444 no carbide dies? need to full length size? help!

[Gallahad]

I can't figure out why no one is making carbide dies for this cal. my question is do I have to full length size 444marlin? (load for h&r single shot) also, can I use a powdered graphite or do I need to use a regular lube? any help is appreciated.

[Tom W.]

I asked RCBS once and found out that the .444 is not a true straight walled case, but has a slight taper. At least that's the story I got.

[Lloyd Smale]

you can neck size them with a set of carbide 44 mag dies.

[Graybeard]

Treat them same as a bottleneck case. Lube accordingly same as a bottleneck case.

[LaOtto222]

Carbide dies are not carbide for the full length of the case. A carbide die is a regular die with a short carbide insert in the bottom. So to have a carbide die the case has to be a straight walled. As mentioned the 444 Marlin has a taper to it. It would be of no use to have a carbide insert. The 444 Marlin was designed for a lever action and they designed a slight taper in it for extraction purposes. As Bill mentioned treat it like a bottle necked case when reloading. Good Luck and Good Shooting

[Graybeard]

Actually if you have the bucks to spend you can get carbide dies for .223 and .308 as well. They are full carbide inside and yeah they are VERY costly. But for straight wall cases like you said they just have a small band of it at the bottom of die.