems?

January 8, 2013, 10:01 PM	#15
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	That I can understand. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.