444 Marlin

Rodsmith · 10-02-2003, 05:26 PM

Just aquired a new 444 Marlin and was curious as to opinions + or - on reloading this cartridge. Anything that I should pay special attention to. Any good recipies from the knowledge base out there?

Rodsmith · 10-03-2003, 05:14 AM

Having recenlty aquired the 444 Marlin, I have been surfing the various mfgrs sites looking at available options of bullets. The only mfgr. that does not specifically call out the bullets as " Pistol" is Sierra. What bullets are you guys using out there and can one assume that the construction of a pistol bullet will hold up with the increased velocities of the rifle load although they are not that much higher. I would rather ask the ? and air on the side of caution. Relatively new to the reloading field so please bear with my questions. I am the curious type.

biggunz.45-70 · 10-03-2003, 03:38 PM

Try the hornady 265gr flat pt. It is made for the .444. Pistol bullets will not work as well. It looks like this year hornady is offering this bullet in loaded ammo. It might be worth a look.

James B · 10-03-2003, 11:22 PM

Barnes Makes two X bullets for the 444. A 200 and a 225 grain. These are just what the doctor ordered for the 444 Marlin.

Rodsmith · 10-04-2003, 07:26 AM

Thanks for the scoop, I was beginning to think that the 444 was a jinxed cartridge by the lack of response on the board. I looked at the Hornady 265 and like the heavy bullet. Gotta surf over to Barnes and see what they have. Could not find at Midway??? How bout some recipies for the reload bench with the 265 jacketed and the 225 Barnes? Any 444 reloaders out there?

sam 444 · 10-04-2003, 09:52 AM

Go with the 265 gr hornady. I have been using this bullet since I started loading for the 444 and that was in the mid 70s. It shoots good and works real well on deer.I use IMR 4198 powder.

Vapodog · 10-04-2003, 02:36 PM

.444 Marlin.....RL7, 47 grains...Hornady 265 grain bullet....about 2200 f/s.

This is a MAX load.

Rodsmith · 10-04-2003, 04:27 PM

Thanks Sam444 and Vapo for the info. Sam what is your load grain of the IMR4198

sam 444 · 10-04-2003, 05:42 PM

That' s an easy one to remember 44.4gr of IMR4198

Rodsmith · 10-05-2003, 06:37 AM

Yeah, I guess that is pretty easy to remember. Would that be a max load? Have you run it thru a chrony? Thanks again for the help. I just missed a 3 die set of Hornady Custom Grade 444 dies on ebay for under $25.00....*&^&*^^%$