light loads for levers

[gerrycan]

Hi all, I just bought 375w and 444 marlin.
my local pistol club allows rifles using lead to 1500 fps. I have the Hogdon powders & Unique & Red Dot and I will be using Lee cast.Could I have your input on loads etc. actual experience preferred .Thanks in advance Gerry in Oz[downunder]

[Jon K]

gerrycan,

I assume the Lee is the .379-250gr, then with 10 gr/Unique is a fun and accurate load.

Can't comment on the 444.

Jon

[dnepr]

10 gr of green dot behind a lee 310 gr sized to .3105 without a gascheck works pretty good in my 444

[winelover]

8.0 to 8.5 grains of Unique with a 240 to 250 grain plain base cast boolet does the job on deer in my Marlin 44 Mag 1894.

Winelover

[helice]

My 444 is a Wincester 94 Big Bore with 20" barrel.

LBT OWC 166 gr over 13 grains of 700X gave 1635'/s. You'll have to slow that down a bit.

429244 Lyman 255 grain over 13 grains of 231 W gave 1309'/s.
429244 Lyman 255 grain over 13 grains of RedDot gave 1362'/s.

LBT LFN 280 grain over 13 grains RedDot gave 1320'/s.
LBT LFN 280 grain over 13 grains of 700X gave 1417'/s.

LBT WFN 300 grain over 13 grains of 700X or RedDot gave 1330'/s.

These loads are quite accurate and they seem to hit with some authority. Hope this helps. Helice

[hickstick_10]

check out the IMR trail boss loads

Your barrel doesnt look like it just had a chimney fire like when you shoot unique

[gerrycan]

thanks for all your info ,once more to the rescue. Gerry.

[Newtire]

I loaded up and shot a great many loads using the Lee 200 RF and 12 grains of Unique. I never measured the speed but will as soon as I get up to the range after the rain lets up. It was very accurate at 50 yds.

[jimkim]

Try some of these. http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

[Centaur 1]

check out the IMR trail boss loads

Your barrel doesnt look like it just had a chimney fire like when you shoot unique

I loaded light loads for the first time last weekend in my 30-30, I loaded 6 grains of bullseye under a 100 grain bullet. The inside of my barrel is BLACK!!!!! It won't stop me from using it, light loads are fun as heck, and I shoot them at the local indoor pistol range.

[Newtire]

If you want to see some smoke, use some Liquid Alox on your boolits. I personally don't have any troubles with Unique.

[Dunesman]

I used to use 9-grains of the "old" Unique behind a 205-grain (standard) cast bullet in my 1892 .44-40. This light load was sweet, accurate, and very easy on those precious, thin cases. Took a ton of marmots with it. Never had the problem with Unique that others complain of. And the "new" Unique seems a very clean powder in all my guns. No more "flammable dirt" according to my results. YMMV.