444 marlin levergun load

[Blammer]

Just got a Marlin 444S and want to load some rounds for it.

slugged the barrel, it's .4305 and it's microgroove.

Was going to try some big boys first. 300gr to 330gr cast boolits.

Big ones top left of picture. :)

http://i54.photobucket.com/albums/g81/blammer8mm/Cast%20boolits/44list-1.jpg

I believe I have some H4198 I will try first.

Anyone use these combo's?

what is your pick?

[Blammer]

Can't find any starting load data for 320gr boolits with H4198. Any suggestions?

[Marlin Junky]

Can't find any starting load data for 320gr boolits with H4198. Any suggestions?

35 grains should get you around 1600 fps... how's that for a starting load.

36 grains of Re7 behind a 346 grain boolit gets me into the high 16's to low 17's and the recoil is manageable during longer shooting strings from my ported carbine. However, the heavier boolits need to be heat treated or water dropped for accuracy. If you want to "put the pedal to the metal", burning a slower powder will enable the use of softer alloys to 2000 fps (or perhaps a bit beyond with your lighter; e.g. 320 grain boolit).

MJ

[jonas302]

With the 310 lee I use 38 grains 3031 tac soft with soft lead 2 parts ww 1 part range air cooled no gas check microgroove barrel that was getting me inch and a half groups haven't ran it over the crony or worked on the load any more since

[shorty500M]

i run 325grain jdj slug working up from 300g j-word data with imr4198. Max load runs around 2000fps in 22inch marlins. Same load hits 1870fps in a 14inch Contender. Get my best microgroove results at .002 over groove diameter with wdww metal. Gaschecks can help stubborn microgroove barrels

[The Kid]

I had a first year production 444 that I cut to 20", it was terribly inaccurate with any cast bullet over 250gr that I tried. It did like 300gr jacketed, though only the Nosler SJHP, shot one of those through a buffaloes' shoulders. The 310 Lee was the bullet I had my eye on when I bought the rifle, as I thought it would make an excellent load for Alaska. Unfortunately when I finally got them to fly nose first, they shot very erratic groups averaging about 8" at 100yds.

That rifle is down the road now and I've went back to the 45govt. Hope yours works out better than mine did, not that mine was a bad rifle, it just wasn't very versatile.

Oh and my pick for all around use on anything but Brownbears would be the 275gr Lyman if it shoots well. That is a very nice looking slug, with many desirable features, I didn't even know it existed now I need one.