444 Max OAL

[gaileyr]

Question: I know the reloading manuals say the max OAL of the 444marlin is 2.570” for feeding thru the marlin lever action. But was wondering if I could seat mine a little further out in the Handi-Rifle chamber. And if so how much?

[quickdtoo]

It depends on your barrel and the bullet you load, I load all bulets close to the lands, cast bullets real close, as long as there's a slight jump to the lands, pressures won't jump, just be sure to check it out with some sort of measuring method and use start data when changing any component to include Cartridge Overall Length.

In my 444, the following measurements apply..

265gr Hornady 2.606" to the lands, COL= 2.585"

250gr Beartooth LFNGC 2.572" and 2.567"

355gr Beartooth WLNGC 2.638" and 2.633"

240gr XTP 2.569" and 2.555"

Tim

[gaileyr]

Tim, 
One method I saw described somewhere was to load a dummy round (no primer-no crimp) with a bullet seated way out to the point where you knew it would touch the rifling. Then gently chamber that round. Carefully remove the round and using your bullet seating die turn the adjustment screw one turn downward. Then crimp the bullet and use this as your gage round. Of course this method was describing how to find the bullet depth with a bolt action. Wasn’t sure if there would be problems using it with a break-open action like the Handi-Rifle. This seems like a quick and easy method. But I'm always suspicious of quick and easy. Thought I'd ask the  knowledgeable on this site for their input.

[quickdtoo]

There a couple methods listed in the FAQs. 

Tim

[torpedoman]

drill out the primer pocket, tap for fine all-thread get a nut for a lock-nut expand the neck like you were going to seat a bullet lube it well drill a bullet or just glue it to the all thread you now have an o.a.l. gauge you can adjust to put the bullet right on the rifling and lock the measurement  Quick Cheap and Easy.