Marlin 444 Bullets and Loads

Boomer45 · Post by **Boomer45** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 3:40 pm

Good evening Gentlemen,
Since I now have a Marlin 444 on lay-a-way (which I hope to have home in just a few weeks) I am starting to accumulate some reloadings supplies for it. Bought 200 Remington cases and just bought 2 boxes (50 ea.) of Speer 270 GR GDSP bullets. Would like some suggestions on other bullets to try as well as some of the loads that you use for your 444. I am going to order a box of Barnes 225 GR bullets to try. I am looking forward to using this rifle on deer, black bear, hogs and hopefully a moose or elk in the near future. Thanks.

Boomer

deerwhacker444 · Post by **deerwhacker444** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:00 pm

.
This was from about 75 yards with a 4x scope. I now use 43gr, just cause it's a nice round number. Get around 2150 fps with it.

Modoc ED · Post by **Modoc ED** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 4:57 pm

Various loads were discussed in this thread:

http://www.levergunscommunity.com/viewt ... sc&start=0

iceman · Post by **iceman** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 8:24 pm

It has been a while since I loaded 444 but I remember having good luck with Barnes original 250 grain bullets with IMR 4198. Don,t remember the load but you have to work up your own anyway. Don't know if they still make those 250 grain any more. Also had good luck with Hornady 260 grain same powder.

Mokwaw · Post by **Mokwaw** » Tue Apr 01, 2008 9:07 pm

deerwhacker444 wrote:.
This was from about 75 yards with a 4x scope. I now use 43gr, just cause it's a nice round number. Get around 2150 fps with it.

That's the load I used when I still had my .444 about 20 yrs ago....it's a good one. It will turn concrete blocks into dust. Hard times hit and I had to pass my Marlin on to someone else.

JP_TX · Post by **JP_TX** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 10:06 pm

I load the Speer 270 GD using RL-7. Very good bullet for Deer sized game. Can be very accurate too.

Try the Alliant Powder site for this recipe.

Rem Brass, 47grns RL-7 + Speer 270GD + wlr primer = +/- 2400fps (Max Load but still under 44,000cup).

I would recommend starting at about 44grns and working up .5grns increments. Load min 5 rounds each and check for accuracy. you may want to stop before the top.

Interestingly, this load kicks less and shows less pressure signs than the Hornady 265 Light Mag factory load in my rifle.

But I still stopped with the recommended Max Load.

Loads with RL-7, H335, and H4831 seem to be the go to powders for this caliber depending on bullet design and weight. You might want to check the Hodgdon Powder site too.

"Your milage may vary."

Post by **Old Savage** » Thu Apr 03, 2008 11:11 pm

Deerewhacker,
I checked the records from my Marlin 444 - used the 43 gr load with the 265 - got the same velocity and about the same accuracy. Looks like a good load. The only thing I tried that was more accurate was a 300 gr XTP and 47.0 gr of H322. Considerably less velocity. Did get about the same accuracy with a 310 cast bullet we tried with the same charge of 322.