Author Topic: 445 SM loaders or soon to be..... (Read 933 times)

Varminter · « **on:** August 22, 2005, 11:09:24 AM »

Well i'm getting really excited about the reamer deal and i just can't wait till everyone gets their barrel reamed to post this so i will post it now.

I was wondering what powder and bullet combos everyone has planned on trying in their 445 SM.

I plan using H110 powder. As far as bullets go i'm not exactly sure.....
Here are some possiblities....
http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=716126

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=411990

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=416820

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=759814

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.exe/showproduct?saleitemid=226442

MtJerry · « **Reply #1 on:** August 22, 2005, 11:19:52 AM »

I am going to use this one (sized to fit my bore). 265gr. cast from Beartooth with a .340 meplat. When sized to .432 for my barrel they weight out at .270gr. Just right for that 1:38 twist.

I just need load data.

Varminter · « **Reply #2 on:** August 22, 2005, 11:26:31 AM »

What would be the heaviest weight of bullet that the barrel would stabilize? How about the lightest? Unles i get into a mess of big hogs i think the the 270 grain would be alittle too heavy for the deer around here.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #3 on:** August 22, 2005, 11:28:04 AM »

Jerry, have ya bought any of those bullets yet? I bought a box of the 525gr .459" Pile Drivers, they were $18 a box....then I got another bill for the $5.80 shipping on them!!! :eek: FWIW, they shoot excellent and penetrate fantastic!!

http://www.marlinowners.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=8707

Varminter · « **Reply #4 on:** August 22, 2005, 11:29:58 AM »

I watched that vid. Quick. That was simply great.

ONE HOLE 4570 · « **Reply #5 on:** August 22, 2005, 11:57:44 AM »

I am starting out with my 265 gr hornady flat point .430 that I use in my 444 can buy them locally also have some 300gr noslers

mt3030 · « **Reply #6 on:** August 22, 2005, 12:01:41 PM »

MtJerry,
Just ordered a Handi in 444 Marlin. It also has a 1:38 rifling. How do you think that bullet of yours would work in it? Is that made by that company you found in Missoula?
Wally

lostchild · « **Reply #7 on:** August 22, 2005, 12:48:36 PM »

This might be apples to oranges, but I had a .445 in a 10" contender ( don't know what the twist rate was ). I got my best accuracy from near max. loads in my gun. My load was warm 30gr win 296 under either a 300gr, xtp(mag not standard) speer jsp or a cast ( CDP ). When using light bullets (240 ) I would 33gr win 296. The velocitys were 1850 for the 300gr and 2050 for the 240gr. These loads were taken from the TC reloading manual and a 10" barrel. hope this helps......lost

MtJerry · « **Reply #8 on:** August 22, 2005, 04:19:20 PM »

Quote

Jerry, have ya bought any of those bullets yet?

Yeah I did Quick, 16.50 for 100. A bit spendy, but it is the only online company that I could find who would sell me bullets sized in .432 dia. That and the huge meplat - couldn't pass it up.

And they shoot good out of my .44 barrel.

Quote

Just ordered a Handi in 444 Marlin. It also has a 1:38 rifling. How do you think that bullet of yours would work in it?

I saw that Wally, and once again, you have me frothing at the mouth I am so jealous!!!!!

I bought them from beartooth bullets online, not the company in missoula. I would slug the barrel of the .444 and go from there. I think these are doing well because they fit my HUGE bore perfectly.

By the way, when we gonna get together for a cookout?? :grin:

Quote

The velocitys were 1850 for the 300gr

This is music to my ears :lol: I can only immagine what a 265gr'er will do out of a 22" barrel .... JEFF! Hurry up with that REAMER!!!!!! :-D :-D :-D

quickdtoo · « **Reply #9 on:** August 22, 2005, 04:31:32 PM »

Man, ya had me going there for a second until I seen the 25yds on the target!!! If they shoot good, the price is worth it!!! :agree:

MtJerry · « **Reply #10 on:** August 22, 2005, 04:39:00 PM »

Didn't mean to scare ya Tim ...

I think half an inch at 25 yards will translate to pretty dead dear at 100 yards. :grin:
Now, if I could just get my Ruger SBH to shoot that well at 25 yards

JPH45 · « **Reply #11 on:** August 22, 2005, 06:31:12 PM »

Quote from: Varminter

What would be the heaviest weight of bullet that the barrel would stabilize? How about the lightest? Unles i get into a mess of big hogs i think the the 270 grain would be alittle too heavy for the deer around here.

Mine stabilized the Hornady XTP 300 just fine at 44 mag velocities. I think the 270 Gold Dot wuld be an exellent choice. Being a soft point, it is not going to a rapid expander. I think that even soft point 240's at 445 SM carbince velocities will be at the edge of their performance windows, tending to upset a bit quick. I would hang with the 270 to 300's designed with the 444 in mind

jeff223 · « **Reply #12 on:** August 23, 2005, 12:22:38 AM »

my 445 will be a 14 inch contender and i will be using the TC loading manual for data.i hope to use the lighter boolits because i want to be around 2000 fps with those boolits.w296 and aa1680 for powder to start out with.

MtJerry · « **Reply #13 on:** August 23, 2005, 04:25:25 AM »

Jeff,

Would you share some of that data with us?

From what I can tell, TC Data manual has the only data for 445 SM in a 10 inch barrel. All the other data sources I find are listing just handgun data win Dan Wesson Firearms.

I need data!

Thanks,
Jerry

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #14 on:** August 23, 2005, 09:12:10 AM »

If someone will send me a email add. I'll scan some of the pages of my Sierra book on handguns,and email them to you. Lost Child, You're using the same load as I do with the 300 gr. ,and I get 1977 fps. with it in my rifle barrel. I'm getting 2126 fps. with the 240 gr. Rem bullet. Digger

MtJerry · « **Reply #15 on:** August 23, 2005, 09:20:49 AM »

Digger,

You got mail (PM) ...

Varminter · « **Reply #16 on:** August 23, 2005, 09:47:00 AM »

Digger you have mail. :wink:

Can anyone recommend some good hard cast bullets?

warf73 · « **Reply #17 on:** August 23, 2005, 10:35:26 AM »

Just got off the phone with Hodgen Powder Co. and Alliant Powder Co.

445SM

Bullet..........Powder.........Starting...................Max

240gr *.........H110...........29.0@1640fps..........33.0@1800fps
240gr.*.........Lil'Gun.........31.0@1525..............32.0@1682

265gr.**........H110............27.2.......................32.2
300gr **........H110............24.6.......................29.1

*Data was taken from from a 10" test barrel.

** Data was from Alliant tech.
Alliant doesn't have a test barrel but he did call Hornady and got the data above for me. This is why there are now fps on the heavery bullets sorry.

Edit: Just a little side note I just looked in my Hornady load manual and it has load data for bullets weighing 180-300gr. So if you have a Hornady reloading manual you are set I woud think.

Warf

Varminter · « **Reply #18 on:** August 23, 2005, 11:25:54 AM »

I did a search is this is what i have come up with so far if anyone wants to check these out......

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt445sm.htm

http://stevespages.com/429p_5_200.html

lostchild · « **Reply #19 on:** August 23, 2005, 12:39:34 PM »

Varminter I used CDP hard cast in my 445 . I don't know if this is just a local company or not also haven't found a web site but have seen them in several N.C. gun shows. These bullets are hard! I got full penetration of a pressure treated 8x8 timber as well as the 10"dia rock behind it at about 125 yds. I'll try to find out where you can get some. Hope this helps........lost

Varminter · « **Reply #20 on:** August 23, 2005, 01:17:56 PM »

YEah if you don't care see if you can find some info on those they sound really interesting. What grain were you using?

JPH45 · « **Reply #21 on:** August 23, 2005, 02:27:36 PM »

Accurate Arms has data as well.

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #22 on:** August 23, 2005, 05:36:08 PM »

I'm having trouble getting my computer to send the scanded pages,I'll try again tomorrow Digger

MtJerry · « **Reply #23 on:** August 24, 2005, 05:50:22 AM »

Here's a few good links with info and load data if your interested:

http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt445sm.htm

Scroll down to 445 Super mag on this page after you read the info about the 357 max: http://www.sixguns.com/range/supermags.htm

Mac11700 · « **Reply #24 on:** September 02, 2005, 09:51:05 AM »

I'm not trying to dissade anyone from doing this conversion...but there are a number of facts that really haven't been discussed on here about this.

1) Rimmed straight walled cartridges don't show pressure signs as easily as semi-rimmed bottleneck cartridges do.Does anyone have any pressure test data for this cartridge?

2) All data that has been published about this caliber is either out of a Contender or pistol with the appropriate leade cut.

3) Just reaming out the extra lenght of the case will make the leade squarer and less tapered...increasing pressure significantly...perhaps the real reason for the higher velocities that some are getting using standard pistol published loads in the converted Handi's... I for one would measure the amount of bullet jump to the rifling before loading it hot...just to be safe,and then back it off the lands a ways if I did want to load it hotter.

4) Give Mike who is one of the ballisticians at Hogdons a call... Hodgdon Powder Co., Inc. Phone 913-362-9455...he feels given the velocities that have posted on this thread being attained... that the reloading aspect...

Quote

"might not be being done safely...and may be exceeding the strenght of the action."

I asked his permission to quote him...and he said if any had questions to call him...he would be glad to discuss this with anyone...just as he did with me today.

I would rather be safe than sorry on this...and I think it is a good cartridge...there isn't any doubt about that and if I didn't have my 45-70's would most likely being doing the same thing...I just don't want to see any mishaps...

Mac

quickdtoo · « **Reply #25 on:** September 02, 2005, 09:56:24 AM »

Mac, very enlightening, thanks!!! :agree: :agree: :agree:

Ditchdigger · « **Reply #26 on:** September 03, 2005, 09:55:44 AM »

The contender action can handle the 445 sm,so I think the Handi will be perfectly safe with the loads. Any time you lengthen a case you get more powder capacity,and that eqauls more velocity with the same pressure. The 445 case is more effient with the powders much like the 308 vs. 30 06 rd. I'm pretty sure the reamer will make the chamber with the right leade so it should be safe enough for any thing. Digger