355gn+ bullets in 444 marlin?

[trekker73]

Anyone try heavy cast bullets in their 444 marlins? What did you find feeds, cycles, and stabilizes okay? I dont own one yet but was considering getting one. I have a lot of 44 mag bullets on hand including the above weight and was wondering if the COAL in various levers will allow it. The slower twist of some marlins might limit things as well. If it did work was thinking it would be a darn good DG load.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Anyone try heavy cast bullets in their 444 marlins? What did you find feeds, cycles, and stabilizes okay? I dont own one yet but was considering getting one. I have a lot of 44 mag bullets on hand including the above weight and was wondering if the COAL in various levers will allow it. The slower twist of some marlins might limit things as well. If it did work was thinking it would be a darn good DG load.

The heaviest I’ve loaded is the Sierra 325gr JSP. I still load that bullet for .44Mag for a RSBH but it won’t feed reliably in my Ruger M-77/44. The magazine is just a few tenths short. In a .444Marlin that bullet barely cleared the feed dog of my old Martini-action .444 and hangs on the lifter of my Marlin 444. I don’t use for anything but the revolver now. Maybe with Hornady short brass and a deep seat you could make it work but I never tried a cast bullet heavier than 255gr. What kind of rifle, action and feed will make all the difference.

 

[PapaG]

My original 336-444 with the one in forever twist doesn't like much over the 265 grain bullets.

 

[Riomouse911]

My original 336-444 with the one in forever twist doesn't like much over the 265 grain bullets.

That was my buddy’s complaint about his .444. Uber slow twist didn’t do the longerheavier bullets well.

Stay safe.