Author Topic: .444 Marlin Reduced Loads ?  (Read 1175 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline 44man

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 20
.444 Marlin Reduced Loads ?
« on: January 03, 2012, 08:45:06 AM »
Has anyone developed or know of any data for .444 Marlin mild loads ?
I may have a .444 barrel put on my HandiRifle .
Would primarily load hardcast for it but still would like to make some plinker loads for fun and to let the grandkids get used to shooting it before hunting.
Thanks, 44man

Offline BBF

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 10042
  • Gender: Male
  • I feel much better now knowing it will get worse.
Re: .444 Marlin Reduced Loads ?
« Reply #1 on: January 03, 2012, 09:06:05 AM »
Without even looking I would presume Trail Boss is useable and so is 2400.
 
Lyman's 48th Ed. lists a number of powders for a 240 gr cast bullets giving 1400 to 1600 fps as starting loads.
What is the point of Life if you can't have fun.

Offline Smokin Joe

  • Trade Count: (6)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1230
Re: .444 Marlin Reduced Loads ?
« Reply #2 on: January 03, 2012, 01:16:32 PM »
http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm


Scroll down on the left side
Deo duce, ferro comitante
With God as my leader and my sword as my companion

Offline Lloyd Smale

  • Moderators
  • Trade Count: (32)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 18273
Re: .444 Marlin Reduced Loads ?
« Reply #3 on: January 04, 2012, 01:02:06 AM »
I shot alot of 250 cast bullets ahead of 10 grians of unique. Nice light load that still would take any deer in the woods. 5 grains of bullseye with the same bullet would be about as mild as it gets.
blue lives matter

Offline twoshooter

  • Trade Count: (7)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1259
  • Gender: Male
  • Remember the Starfish......
Re: .444 Marlin Reduced Loads ?
« Reply #4 on: January 04, 2012, 02:30:52 PM »
My old Lyman cast book shows 17gr of unique as an accuracy load w/ 240 gr cast. I personally have had good luck with 15gr of Blue Dot and a 240gr cast, also with 35 gr of RL7. The blue dot load should be about 1250 fps, the other about 150 fps faster, both were pretty accurate in mine, about 1.5" @ 75 yards. I have killed deer with that load though, it will zip right through an average deer like it was not there. The 444 is a great cartridge, from here on the low end right up to 265 jacketed @ over 2200 fps for elk.
1000 years ago Men KNEW the Earth was the center of the Universe.....500 years ago Men KNEW the world was flat....... 15 minutes ago you KNEW man was alone in the universe.... Just IMAGINE what we will know tomorrow !! "K"- from Men in Black.

Offline eye shot

  • Trade Count: (0)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 665
    • Mike's Obituary
Re: .444 Marlin Reduced Loads ?
« Reply #5 on: January 04, 2012, 03:25:00 PM »
You can use the 60% rule with H4895 for a youth load. It's 60% of max load with any wieght bullet in .444M. I have shot the youth load with 240gr. bullet and it's nice easy shooting.
RIP Mike. Died on July 14th, around 2am, with his family at his side, he went peacefully to be with god.

http://www.sent-trib.com/obituaries/michael-l-schulte