444 Marlin bullet for 500 Meter Silhouette Rams

[haroldclark]

Veral,  Great to have you back again.  Your old blue book has worn and tattered pages by now, but I still keep it.

I am shooting a 444 Marlin that will be back from the factory inside the next month with a new barrel of 22 inches, Ballard Rifling and a 1-20 twist.

I want to shoot a 300 grain or larger out to 500 meters at around 1400 fps.  I have been able to take down the 55 pound steel rams with a 300 grain cast bullet in the past, but it was not consistently accurate.  I declared all hits an accident.  With the faster twist, I'm hoping for better and heavier bullet stabilization.

What bullet do you make that will fill this need.  I also, want it in a 4 cavity if possible.

Harold Clark
haroldclark@citlink.net

[Mikey]

I need to second haroldclark's question about your recommendation for bullets for the 444 and shooting out to 500 yds.  I use a lever action, and specifically shoot from a 26" bbl on a Winchester Big Bore in 444 with a Montana Rifleman barrel with a 1:26 twist.  I get pretty good groupings a 100 yds with open sights but was looking for a bullet that could shoot longer ranges and hit with authority.  Do you have any recommendations for harold and me.  Thanks. Mikey.

[Veral]

The 444 will run a 300 gr LFN at far higher speeds than most people want to take the recoil from.  I haven't loaded for a 444, but can get 1800 fps from a 44 Mag Marlin with this bullet!   I cannot think of a need for more weight and recoil, but have customers who got excellent accuracy with 350 and 400 gr ILFN bullets in 444's
I think maybe I'd go for a 320 to 350 gr  loaded to maybe 1500 fps, for max downrange punch without getting kicked goofy.
I make anything up to 512 diameter in 4 cavity.