Marlin 444 with large slow bullets

[FAsmus]

andym79;

You say: "I am thinking of getting a 444 Marlin setup with a 1:20" barrel."

I have a 444 with a 1:18 twist on a single shot action. I call it the "44/63 Ballard" so the singleshot boys will accept my rifle more readily on their firing line.

I shoot this rifle with a 500 grain custom bullet from Paul Jones. 19 grains 4759 @ 1259 fps works for me over targets as far off as 830 yards.

Sorry, the 500 grain will not fit a lever rifle from the magazine..

FAsmus

[andym79]

500 grain so its a bit like a .429 version of a 45-70 single shot!

That is a large bullet. still nice to hear that the 444 can handle it.

I do a lot of my shooting regardless of caliber by single loading, because most of my shooting is at the range or in competitions, of which most stages don't require magazine loading.

[FAsmus]

andym79;


Yes, that was the idea.

I wanted something smaller than a 45/70 ~ Everyone had one of those.

I didn't want to go all the way back to a 40/65 either. I have one on a M1895 Marlin and it does OK but bigger is better right?

The trouble with 44 is that there is a very limited selection of bullet molds - thus the need for the custom tools. Nice stuff - but pricey.

- F

[andym79]

Hi don't suppose you have any experience with a 365 or 410 grain bullet in the 444 do you?

[FAsmus]

andym79;

The lightest bullets fired in the 444 were the typical 240 grain pistol designs.

I loaded these over things like 7 - 10 grains of 700X for indoor gallery practice. At 50 feet they would print into one hole.

For my long range shooting the lightest bullet was a Mos custom GC design at 465 grains. - By the way, it is for sale..

Forrest

[44man]

Hi don't suppose you have any experience with a 365 or 410 grain bullet in the 444 do you?

Might still be too heavy for a 1 in 20".

[tdoyka]

a 1 in 20" will be alright, but if you own a lever rifle it might not fit. The 444 Marlin® i'd ask about that and i would go with "flat top"(guy who does alot with the 444) suggestions.

[andym79]

Hi I am still considering this project. Does anyone have more information.

Have any existing posters done more work with the 444?

[FAsmus]

Gentlemen:

I recently got my 444 on the FBW action back on the line.

I'm using the Mos custom 429-465-GC over 23 grans 4759.

My eyes are now bad enough that I'm forced to use a (yuck) scope sight.

I made a custom scope base with 0.090 taper built into it. This allows me to reach all the way out to the 835 yard distance with only the scope's internal adjustments.

Good evening, Forrest

[andym79]

How does it go at 500 Forrest?
What twist do you have, you have an 1:18 don't you? I have a choice of 1:16 or 1:29 which would you go for? The 20 would go up to 400 wouldn't it?

[EDG]

The 1:20 twist is very good but I do not like the 2.225" long case in the Marlin. The .444 case is too long for the Marlin lever gun with heavy long round nosed bullets. Those bullets just hang out of the case too far and will not work through the Marlin action.
It would be better with a 1.900 or 2.000 case. The .444 Marlin when used with long nosed heavy bullets belongs in a single shot. The elliptical nose bullets with the small round meplat probably are not too safe in a tube magazine.
Even the 40-65 with the 2.1" case it is too long for a repeater with heavy bullets plus you cannot use anything with a significant point.

The velocities you list are good.
I find those are the best compromise between accuracy and fun shooting with smokeless and cast bullets in bigger bores.

Hi guys, I am thinking of getting a 444marlin setup with a 1:20" barrel.

I want to shoot large bullets 300+ grains at pretty low velocity 1000-1300fps, does anyone have experience with this?

I am very keen to hear!

[andym79]

Thanks, yes they just did make the 444 too long for a repeater! I am seriously considering putting it into a Henry Martini.

I am actually having a .416-356w wildcat on a Win94 bb done right now, the brass lands at 1.990, I am trimming it back to 1.950" and having it chambered to 1.970". Hopefully that works out.

[GhostHawk]

.444marlin in a single shot is a thing of joy. Yes Martini action would be awesome.

I think my H&R is a 1 in 14, I could be wrong. It could be as fast as 1 in 10.

Avoid the slow twists if you want to shoot large bullets. They won't stabilize.

Too fast is IMO not good either.

For Cast hard to beat 1 in 16 IMO. Or one step either side of it.

[FAsmus]

andym79;

Yes I believe it is 1:18. 1:16 in unnecessarily fast - while 1:29 is too slow for the long heavy bullets.

500 yards is easy - we go out to 835 here and the load does just fine.

If you're asking about 500 grain bullets I have used them in this rifle with excellent results as well as the 465 GC.

Forrest