444 marlin load data needed

[seagiant]

Hi,
I have a MRI Lone Eagle pistol in 444 marlin that I would like to load for. I want to use a SSK,NEI TC 350 gr.GC boolit and IMR-4895 powder. There seems to be no data I can find using this combination. 300 gr. boolits no problem but when you go to 350 I can't find anything. I might need to go to another powder but have a whole jug of this and would like to use it if possible? Any ideas or info as usual is most appreciated! Thanks!

[Glen]

I like to use H322 for heavyweight cast bullets in the .444 Marlin, but 4895 should work just fine too. Generally, with bullets in this weight range range, I like to use 40-42 grains of H322. Since 4895 is slower than H322, you could start at 40 grains and work up as the usual pressure signs deem appropriate. The rotary breech block of the Lone Eagle is very strong.

I can get 1650 from 350s in my Contender, and you should be able to get that much (or possibly more) out of your Lone Eagle. Recoil is, shall we say, brisk at this level!

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/fryxell/444marlin.htm


What twist does your Lone Eagle have? For the slow 1 in 38" twist used by Marlin, the 350s are on the ragged edge of being stable, but with a faster twist, they should do just fine.

[Scrounger]

Levergun loads: the .444 Marlin
Guns Magazine, June, 2004 by John Taffin
<< Page 1 Continued from page 3. Previous | Next

HIGH PERFORMANCE LOADS
FOR THE .444 MARLIN

Bullet/Load MV/18 1/2" Barrel

Barnes 275-gr. JFP/48.0 gr. H322 1,942
Barnes 275-gr. JFP/46-0 gr. Re-7 2,081
Barnes 300-gr. JFP/45.0 gr. Re-7 2,030
Hornady 265-gr. JFP/46.0 gr. H322 1,787
Hornady 265-gr. JFP/48.0 gr. H322 1,925
Hornady 265-gr. JFP/51.0 gr. H322 2,030
Hornady 265-gr. JFP/45.0 gr. RE-7 1,951
Hornady 265-gr. JFP/51.5 gr. H4895 1,894
Hornady 300-gr. XTP/46.0 gr. H322 1,884
Hornady 300-gr. XTP/48.0 gr. H322 1,974
Hornady 300-gr. XTP/45.0 gr. RE-7 2,105
Hornady 300-gr. XTP/51.3 gr. H4895 1,927
Nor. Prec. 280-gr. FP/47.5 gr. H322 1,920
Nor. Prec. 280-gr. FP/50.5 gr. H4895 1,846
Sierra 300-gr. JFP/46.0 gr. H322 1,833
Sierra 300-gr. JFP/48.0 gr. H322 1,993
Sierra 300-gr. JFP/45.0 gr. RE-7 1,957
Sierra 300-gr. JFP/51.5 gr. H4895 1,894
Speer 270-gr. Gold Dot HP/46.0 gr. H322 1,833
Speer 270-gr. Gold Dot HP/48.0 gr. H322 1,939
Speer 270-gr. Gold Dot/45.0 gr. RE-7 1,944
Speer 300-gr. JFP/49.5 gr. H4895 1,791
Speer 300-gr. JFP/51.5 gr. H4895 1,923
Speer 300-gr. JFP/46.0 gr. H322 1,882
Speer 300-gr. JFP/48.0 gr. H322 1,939
Speer 300-gr. JFP/45.0 gr. RE-7 1,946

Cast Bullets:

BRP 295GC/49.5 gr. H4895 1,831
BRP 295GC/51.5 gr. H4895 1,900
BRP 295GC/48.0 gr. H322 2,060
CPBC 320-gr. LBT/45.0 gr. Re-7 2,065
RCBS #44-300 GC/49.5 gr. H4895 1,906
SSK 310-gr. FP/51.3 H4895 1,916

[seagiant]

Hi Gentlemen,
Thanks for the info! "What rate of twist does the Lone Eagle have??? That's a very good question, one I was wondering about myself so I called MR and they said 1-22 twist rate. So hopefully it will stabilize this bullet? Thanks again!

[Glen]

1 in 22" will stabilize it nicely. Enjoy!

[seagiant]

Hi Glen,
Thanks for the info and article,this 444 marlin addiction is partly you're fault anyway because of you're fine write ups on this round! I found a 9mm NEI mold in a box of junk Lee molds and picked it up cheap and sent it to NEI not long after Walt Neilander(spl) died and had the gentleman running the shop recut it for me in the SSK TC model. Very nice bullet as you said and one of my favorite molds! The gentleman did a very nice job recutting the mold by the way! I see that you're TC is 1:20 so the LE at 1:22 should run for me. Thanks again!

[Glen]

You're welcome! It's a tough, dirty, nasty job being a "bad influence", but somebody's got to do it, right? ;-)

Enjoy!