1894 44 mag marlin reloading question

[handi243]

I got my son one it has the micro grove barrel any reloading data would be nice thanks guys!!

[Lloyd Smale]

If you cast or have someone that will cast for you try to get ahold of one of the  265 grain ranch dog lee molds they were designed with micro grove barrels in mind. Also the rcbs 240 swcgc shoots well in mine. I cast them out of #2 and for the ballard rifled guns size to 430 and size to 431 for the micro grove guns. Alot of guys have better luck with unsized cast bullets in the microgroved guns. My micro groved guns tend to prefer hotter loads and the harder the alloy the better because the shallow rifling doesnt tend to grip well and soft bullets will tend to strip right through it. I can only speak for my own experience but for jacketed bulllets . Id say pick up some 240 jacketed bullets from a few differnt companys and load them with 20 grains of h4227 with a ww primer and work up from there another good start would be 18 grains of 2400 and go up from there. If you dont allready have at least 2 buy yourself some loading manuals. For the most part its silly to ask for loads for a gun on here. Every gun is different and likes a different combination of bullet primers and powder and what shoots in mine mights spray out of yours.

[Bitterroot Bob]

Howdy,
I don't know about the .44's, but my .41 Marlin will NOT shoot anything driven by flake powders well. The rifle will never be a plinker. On the other hand, with Nosler 210gr JHC and Lyman cast #41028 RNFP's driven by max loads of 2400 or H110, it will cloverleaf the shots. With Unique and Blue Dot the bullets won't go into 6" at 50 yards. I was tearing my hair out over that rifle.
Try different TYPES of powder as well as brands and burn rates.
The lowest standard deviation I have ever seen while testing loads came from a Marlin .44 using .44 Spl brass, 200gr RNFP and 231 powder. It was amazing.

Bitterroot

[Darrell Davis]

Well I had, and wish I still did, a .44 Marlin.

Shot the same loads in it that I use in my 5.5" RedHawk, 310gr GC LBTs cast from WW.

The only issue, well the only two issues with this load were #1. that bullet is longer then standard slugs, so you needed to work the action slowly for positiive feeding, and #2 the stock shape and length was not right for me and my thumb kept bouncing my nose until I put a recoil pad in place to add some length.

I'd walk around for hours, wiping my nose looking for signs of blood.

My load behind the 310 LBT was 19grs. of AA #9.

Still wish I had that gun.

Keep em coming!

CDOC

[Old English]

I reload the same for my 44mag Blackhawk, 50th anniversary and Marlin 1894. I use 29gr of H110 and the Hornady 180gr XTP, although I have the 240 gr version of the same bullet on order. The present load has proved very accurate,but as yet untested on game. The 6.5" revolver yields 1650 fps and the rifle with 20" barrel is going at 2050 fps about 10 feet from the muzzlle. I thoroughly enjoy shooting both of these guns.

[Hank08]

OE, I just did some exp. test using various bullets including the 180 XTP and it convinced me to use heavy bullets(275 to 325) especially for the rifle.  At 2000 both the 180 Sierra hollow cavity and the 180 XTP left a flat jacket and a few shreads of lead.  The Ruger had a 5" barrel and the Marlin a 20" microgroove.  The microgroove barrel was accurate with everything.
H08

[Old English]

Thanks for the info Hank, I have some 240gr XTP on order. What medium were you shooting the bullets into as a test? I have yet to hunt with the 180gr bullet but it certainly thumps a tree at 50 yards. I reckon you're right though, a heavier bullet travelling slower would hold together well.

[mechanic]

Might want to slug the barrel on that Marlin.  Mine would not shoot factory.  I cast slightly oversize and it shot well.  I traded it last year, and truthfully don't miss it.

[Hank08]

Old English,  I was shooting into loose sand, not the same as flesh but the same shot to shot
for comparison.  XTPs have shot so well in handguns that I was surprized to see them just about disintegrate from the rifle.  Even the Sierra 180 hollow cavity held together a little better than the XTP.  Sometime the XTPs would hit the surface of the sand, the jacket would flatten out the lead would shread and the jacket and pieces of lead would jump of the surface and land about a foot away with no penetration at all.  I have a 300 gr. GCswc RCBS mold (cast 315 from the alloy I use) that I shoot at 1250 from the Rugers so will be 1600 or so from the rifle.  I believe that will work better.  I may be wrong but I don't think Marlin's machinery and quality control is so bad that their barrels are coming out in different sizes, if they are I haven't seen them.
H08

[nunnya]

Have you tried the 240gr. or 300gr. XTP ?
They penetrate way better.


                  nunnya

[old coach]

I use the Beartooth hardcast 250grn with gas check.
Try H110 start a 20 grns and work up.
You will be amazed at how the groups get higher and higher with  the added powder.
More than 16" from 20grn to 24grn.
Mine hit the sweet spot @ 23grns.
I also use this load in my RBH with the 8-3/8" bbl.
The Beartooth WFN 250 works great on deer and hogs.

Coach

[Graybeard]

You need to use a medium that more closely represents flesh and blood and bone of animals. We've used 240 XTP HPs from a 20" Marlin on real live critters and they are devestating on them and exit the off side as well leaving a huge gaping hole. I'd say a bit more than bits and pieces are going out.

Faye's first big game aminal was a ram taken in Texas at perhaps 25 yards thru the shoulder. It exited leaving a hole I could stick my fist into easily. Her second one a day or so later was from about 75-80 yards also broadside and it too did what you'd expect tho the exit wasn't as impressive as the closer shot at higher velocity was.

[dpe.ahoy]

I agree with Graybeard on this, I have used 240 gr XTP's on mule deer with perfect results.  Never had one stop in one and always great performance.  Only one that didn't drop in it's tracks was when the butt stock cracked and the shot went low, left and broke a leg and opened the belly.  Wasn't the bullets performance but the wild shot that had me trailing that one for close to 200 yards.  DP

[Hank08]

I agree with Greybeard too but I was just comparing the 5" VS the 20" but actually I came away with pretty much the same conclusion, that the rifle is going to leave a huge gaping hole. Something you may or may not want.  The XTPs kill well in my 5" Ruger and don't over expand.  I've killed Deer, bear, and hogs with the 5" but nothing with the Marlin 20" ,yet.
H08