Rifle .44 load

[jeffrice6]

Happy holidays all . I am trying to work up a load for my marlin 20” 44mag. I have a box of Laser-Cast 240gr rnfp and I would like some data for a fun and accurate target load. I have some random leftover brass, I just need some powder and primer recommendations.

 

[jeffrice6]

come on guys

 

[The Bushmaster]

It's the holidays...Give-em a break. They'll be here...Sorry I don't load .44 magnum. I would, how ever, suggest a good load manual...

 

[Oldnamvet]

I simply use the same loads in my Ruger .44 lever rifle as I do in the pistol, a grain or two shy of the max for H110 in my Hornady manual. That makes life more simple since you don't have to keep track of which ammo goes with which gun. Using 300 gr. Hornady XTP bullets, I usually get <3" groups (5 shots) at 100 yds, the maximum distance I would normally shoot it at a deer. When the wind and conditions are right, I can hear the bullet smack the target right after the sound of the rifle going off. I am also surprised at how hard that little rifle kicks. My .30-06 treats me better from that aspect.
Consult a loading manual and start out. What is great in one rifle may be not-so-great in another. Thats the fun of reloading anyway isn't it? Trying different things until you are satisfied.

 

[calaverasslim]

Try about 11 to 11.3 gr of Unique behind that 240 RNFP. I use that load on my 230 FP and it'll drop a feral hog in it's tracks but it isn't hard on me or the rifle. I use that same load in my 44 pistol and it has some authority but no too bad.

 

[Kurac]

I would stay away from lead bullets, they will leave heavy lead deposits in the first 5-6" of barrel. The Winchester .44 Mag I had and the Marlin even more so, have very shallow grooves which do not impart a spin to cast bullets very well. So when its not spinning its shaving lead off the bullet and thats why it leads so bad for the first several inches. With jacketed and not plated bullets you should do fine. As a safety precaution, you might also want to avoid the Hornady XTP HP line in tubular magazines.

Lead bullets in the carbine are also only good at close range, once you get out past 50 yards they are all over the place. Some of the cowboy action shooting guns have cut rifling which is made for cast or swaged bullets but the Micro Groove that Marlin advertises is most likely what you have.

 

[Al Norris]

Jeff, I use 8.5gr of TightGroup behind those Laser-Cast bullets. I have very little leading in my marlin, with the microgrove barrel. For my 1894s, it is a very mild but accurate load.

Kurac out of curiosity, why wouldn't you use XTP's in your marlin? I've fired several hundred 240gr and 300gr XTP's loaded hot with H110. Never had a problem.

 

[Kurac]

A Norris,

It was a Winchester 94 I had. I read not to use pointed bullet due to the risk of detonating a primer. Most .44 bullets have an exposed lead tip or are just blunt on the front end. The XTP push their sharp edge of jacket material right into to primer when they are seated in a tubular magazine. I have never heard of anyone having an accident through the use of pointed bullets and like I said, I read about and didn't want to be the first person I know to have a major problem. Back when I had the 94 I was not using Laser Cast bullets. I think I tried meisters and D&J cast lead and they both left some nasty deposits. I only use the Laser Cast right now but I no longer have the Winchester to use them in.

 

[461]

Marlin actually switched its rifling from microgroove to Ballard (regular) for its non rimfire leverguns so they work much better now. I have no trouble at all with leading using Lasercasts in my .44. I use 17grains of 2400 behind a 240gr lasercast with pretty good results. Same load for my Blackhawk.

 

[Al Norris]

The XTP push their sharp edge of jacket material right into to primer when they are seated in a tubular magazine.

I thought you might say something like this. About all I can say is that I've never experienced anything like this using any hollow point ammo, let alone the XTP. Round nose FMJ's appear to leave more of an impression on the primer face than do HP's. Of course, YMMV.

I should add that the only time I've experienced leading using Oregon Trails hardcast bullets is when I've loaded them extremely hot.

 

[justashooter]

Marlin actually switched its rifling from microgroove to Ballard (regular) for its non rimfire leverguns so they work much better now. I have no trouble at all with leading using Lasercasts in my .44. I use 17grains of 2400 behind a 240gr lasercast with pretty good results. Same load for my Blackhawk.

when did this happen? all of their non-rimfire?

in my 1894 (.357) i shot a variety of hard cast bullets up to 200grs and 14(?) grs of H110 without problem. best accuracy was with 158 jsp and 2400 in full house loads.

 

[jeffrice6]

bump

 

[wanderinwalker]

Well, my Marlin 1894 .44 Magnum has Ballard-cut rifling and according to the time-stamp on the retail ticket, it was made in 2003 at the latest. (So it sat around a while before I bought it.)

I remember my Ruger 96/44 would really sit up and shine with 240gr Hornady XTPs and WW-296 powder. Super accurate, usually around 1/2-1" for 3 at 50 yards. I have almost always been impressed by the accuracy of this bullet/powder combo in every .44 I've tried it in. Will be loading some shortly for the Marlin, no question. (I used WLP primers and the charge was book max as I remember, listed in the free Winchester handout.)

As for plinking, I already like 8.2gr of W231 in a Magnum case, lit off by a CCI-300 pushing a 240gr SWC. Good stuff.

 

[461]

Can't say if they did it to all or not, they seem to do different things with different models, but my 1894 is about three years old now and it was before that. If I can get out to that great little gun shop with that awesome stainless .357 Marlin I've been begging for I'll check it out for rifling.

 

[SASS#23149]

If you want mild,shoot ' cowboy' loads.

all the powder websites have cowboy load secttions for plinking types of loads.I shoot tons of cast bullets at under 900fps and never have leading prolbems.You do have to get ALL the jacket material out of your bore to make it shoot accurately.
IIRC,Marlin made some runs of rifles for the cowboy shooters with Ballard rifleing,but not all their guns have it.It is possible with the right bullet and powder to make the micro barrels shoot plenty accurate.
You can shoot gas-checked bullets a lot faster than plain ones,but we can't use thm in cowboy comp so I have not tried them.
I can ding steel plates all day long with my carbines shooting lead at 75-100 yds.Not tack drivers,but than neither am I.

 

[Merote]

Recent trip to the Range

Saw your post. I have been lurking for several months - always polling for new info! I have been loading 45LC for several years (Linebaugh loads!) - but that is a different story for a different thread. I will soon load some hot 240g JSP's - just to clean out any lead deposits (just haven't had time). Hope this info doesn't start a range war. I have seen to may of those on other boards.
Here is the summary I recorded from my first trip to the range with my new Trapper - hope it helps:
44 Magnum – Load Test
30 yards
Temperature - 50°F
Rabbit Ear Rest
Roll Crimp
Winchester Trapper 16” barrel
OAL w/lead 1.601
WLP primers (standard/magnum)
Starline brass

240 Apollo Lead SWC (w/Roll Crimp – not good)Unique 8 grains
1165, 1154, 1178, 1173, 1185, 1131 fps (Standard Deviation 18.56)
POI - Less than 2” group – dead on

Unique 10 grains
954, 655, 1335, 851, 1305, 770, 1301, 1088, 723 fps (Standard Deviation xx.xx)
POI - Totally wild, 12-14” groups

W231 7 grains
1094, 1096, 1097, 1107, 1082, 1088, 1081 fps (Standard Deviation 9.19)
POI - Less than 2” group – dead on

W231 9 grains
1272, 1237, 1246, 1048, 1237, 1237 fps (Standard Deviation 81.88)
POI - Less than 2” group – dead on

Titegroup 5 grains
958, 945, 950, 952, 953, 940 fps (Standard Deviation 6.34)
POI - Less than 2” group – 4-6” high

Titegroup 7 grains
1168, 1169, 1171, 1177, 1169, 1152, 1147 fps (Standard Deviation 10.9)
POI - Less than 2” group – dead on


240 JSP – Remington (w/Roll Crimp – not good – waiting for new crimp die)
Unique 10 grains
1332, 1312 fps
Point of impact inconclusive

W231 11 grains
1386, 1383, 1367 fps
Point of impact inconclusive

 

[The Bushmaster]

Jeff...See...All you had to do was wait for the joyous season to elapse and here they are. Full of joy and helpful information. Did I lie???