reloading for 444

[Jerry/PA]

Hi all;

I bought a Marlin 444S last January, but after just barely getting started finding the best loads, the wife and I got involved with a very evil General Contractor and built a new house.  Now that all that baloney is out of my way, I'm ready to get back to more important things in life...finding the best load for my rifle!

I'm after the most accurate load, not necessarily any phenomenal power level.  All I'll be hunting with it will be the local Whitetail Deer that only go up to 125 or 150 pounds max, most being smaller.

In the brief time I did work with it, I used H322, H335, Reloader 7, and Accurate XMP5744.  Of course the standard disclaimer applies, the following are only what I've tried in my rifle, I'm not recommending the following loads.... they're just what I've tried!

Using Hornady 265 grain bullets and 54.0 grains of H335 seemed to be the most accurate so far.  I even got one sub MOA group at 100 yards, but I've haven't had time to try it again.

Hornady 265's and 46 grains of RX7 got me a 1.25" group at 100 yards, but again, I only got out to the range to try the load one time.

50 grains of H322 and the old standby Remington bulk 240's shot, well, er...OK,... if not spectacularly.

I loaded up a batch of Remington bulk 240's with 37 grains of XMP5744, but haven't had the opportunity to try them.

If any of you guys are avid reloaders of the 444, I'd appreciate if you'd share what you've learned to work best in your Marlins.  Do you prefer any of these powders, or others?

For now, I'll work with the jacketed bullets since Pennsylvania doesn't allow deer hunting with cast.  Next summer, I'll work with the cast.

Thanks in advance,

Jerry.

[Graybeard]

For now, I'll work with the jacketed bullets since Pennsylvania doesn't allow deer hunting with cast. Next summer, I'll work with the cast.

What is the verbiage you think rules out cast bullets? Many assume (incorrectly in my opinion. No I'm not a lawyer) that the rules that state EXPANDING bullets rules out cast. I think not. If challenged ask them how can a lead bullet NOT be considered an expanding one?

[Jerry/PA]

What is the verbiage you think rules out cast bullets? Many assume (incorrectly in my opinion. No I'm not a lawyer) that the rules that state EXPANDING bullets rules out cast. I think not. If challenged ask them how can a lead bullet NOT be considered an expanding one?

Hi Graybeard;

I went through this summer before last with the Pennsylvania Game Commission until I was "blue in the face"!  I'm not going to get too deep into it, but their viewpoint is that what we call a "hardcast" bullet is what they consider a "solid" bullet.  The short of it is that they feel that a "solid" is for hunting large, dangerous game... lions and tigers and such!

The specific verbiage is:   "Manually-operated centerfire rifles, handguns and shotguns with all lead bullet or ball, or a bullet designed to expand on impact:"

Again, their interpretation is that if lead can't be scratched with a thumbnail, then it is not "all lead", thus it is a "solid".

I wrote several letters, and made several phone calls.  I don't agree with them, but they are the interpretors of the game law, so it pretty much ends there for me.

Personally, I think that a non-expanding hard cast with a relatively large meplat in 40+ caliber, would be better than my legal 243 centerfire...

Thanks for asking.

Regards,

Jerry.

[leverfan]

I guess I lack imagination, because I really haven't tried all that many combos in my 444.  All of the loads I've tried shoot minute-of-venison at sane hunting ranges.  My favorite powders are H322, H335, and IMR 4198.  I did put together some plinking loads with 240 grain cast bullets and Red Dot, but I don't mess around with that anymore.  I don't think I've used any other powders in that rifle, but I'm too lazy to waddle over to my load book and check.

All the bullets that I've tried have worked fine.  My general purpose load is a Hornady 265 grain FP over a healthy dose of 4198.  

For an elk season type of jacketed bullet, I like the Speer 300 grain plated soft point.  Here in Washington, I can also use hard cast lead bullets (the DFW used to require Garrett loads in 44 mags if you hunted elk with factory ammo).  There's a box of Oregon Trail 310 grain WNFP GC bullets on my shelf for when I want to shoot clear through something big.  H335 would be my powder of choice with the heavy weight bullets.

I've also been working my way through a big sack of Remington bulk 240 grain JSP bullets, and some old Sierra hollow cavity bullets.  Sometimes I shoot Keith bullets that I've cast, crimped over the shoulder so that they can chamber.  Although my barrel is the old 1:38" micro-groove, it's handled everything pretty well.  If I wear it out, I might have it replaced with a 24" barrel with conventional rifling and a faster twist, but it's got a lot of shots left in it.

I never have actually measured a group from my 444, so I don't know the group sizes in inches, but I rarely hunt calipers or yardsticks, anyway. :-D

[handirifle]

leverfan
What do you suppose would be the max effextive range of your elk load on elk?

[leverfan]

leverfan
What do you suppose would be the max effextive range of your elk load on elk?

I can ring the 200 yard gong from sitting, prone, or rested, using a Williams peep.    That's my effective range, from those shooting positions.  The 444 will do the job at that range.  Wind drift can be a factor with this round, even more than drop, and that can limit range on windy days.  If you can estimate range, you can adjust for bullet drop, but if the wind is swirling, you need to just keep your shots closer.
 
Even with a scope, I wouldn't try any longer shots than that at game with this rifle, not in my hunting grounds.

[Mikey]

handirifle - I have been loading for the 444 for better than 30 years.  The energy of the 444 at 300 yds is on par with the 44 Magnum at the muzzle.  If you can place your bulelts at longer ranges that 444 will do the job.  I have really fallen for Marshall Stanton's (Beartooth Bullets) heavy loads for that cartridge.  One of my 444s shoots under one inch at 100 yds with his 330 gn bullets and charges.  Another of my 444s loves his 300 gn hardcasts at about 2200'/sec so much that I won't use another load in it.  

Overall, some folk feel the 265 gn load is the best load.  Some go for the 300 gn jacketed or hardcast gas-check.  I prefer the heavier loads, and nothing that Beartooth recommends for a load has ever hurt one of my rifles or even a piece of brass.  HTH.  Mikey.

Oh yes - ringing the gong at 200 yds is no problem with those heavy loads - truckin' yor butt 200 yds downrange after every shot because that heavy slug has torn the gong off its mount is..... (lol).

[handirifle]

Thanks guys
Was trying to campare it to the 338-06 or 35 Whelen, which on paper, both of those beat the 444 but I wonder if anyone has any real worls experience to compare.