444 Marlin

[MissouriCrowinMass]

I recently acquired a 444 Marlin from a friend. It's a nice old one with microgroove rifling and the slower twist. I tried 330 grain Lead Buffulo Bore Ammo. I got terrible accuracy. Then I read up on the characteristics of the rifle. So I bought some Leverevolution 265 grain jacketed loads with 47.0 grains of Reloder 10X. These FTX bullets grouped much better. I trimmed the brass shorter per Hornady.

Any pet bullets or loads with this type of Marlin? I have some 300 grain lead in .432 ordered. I'm worried that they might be too heavy to stabilize with the slow twist?

I'd appreciate any advice.

Thanks

 

[ironhead7544]

The 265 gr Hornady was made just for the 444 Marlin. Always worked for me. The 265 gr weight is just right for the twist. Some rifles will shoot the 300 gr bullets and some wont. Just have to try it in yours. For a cast bullet in the MG rifling the bullet diameter is critical. Has to be 1 or 2 thou over. Do a search and you will find the info.

 

[slicksleeve]

I load the 265 grain flat point Hornady flat point, over Reloader 7. It groups very well, as good as most run-of-the-mill bolt action rifles.

 

[Rory McCanuck]

You will likely find that 300 gr work well, especially
if you push it hard enough.
If you have not come across them before, please read
Marshall Stanton's articles about the .444

http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/17
http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/19
http://beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/28

 

[CraigC]

300gr bullets should work very well in the .444. They work in the .44Mag at a few hundred fps slower. Even 330's should work well if properly sized. If you really want to shoot heavy cast bullets though, you need a newer Ballard rifled 1-20" twist gun.

 

[MissouriCrowinMass]

Thanks, guys. Great info on the .444