444 win 94 and cast

[txpete]

just picked one up today:-D .win bb 94 444

going to need some data and recommend some moulds.right now all I have is a 240 gr pb swc mould.
thanks for any help.
pete
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/444001.jpg

[krag35]

Good choice. the only cast I have shot out of mine so far have been round balls, I'm happy with it so far.

[krag35]

I'll try it again with pic.

[357maximum]

My accuracy load for my micro marlin 444(S) is

Ranch Dog 265 grainer from RD himself (thank you again)
38 gr. of H4198
cci primer

for 1830 fps
std of 28

Hope that helps.

[Newtire]

just picked one up today:-D .win bb 94 444

going to need some data and recommend some moulds.right now all I have is a 240 gr pb swc mould.
thanks for any help.
pete
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v238/txpete/444001.jpg
Hi TxPete,
You might try about 17-20 gr. BlueDot with that 240 gr. bullet. I have a Marlin and it shoots it good with a Keith style PB at 17 gr. With it's gas checked brother I use 20.5 gr. (thrown from a Lee Dipper). If you send me your E-mail addy, I will send you a .Doc of some .444 loads I have worked up.

[Ranch Dog]

That sure is a pretty rifle Pete! I use Hodgdon's data for like bullet weights.

[Marlin Junky]

Lee 430310 is a winner in the Marlin. Powder range from SR4759 to H335. Full house: 50+ grains of spherical from AA2200/DP68 to H335. You should be able to break 2100 fps with AA2200 in the BigBore. DP68 is a couple percent slower than AA2200, so if you can get enough DP68 in the case, 2100 fps with the Lee boolit would be a cake walk. Re7, IMR4198 (never tried the "H" version) and XMR2015 are other winners in the .444. I'm sure there are other powders in the 4759 to H335 range that I haven't tried that will work well and I'd be inclined use them all with the exception of AA1680/WC680.

MJ

P.S. I Forgot to mention H322.

[charlie nz]

Hi Pete
A few years back when I owned and hunted with a Marlin 444 my most accurate cast load was the Lyman 431215 215 grain s/w cast check designed by Ray Thompson as a high speed bullet for the 44 mag.
This light bullet seemed to be well suited to the slow ,1 in 38 twist of the Marlin when backed by 17 grains of Unique for 1750 fps.
Accuracy wise [cast hard with gc.] it sure out shot any of the Keith designed 44 cal bullets in my rifle.
Charlie NZ

[Dutch4122]

Pete-

I also have the Black Shadow .444 with the 20 inch barrel. One thing you might want to check is the twist rate. Mine has a 1 turn in 12" twist with rifling that appears very similar to Micro-groove. I have heard that the first several hundred or so of these Black Shadow .444's left the factory with the 1 in 12" twist barrel. I was glad to find out that mine was set up with a twist rate that was more friendly towards the heavier boolits.

I have just started working with mine and it does like the heavier boolits over 300 grains. Also, the bore slugged at .431" on mine and prefers a throat filling slug at .433" to .434."

As far as molds go the only one I have tried so far is the Ballist-Cast 320 grn WFNGC. If you would like to try a few just send me a PM with your address and I could send you a few to try.

Just thought I'd pass the info along in case it might help.

[txpete]

thanks dutch.

[Marlin Junky]

The Marlin I mentioned above has a 1 in 20" twist and groups like a bolt gun with Lee 430310, SAECO 439 and RCBS 44-240-SWC. The latter of which actually drops bullets under 230 grains in the alloy I used for testing.

MJ

[LET-CA]

I don't have all the final loads established, but I've shot a variety of cast loads through my Winchester Timber Carbine (444) with pretty good results from all of them. (It has a 1 in 20 twist) Weights from 240 up through 325 grains. My recent favorite is the Lyman 429640 mould (no longer offered) which is dropping flat-nosed semi-wadcutters at 280 grains. I crimp with a Lee Factory Crimp die on the front driving band.

I haven't had a chance to shoot any of the Ranch Dog bullet design that was the subject of a recent group buy. My first mould cast bullets right at .431 diameter, but with the biggest meplat this side of Mars. . . It is similar to Lee's 430-310-RF bullet on the meplat. Ranch Dog's design called for something in the a little smaller across the front.

It's a great rifle, and will stay as my favorite for at least another week.:Fire:

[txpete]

thanks guys.mine in fact has the 1-12 twist.thanks for tip on checking the data sheet matt.
pete