Marlin .44, finally close enough.

[44man]

After years with no results past 50 yards, I have the gun shooting almost beer can accuracy at 100 yards. One of the boolits I made is working. It weighs 296 gr and with 23 gr of 296 and a Fed 150 primer, I was able to sight it at 100. I think to 125 yards or more, it will work on deer.
I have relieved all pressure from the barrel but as it got hot, groups would be a little higher by a few inches.
Bioman's micro groove also does real good with the boolit.
It is nothing special, I just made the grease groove wider and size .432". Why it shoots better then any other boolit is a mystery.
Still not a tack driver and my revolver still out shoots it but it makes the Marlin more useful.

[ghh3rd]

GLad you found something that will shoot to 100 yds.

I'll be casting/loading some .45 boolits this weekend - my 1895GBL 45-70 will be in on Monday! :-)

[Az Rick]

Looks good, keep thinking, most hunting shots are cold barrel. All we really care about is how that first one comes out of the pipe.

Best, Rick

[JesterGrin_1]

You must be pulling our legs. :)

[crabo]

Looks good, keep thinking, most hunting shots are cold barrel. All we really care about is how that first one comes out of the pipe.

Best, Rick

WOW! do we have different expectations!

[44man]

I think there will be a problem with deer because of the velocity of the harder boolit. We are going to make some with a pure nose.
I am using WD, WW's now and am afraid it will just poke a hole unless they are hit in the shoulders.
Then again, I don't know if I will ever use it on deer because I like the revolvers too much.

[XWrench3]

my marlin 1895 (45/70) groups the letter "J" as the barrel gets hot. the boolits go down, then turn left. like AZ RICK says, when hunting, you will only need one or maybe two shots. so it is the cold barrel shooting that matters.

[uncle joe]

WOW! do we have different expectations!

that's the difference between a paper puncher and a meat getter :grin:

[44man]

my marlin 1895 (45/70) groups the letter "J" as the barrel gets hot. the boolits go down, then turn left. like AZ RICK says, when hunting, you will only need one or maybe two shots. so it is the cold barrel shooting that matters.
True, but I hear guys here shoot 20 times at a deer. Oh well, doesn't matter anyway, they never hit anything!
I have considered buying stock in ammo companies! :mrgreen:

[Wally]

44man
I had a Marlin .44 Carbine and traded it for a USRA 94AE... But I blew it--all I had to do was to size the bullets very large--as large as they would fit in the chamber--how do I know? Well, I have a .444 Marlin and it has MG and offers O/S accuracy with cast bullets--both PB & GC. When I had the Marlin .44 Carbine I foolishly sized my bulelts to .429"--in the .444 Marlin I use them at .431".

[44man]

44man
I had a Marlin .44 Carbine and traded it for a USRA 94AE... But I blew it--all I had to do was to size the bullets very large--as large as they would fit in the chamber--how do I know? Well, I have a .444 Marlin and it has MG and offers O/S accuracy with cast bullets--both PB & GC. When I had the Marlin .44 Carbine I foolishly sized my bulelts to .429"--in the .444 Marlin I use them at .431".
I size .432" but have gone to .434". Made a special mold.
The .444 was changed to 1 in 20" twist because of accuracy problems but they never changed the .44.
I tried every boolit and load in the world but nothing would stabilize past 50 yards. That is why this boolit baffles me because it shoots better then all the rest.
The .44 with the slow twist can't be shot fast enough to spin boolits.
You have a better chance with the .444 and it's higher velocity.

[JesterGrin_1]

Just a wild thought but maybe one of the boolit mold makers here could copy your design? Who knows it might help the other poor people with a Marlin in .44 Mag :)

It looks close to the Ranch Dog 300Gr but with a normal lube groove.

[insanelupus]

44 Man,

I know you are a 296 fan. Have you done any work with AA#9 in the recent past? I'm fixin' to do a little with that powder, just curious as to your experiences and how they relate to the Marlin and .44 ca'tridge in general.

[44man]

44 Man,

I know you are a 296 fan. Have you done any work with AA#9 in the recent past? I'm fixin' to do a little with that powder, just curious as to your experiences and how they relate to the Marlin and .44 ca'tridge in general.
I never tried it. It is faster then 296. AA powders are not stocked in the only store for a long distance. I hate to drive 100 miles for a can of powder.

[44man]

Just a wild thought but maybe one of the boolit mold makers here could copy your design? Who knows it might help the other poor people with a Marlin in .44 Mag :)

It looks close to the Ranch Dog 300Gr but with a normal lube groove.
Anyone wants to do it I will send some samples. I won't have time to make a pile for anyone.