444 Marlin

pretty much what he said^^^^^^

I load a cast and powder coated bullet that weighs in at 320 grains for all my shooting needs. I dont load them hot as its not needed for the ranges I shoot but they still hit like the hammer of thor.

Pm me If you would like more info.
 
Go to the Marlin owners forum, lots of info about the 444 on there. I got a master reloading table for the 444 from there. My favourite load is a 265 Hornady FP with 47g of H4198, fed primer. It's a max load, start lower. Works well on anything in this continent.
 
Years ago, I acquired a 444S



but was never too thrilled with the performance using the 240gr factory Remington loads. That changed considerably when I started reloading Hornady 265gr bullets for it and that's what I was using on the last Moose hunt with my Dad.





Since then, it has also performed well on Deer and Bear. The low power variable scope using Weaver pivot mounts was added early on, shortly after I got the rifle.
And, just for a change of pace, there's a couple of cast bullets I run through it once in a while.



A 250gr and a 325gr 'Keith' style semi wadcutters.
 
I used 55 gr of h335 pushing a 300 gr Barnes original for years . Gave me 2050 fps over the chrono . It hits with authority and has put a lot of meet in my freezer . The 265 gr hornady bullets work well to . I am using cast bullets now , mostly the 310 gr lee . Still working up loads but so far I have them going 1600 fps with reasonable accuracy but not at the 2 inch groups the Barnes originals gave me
 
Here are some pics of a bullet I have hung onto for the past 30+ years,fired from my uncles 444S. Hornady 265 gr.FP backed up by 43.4 gr. of IMR 4198 for a velocity of + or - 2100 fps.Retained weight is 247 gr. and proof of the excellent performance this bullet is capable of providing.Definitely gave a two year old bull moose a splitting headache, range is still disputed but had to be between 50and 100 yards after I paced off the distance provided from a very excited shooter.I just love this rifle and round, my uncle still has this rifle,hoping to get it from him one day.
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Marlin 444S

Also own a 444S, 1977 model, bought it new in 1978. The only reason I buy the Rem 240's is to plink and keep the brass (and now, at $50/box, I don't even do that much anymore). I reload and have developed a super-accurate load of 42.9 Grains IMR4198 over CCI primers topped with a Hornady 265 Grain FP. It's not a "Hot" load by any means, but I can reliably achieve less-than-MOA @ 100 yards with it, and none of the deer (and the one bear) I've ever harvested has complained very much. And the load is a whole bunch less than the max specified.

With the 444, you don't need high velocity, just pretty much accuracy. While some will claim effectiveness out to 175 - 200 yards (and I have no reason to doubt them), here in Ontario with the bush I never see shots more than 75 yds or so max in the field.

Also, I tend to baby my almost-40-year-old "JM" 444 quite a bit, it still looks pretty much like the day I unboxed it, and the moderate loads aren't as tough on the barrel as the high powder charge shots.

OldNewGuy
 
OldNewGuy said:
Also own a 444S, 1977 model, bought it new in 1978. The only reason I buy the Rem 240's is to plink and keep the brass (and now, at $50/box, I don't even do that much anymore). I reload and have developed a super-accurate load of 42.9 Grains IMR4198 over CCI primers topped with a Hornady 265 Grain FP. It's not a "Hot" load by any means, but I can reliably achieve less-than-MOA @ 100 yards with it, and none of the deer (and the one bear) I've ever harvested has complained very much. And the load is a whole bunch less than the max specified.

With the 444, you don't need high velocity, just pretty much accuracy. While some will claim effectiveness out to 175 - 200 yards (and I have no reason to doubt them), here in Ontario with the bush I never see shots more than 75 yds or so max in the field.

Also, I tend to baby my almost-40-year-old "JM" 444 quite a bit, it still looks pretty much like the day I unboxed it, and the moderate loads aren't as tough on the barrel as the high powder charge shots.

OldNewGuy
Click to expand...
I wholeheartedly agree with you on this one.
 
A 300 grain Speer soft point loaded over a stiff dose of H335 used to be my moose load of choice. I am sure a deer would not know the difference.
 
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