444 Marlin BFR revolver let the fun begin!

[Ramjet-SS]

First off Kudos to the fine folks at the Magnum Research Custom Shop. They are a top notch bunch of folks. They really treated me well after we had some difficulty converting the first caliber of choice. Again first class folks.

I had my 30-30 BFR converted to a big bore that caliber being the 444 Marlin.

Brass and dies are on the way. I do have some loaded cast bullet loads and had an opportunity to get some shooting off hand at 25 yards. The gun is smooth and very accurate. The plan is to mount a Burris scope on it tomorrow then start load development and do some accuracy testing over the next few weeks.

I will report back as things develop.

[Earlwb]

Sounds like lots of fun there in the works. Do let us know how it goes. That .444 Marlin is a strong cartridge.

[Shuz]

What is the length of your bbl? Reloder 7 works very well in all of the .444 Marlin rifles I've had, but not so sure if it will work in a real short bbl.

[ole 5 hole group]

Damn, that large cylinder revolver is no light weight to begin with - mount the scope base, then a scope with rings? I'd need two grandkids to carry that hogleg for me.:wink:

Enjoy it - you're only young once!!!

[Ramjet-SS]

Well the heft is a curse and a blessing. You'd shoulder Bandelaro Hokster makes carting easy even at 60 years young. the heft help soak up recoil.

[Ramjet-SS]

The Barrel is 10".

[ole 5 hole group]

Well, I guess you have no need going to a gym to keep fit - totting that hogleg around and doing 12 ounce curls will keep any 60 years young guy fit.:wink:

[Earlwb]

Well, I guess you have no need going to a gym to keep fit - totting that hogleg around and doing 12 ounce curls will keep any 60 years young guy fit.:wink:

Nah! You just get a compact version. Easier to tote that way.
:D

http://i65.tinypic.com/xle7u0.jpg

[Ramjet-SS]

Nah! You just get a compact version. Easier to tote that way.
:D

http://i65.tinypic.com/xle7u0.jpg

7.5"

Give us some velocity numbers on this with the shorter BBl?

[Earlwb]

Actually it is a 6 inch barrel. But I guess it is 7.5 inch with the cylinder. Talk about a spectacular flame burst out the front when you pull the trigger. It is blinding in low light. My example is a 45-70.

Yeah I just got in a chronometer but I haven't had a chance to try it out yet.

But a 45-70 with a 300 grain factory load is about 1450 fps using a 7.5 inch barrel.

The recoil with my BFR isn't terrible though, it does feel a little less than firing some .44 magnum pistols though. Although I remember a S&W with a 6 inch barrel many years ago, and it felt pretty mild and controllable. I think that the grips are the main hold back for some guns, they slip too much and you can't get a decent grip with them.

I have a .69 caliber flintlock pistol. If I fire it using a 750 grain mini-ball it can take some skin off of your hand around where the lock plate is. You have to hold it just right or it draws blood. it actually feels like it has more recoil than the BFR does.

I think that the .444 Marlin is like a souped up .44 super magnum. it has a longer case for more powder giving you about 600 to 1000 fps more muzzle velocity than a 44 mag can do. So in the BFR it ought to feel quite comfortable shooting it. The recoil will be very manageable.

[Ramjet-SS]

Yea I shot some Barnes 225 grain they were smoking out that 10" BBL but yes recoil was in the from of muzzle rise but it was very manageable.

Muzzle led blast is significant with the 10" the 6" must be spectaculars!

I will have some numbers by the end of the week. Jwords and boolits over a variety of loads.

[44man]

Heck of a project! What twist rate did you get?
The next I want is the 30-30 since I made a bunch of molds up to 193 gr.
I do have the 45-70 in 10" and it is easy to shoot. That is still short and powder was hard to find to work, settled on 4759 and it should work in the 30-30, what I used in the TC Tender I had.
My 317 gr in the 45-70 gets 1632 fps. 1" or less at 100 yards and down to 3/8" at 50. I had to make a longer transfer bar to get down to a 19 ounce pull-Yeah, as good as an electric trigger.
The .444 needs a longer barrel too, interested in how it does. Custom shop from MR comes with a great trigger, much better then production models.
Only thing I recommend is change out the Ruger hammer spring for a Wolfe, 26# for LP mags and if you use LR go 28#. Instant accuracy improvement!

[Ramjet-SS]

1-16" so at the 444 velocities the 300s should do very well.

[Ramjet-SS]

Here is some data gathered so far;

240 SWC Lasercast bullet over 15.3 grains of Unique with pillow ticking filler 1.5 grams ran an average velocity of 1332 FPS . Felt recoil from this gun was very low with this load.

300 Grain WFN GC loaded over 51.5 grains of AA2200 gave me an average velocity of 1717 FPS this load is very mana gable but hits my steel back stop with authority.

I will shoot some accuracy tests this weekend with a few more loads.

Gun=BFR 10" Revolver 444 Marlin

[44man]

Got to see if I can corral a "T" rex for you! :kidding:

[oger]

You are crazy, I gave up shooting JD Jones contenders because my joints were beginning to weld themselves together. Have fun.

[Ramjet-SS]

You are crazy, I gave up shooting JD Jones contenders because my joints were beginning to weld themselves together. Have fun.

Actually the heft of this gun does much to control the recoil and unlike the contenders it is not straight back through the wrist elbow and shoulder. It is not as bad as it sounds.......really.

[shorty500M]

Owning and having shot both the 'Tender and BFR with same loads on same day, the BFR is easier on my joints

[Ramjet-SS]

Well an update and observations;

I loaded some Barnes X 200 grain with top end Reloader7 loads they averaged 1975 FPS but thier was allot of muzzle flash. Accuracy was great.

Same bullet over a close to max load of of 3031 and the average velocity was 1955 FPS low muzzle flash and great accuracy under an inch at 50 from a solid rest and of course the gun is scoped.

Next step is to cast up some 310 grain RF from a Lee mould gas check and load them up and test with a few different powders.

[44man]

Very impressive so far.

[Ramjet-SS]

Today I cast up a pile of the 310 Grain RF gas check from a Lee mould. Loaded them over 47.0 grains of IMR3031. Five shot string ran an average of 1666 FPS from the 10" BFR. The recoil is not fun at all. Accuracy was very good. I would consider this load for big bears or moose or in Africa but it is far too much for deer in my opinion.

[Ramjet-SS]

Two loads tested today;

#1 240 Grain Keith style SWC plain base loaded over 16.9 grains of Unique. 1431 Average Velocity but a very Standard deviation of 5 FPS. Excellent accuracy and easy to shoot.

#2 315 grain RF GC loaded over 14.7 Grains of Unique. Average velocity from the 10" BBl was 1304 but the standard deviation was very low at 5 FPS! The accuracy was excellent on both these loads under 2" and 50 yards from a shooting stick rest.

Both of the above bullets were sized at .430".
Both loads used Federal 210 Lg rifle primers.

Recoil was real nice and easy. The 315 grain bullet moved my steel gong with authority the 240 did well but of course not as abrupt as the 315 grain bullet.