Marlin 44mag questions

[osteodoc08]

With the slower twist rates of the Marlin, what is the heaviest boolits everyone is shooting with "hunting accuracy" out to say, 150 yards?

Should I look at the Henry guns instead?

[Tatume]

Henry also uses the slow 1:38" twist. I asked them why, and they say "because."

The Marlin will stabilize 265 grain bullets for sure, and some folks have reported good results with 300 grain bullets fired at maximum velocity. The 240 or 265 grain soft points will do anything a 44 Magnum should be called upon to do, and do it well.

[Shuz]

Look at the Rossi 92, it has a 1:30" twist. I recently got one and I love it(so far).
Also, if you can locate a Winchester 1894, they have a faster twist, I believe it is 1:26", but may be 1:20". Anyways, I've got a couple of these .44 mags in the AE persuasion, and they both shoot circles around the Marlin 1894's I once owned.
Now I'm not saying all Marlin 1894's won't shoot...but the two I once had wouldn't, and they were also real finicky on the boolit design and OAL.

[wv109323]

My 240 gn. Jacketed and commercial cast were very accurate at 50 yards. They shot around 1/2". I never shot it at any longer distances.

[wrench man]

The Marlins tend to have larger bores, they like FAT boolits.

[shoot-n-lead]

I think that I have an exception to the Marlin rule...mine shoots .430 bullets lights out...180 -250grs...haven't tried anything heavier...no need to as it will do anything I need with those.

[nicodiesel]

mine shoots the Lee 310gr gas checked really good. 1 1/2" group at 100 yds. i practice alot with it, it is scope mounted with mildots. i have take several mulees and whitetail with it and out to 200 yds. h110 is best results with these bullets in my gun.

[Duckiller]

240-265 gr no problem. 270gr gold dots tended to wander of to the right. Most of my cast boolits are too long 1.710". Work fine in revolvers

[44man]

it is a round ball shooter. 310 gr NOT. 150 yards with one is a pipe dream. the .44 needs 1 in 20" and would do well with 1 in 16".
200 yards with a 1 in 38" twist! NOT without pure luck.
I have not made miracles happen.
Some will say it works but will show no proof.

[35 Whelen]

it is a round ball shooter. 310 gr NOT. 150 yards with one is a pipe dream. the .44 needs 1 in 20" and would do well with 1 in 16".
200 yards with a 1 in 38" twist! NOT without pure luck.
I have not made miracles happen.
Some will say it works but will show no proof.

I have a thread here in which I shoot my Uberti 44-40, with its 1-36" twist, with really nice accuracy considering the sights, out to 200 yds., and 300 yds. isn't bad at all. All this with a 220 gr. large lube groove (long) bullet.

I'm not quite sure what the lure is with the crazy heavy bullets. Of the few deer I've killed with .44 bullets only one failed to completely penetrate. That particular bullet, from an RCBS 44-250KT mould (258 grs), struck a buck in the left flank at about 1050 fps an penetrated aaallllll the way up through the neck and stopped under the skin. I can't imagine why one would need more penetration than that.
The ones that penetrated on broadside shots struck at significantly lower velocities with a couple probably lugging along at a litthe over 900 fps.

35W

[Kraschenbirn]

Outside of leading issues, the Lee 240 gr. RN shoots quite well from my early 70s-vintage .44 Mag Marlin...like 3" iron-sight groups. While I admit that's nuthin' to write home about, it's within my expectations for a light 20" carbine and adequate for my needs. For 44man: While I agree that the Marlins need a faster twist, on a 'who buys the beer' challenge, I've been known to tag a 12" gong at 200M eight out of ten...OFFHAND...using 200 gr RNFPs launched at .44-40 smokeless velocities from that same rifle.

Bill

[44man]

3" at 100 would suit me fine but I never did it. I never found some shots on paper.160552 I have a boolit that did this at 50 yards. left was a hard lube and right was Felix, lube test only. But at 100 I never knew where they would hit. I shot a deer at 65 yards with the gun and hit 10" from POA. Lucky it still hit for a drop.
I will not be convinced after thousands of loads and different boolits. I do not have very light ones like 180 or 200 gr, since they suck from a Ruger, etc.
I loved the gun but it was a 25 yard hunter from the start.

[Static line]

Here is my resent experience. I bought a Marlin ( Remlin ) in 44 magnum. Tried several J bullets in it,got 6 inch groups at a hundred yards.Looked up the price of a Happy trigger from Wild West and the 100 buck trigger scared me a bit.But something would have to be done to replace the 10 pound trigger on the Marlin.Oh,also had several failures to feed.Well,mad enough,I traded in on a Henry Big Boy Steel. Tried factory stuff and some reloads and got 1-1/2" and 2 inch groups at a hundred.A good friend sent me some cast bullets to try so I loaded up some of his 275 gr. gas check bullets cast from an accurate mold and I am getting a consistant 1 in to 1-3/8" groups at 100 yards.Nice part too is that they only drop 1-3/8"-1-1/2" from a 50 yard zero.Haven't tried for anything past 100 yet.My groove diameter measured .431 on the Henry and the cast bullets are .432" with a gas check. I now own an Accurate Mold for that same bullet and a .432 sizing die from Buckshot.And a good shootin rifle that doesn't need anything done to it.

[FergusonTO35]

Henry is the new Marlin--and Winchester! B-)

[44man]

What is the twist on the Henry?

[Tatume]

What is the twist on the Henry?


Henry also uses the slow 1:38" twist. I asked them why, and they say "because."

The Marlin will stabilize 265 grain bullets for sure, and some folks have reported good results with 300 grain bullets fired at maximum velocity. The 240 or 265 grain soft points will do anything a 44 Magnum should be called upon to do, and do it well.

Post #2

[44man]

I found it, it is 1 in 38". Another stupid Greenhill pick.
S&W uses 1 in 18-3/4", Ruger is 1 in 20 and BFR uses 1 in 16". Yes the Ruger rifle is 1 in 20".
To pay the huge cost of a Henry with the wrong twist means you brag about it because you spent too much.
I have searched the Henry site over and over and can't find the .45 Colt twist. The day I buy a Henry without knowing is zero. They are so overpriced one will never be here.

[Clay M]

I noticed Winchester is using a 1:26" twist in their current Model 92 .44 magnum.

[MarkP]

mine shoots the Lee 310gr gas checked really good. 1 1/2" group at 100 yds. i practice alot with it, it is scope mounted with mildots. i have take several mulees and whitetail with it and out to 200 yds. h110 is best results with these bullets in my gun.

Similar exercise; I have a Rem 788 in 44 Mag (1:38") it shoots the LEE 310's very well at 100 yds H-110 or Alliant 300-MP; the 310's do not shoot noticeably different than 240's do in an older Rossi Puma in 44 mag (1:30") I have shot the 788 on paper out to 175 yds with the 310's no sign of keyholes. I do not recall the exact groups size but I think they were under 6 inches. I have better options available for longer shots on game animals than my 44's.

I did however notice one side strike imprint on a steel target when shooting Hornady 265 gr FN (444 Marlin Bullets) I was shooting at 3/8" thick mild steel plates as part of a informal test for a project at work. (Electrical enclosure with mild steel plate meeting Class ?? -- 44 Magnum for perforation)

[Outer Rondacker]

I only have my BS to back this up. Mine like everything. I have put 310g lee down it and I put a lot of 240g down it. All do well if sized to .431+

[Windwalker 45acp]

The Marlins tend to have larger bores, they like FAT boolits.

Fat Boolit's need lovin' too!

[Salmoneye]

The reason Marlin uses 1:38" twist and .431" groove, is these are the SAAMI specs for .44 Magnum in a rifle...

160664

SAAMI spec for .44 mag pistol is 1:20" and .429 groove:

160665

I am aware of no other cartridge like this...

[35 Whelen]

My suggestion is to load and shoot first, then if there's a problem, look for a solution. As my sweet Momma used to say: "Don't borrow trouble."

35W

[Static line]

I found it, it is 1 in 38". Another stupid Greenhill pick.
S&W uses 1 in 18-3/4", Ruger is 1 in 20 and BFR uses 1 in 16". Yes the Ruger rifle is 1 in 20".
To pay the huge cost of a Henry with the wrong twist means you brag about it because you spent too much.
I have searched the Henry site over and over and can't find the .45 Colt twist. The day I buy a Henry without knowing is zero. They are so overpriced one will never be here.

Sorry I didn't get back to you on the twist rate of the Henry but I see you found it already.I also read that the twist rate for the 44 mag is all wrong too but at least in the Henry I have,it works well,well enough for 1 inch groups at a hundred yards so I can't ask anything more of that rifle.You are not the only one who thinks the Henry is over priced but then that is all relative.I am fortuneate to have a JM model Marlin Guide gun and it is a real winner.But I have also purchased two Remlins,a 45-70 and a 44 mag and those are no longer here and with the problems they gave me and their inaccuracy,I consider them to be overpriced as well.But hang in there,I read on Castboolits somewhere here about the shot show and the Marlin and accordingly,good changes are going to be made with the Marlin,suposedly,but again,I wouldn't hold my breath as Remington has had more then enough time to turn things around and make a better gun.

[Static line]

Here's the tread I was refering to about the Shot Show and the Marlin.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?297871-SHOT-Show-Marlins

I hope it's true.

[osteodoc08]

Interesting thread this has turned out to be. I've since just purchased a Henry Steel 41 Mag, yes, 41 Mag as a limited Davidsons run. Hoping to have it here next week. If it is a keeper, I'm gonna look for either a Marlin or Henry 44 Mag to accompany it.

[Static line]

What is the twist on the Henry?

1 in 38 "

[44man]

1 in 38 "
WHY? You would think they know better. Why are most other calibers right?
I can't find the twist for the 44-40 on the site but who would pay almost $2800 for a 44-40? You must be brain dead. I have shot Henry's and had them apart. there is not a single thing worth the money except to say "Made in the USA."
I bought a Remlin 30-30 for $400 and it is perfect.
Just watch me spend $1450 for a Henry 30-30.

[Static line]

WHY? You would think they know better. Why are most other calibers right?
I can't find the twist for the 44-40 on the site but who would pay almost $2800 for a 44-40? You must be brain dead. I have shot Henry's and had them apart. there is not a single thing worth the money except to say "Made in the USA."
I bought a Remlin 30-30 for $400 and it is perfect.
Just watch me spend $1450 for a Henry 30-30.

Nope,I would not spend that kind of money either,I don't care what make of gun it is. I'm happy for you that your Remlin turned out good.I wish I could have said the same for the 44 mag that I purchased in a Remlin because the wood on it was absolutely great as far as looks and metal to wood fit.Hind sight tells me that I probably should have given it more of a chance but I didn't and there is no reason to cry over spilt milk.I am glad,however that I bought the Henry and even though the census on the twist rate is said to be wrong,I know that mine is capable of small groups with my bullet choice of a 275 gr. GC WFN cast bullet.So,for me,the twist rate is ideal.Is the Henry worth what they ask for it,talking mainly about something like I got in the Big Boy Steel? I really don't know for sure,but then,I have seen the price of guns of any sort go way above what they are actually worth and I suppose you have too if you are older then dirt like me.

[44man]

Yeah, I am older then dirt too. But Henry is way out there. I hate the price of revolvers too. Everything has gone up. But $1000 more then a Marlin is plain crazy.
I see the ads, barrel steel from Ohio, castings from PA and walnut from Missouri.
What they claim makes the guns I made in my shop worth $40,000 at the least.
Stick metal in a machine and lay off workers does not make a gun more expensive. Now you just need one guy to program the machine. I bet $25 an hour hurts the bottom line.
I will never own a Henry when i can get a gun cheaper.

[Lefty Red]

I know they are not suppose to shoot well with the wrong twist and fat rifling, but we set my cousins up hunting with their 44 levers and but had clean kills out to 200. One is a Marlin and the other a Rossi. I Casted my Lee 310a for them and we got them to group nicely! They ended up using m RCBS 250K bullet. And I don't blame them. No need for anything bigger, just the want to have the biggest bullet around.

But it even with Handi Rifles or Scouts in 44, haven't seen one that wouldn't kill a deer out to 200 yards with a proper charged 240-250gr bullet. None might not be bench rest rifles, but they are hunting rifles.

Jerry

[Hanshi]

I like H110 in my .44 mag Super Blackhawk and Marlin. The Blackhawk really knows where to put those 200 grain JHPs but the 240 grains ones like the Marlin. I've killed deer with both. The Marlin (vintage 1975) will also shoot cast bullets okay but a 2" group at 100 yards is still a dream. Still, they'd stay on a deer's boiler room.

[6pt-sika]

I will never own a Henry when i can get a gun cheaper.

Price makes no difference to me as I have no intrest in any Henry that wasn't made in the 1860's .

[45-70marlin]

Here is a good thread I started a while ago that is interesting.. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?281704-44-mag-1-38-twist