I'm curious if anyone else loads for one?

So far i've only used  240gr sierra and 265 ftx bullets.

Curious if anyone has loaded cast / pc bullets for one.  
The only manual i have that shows info for lead bullets is my old lyman 47 and honestly i've just been wierded out by using such a small charge of pistol powder in that big case so i've never done it.


Obligatory pics of an awesome gun.  

A friend uses the old Hornady 265 grain bullets (now discontinued) and H4198.

Bear Tooth bullets are the only cast bullets I've ever used

What might be a good load for your rifle
250gr LFNGC (long flat nose gas check)
case length 2.212
43gr H4198
OAL 2.50

Bear Tooth bullets are excellent performers, some of the best groups I've ever seen from a Marlin lever gun. The big flat nose should make a great hunting round

My 444P likes the 265gr Hornady Flat Points and the 300gr XTPs.  

Reduce and work up as needed.

REM brass trimmed to 2.220"
Rem 9-1/2 Primer

46.5gr of H4198 with a 265gr Hornady FP (4300 discontinued) seated to 2.560"
This load is over Hornady listed max but under Hodgdon max.  

39.7gr of H4198 with a 300gr XTP (44280) seated to 2.535"  
This load is Hornady max.

Both loads are crimped with a Lee FCD 3/4's of a turn past contact.

Both loads will make 5 shot groups around 2-1/2" to 3" at 100yds.  POI is about 3" lower at 100yds for the 300gr XTP if I recall correctly.   I think I have Chrony data for the 265 but I never did the XTPs.  I'll update if I can find it in my notes.

I've never been one for cast or PC bullets.  The 444P is Ballard rifling and is supposed to perform better with cast loads than the older Microgroove barrels.  Handloader #224 Aug 2003 lists some cast loads using RL-7.

Attached File


Handloader Digest 10th edition has a rather dated article on all kinds of funky loads for 444 Marlin. This article is available online if you dig around.  It has a 236.5gr SWC GC load using H335.

Attached File


Attached File

Best i can tell bear tooth is out of buisness so those are going to be like finding the 265 hornady.  

https://www.handloadermagazine.com/444-marlin

The rim rocks mentioned here are available if i ever feel i must have gas checked heavy lead.

I have a few boxes of the 300xtp 's also just haven't loaded any.  

Now i will definitely put that on my list thanks kingston_fisher.

I was hoping to use something similar to this as they would be ridiculously cheap to play with

.44 Hammer - Hi-Tek
#HT-430300WFN
.430 Diameter
.44 Magnum
300 Grain WFN
Brinell 18
Bullet OAL .826 +/-
For Takedown
Hi-Tek 2-Extreme Coating from J&M Specialized Products P/L
Color may vary
Price per box of 400 $$$ 69.00

Well i finally dug out everything and did a little inventory.  

Think i'm going to work with the siera 240 first then the 300 xtp

Eventually i'll try and make some 240 xtp just to try on pigs.

The 265ftx are so i can use some hornady brass i got in loaded ammo years ago for Christmas.

@kingston_fisher


Thank you for the info so little info out their i like getting all i can.

I've about decided it's easier to bite the bullet on price and skip the pc bullet idea as i cant find anything in a profile i want to try.    

This is just going to be my expensive to shoot fun gun.

Changed my mind and loaded the 300 xtp's up today i figure that should nock down anything in Texas or Alabama.

Gonna try and get out and test this weekend.

Are those cases still needing crimped?

Paladin

Yes i took a picture after seating.... then used a lee fcd

I don't have any pictures after crimping and i have zero left I shot them all up yesterday.

Got my sieara 5 out of jail friday too so it was a busy day of shooting and testing yesterday.

Definitely more recoil with the 300gr but it's not that sharp painful recoil.

Going to load the rest to hunt with.