Lee 310 grain RF in .444 Marlin?

[Landric]

Howdy,

I'm currently shooting a H&R Handi-Rifle in .444 Marlin. I'm interested in picking up a new Ballard rifled Marlin .444 levergun. Does anyone shoot handloads with the Lee 310 grain RF in a .444 lever? If so, how is feeding? Any COL issues? Any general opinions on the .444 Marlin levergun?

Thanks!

[Hondo Lane]

I picked up a .444 marlin a couple years ago but so far I have not tried cast bullets. Overall they are a sturdy reliable rifle. I used mine this year to fill a antlerless mule deer tag. I shot a spring-born buck at about 60 yards. I was using 240 grn. softpoint .44 bullets and it pretty well exploded on impact. I hit behind the right shoulder and killed the deer but ruined the shoulder. Just goes to show that you need to use the right bullet for the right job.

[WyrTwister]

I picked up a .444 marlin a couple years ago but so far I have not tried cast bullets. Overall they are a sturdy reliable rifle. I used mine this year to fill a antlerless mule deer tag. I shot a spring-born buck at about 60 yards. I was using 240 grn. softpoint .44 bullets and it pretty well exploded on impact. I hit behind the right shoulder and killed the deer but ruined the shoulder. Just goes to show that you need to use the right bullet for the right job.


Pushing a .44 Mag handgun bullet too fast ?

God bless
Wyr

[Whistler]

The Lee 310gn is very suitable for .444 Marlin. I use it extensively in my BFR revolver, but the previous owner of my BFR used the same load for his rifle with great success. You can also check out the Ranch Dog 350gn molds, they drop larger which is usually good for marlin rifles.

[Beerd]

Not counting custom moulds, the Lee 310 is second only to a Ranch Dog bullet.
No feeding problem in my Marlin lever gun, but I have to seat deeper than normal and crimp on the nose to chamber. Over all length 2.465" vs the usual 2.58" for jacketed.
Loaded with H4198 I get 2100 ft/sec and it "Hits like a school bus".
..

[Hondo Lane]

Pushing a .44 Mag handgun bullet too fast ?

God bless
Wyr

Yes, I launched these bullets at about 2150fps with 54 grns of IMR4895. These bullets were designed to expand at about 1200-1500 fps out of a handgun or .44 mag rifle. They are very accurate though with groups of 2" at 100 yds. I will have to quit using them in the .444. I also have used these bullets with a sabot in my inline muzzel loader. With 100 grns of Pyrodex. I wonder what speed they are traveling? I have yet to connect on a deer with this set-up. They could be too fast for the ML too. Anyone know?

[Tony65x55]

Not counting custom moulds, the Lee 310 is second only to a Ranch Dog bullet.
No feeding problem in my Marlin lever gun, but I have to seat deeper than normal and crimp on the nose to chamber. Over all length 2.465" vs the usual 2.58" for jacketed.
Loaded with H4198 I get 2100 ft/sec and it "Hits like a school bus".
..

Right! I used the Lee 310 for over two decades as my go to bullet in the .444. I've switched to the Ranch Dog because it gives excellent performance, is a tad more accurate and has all the crimp grooves in the right place. That isn't "damning with faint praise." I think the RD bullets are AWESOME. The Lee 310 is only a bit less awesome. When it was the only bullet I had, it never failed to bring down my moose, deer and bear on demand.

[Landric]

For anyone interested I'm trying to get a NOE group buy going for a close of the Lee 430-310-RF. Here is the link:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=99962

[1Shirt]

The 310 Lee shoots well out of my early 444 Marlin. Mostly shoot it over 2400, and at vols between 15-1800 fps. Use nothing but Lar's lube (Can-red), and blts at .431.:coffee:
1Shirt!

[siamese4570]

Landric: don't know about that boolit in the 444 but I used it in a ruger super blackhawk. at 1100 fps it would penetrate until tomorrow. i was shooting it thru water filled milk jugs to test penetration. using the 330 gr gould boolit in my 4570, the boolit would stop in the 6th jug. i couldn't stop the lee boolit in 12 jugs. at 444 velocities it ought to be handy if you find godzilla in your flowerbed! :)

siamese4570