.444 Marlin & .300 Wby

444shooter

444shooter

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Had my two favorite calibers out to the range today and they never disappoint me.

Rifle is a Marlin 444P with a Vari-X 1.5-5 and I was shooting the LeverEvolution factory ammo at 100yds.

444LEb.jpg


Next up is my Winchester M70 with a 3.5-10 Weaver Grandslam

300wbyb.jpg
 
444shooter said:
Had my two favorite calibers out to the range today and they never disappoint me.

Rifle is a Marlin 444P with a Vari-X 1.5-5 and I was shooting the LeverEvolution factory ammo at 100yds.
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Nice group!! I have a 444S with a Bushnell Scopchief VI, 1.5 - 4.5 mounted using Weaver pivot mounts.

Marlin444S444.jpg


I've never used any of the new Lever Evolution ammo but I do load the Hornady 265gr. My last target with them was a three shot group of 1.269" and they've performed well on Black Bear, as well as a number of Mule Deer and Moose.

I also load a 250gr SWGC cast and a 325gr SWGC cast and even with the Micro-Groove rifling, hard cast and sized 0.001" - 0.002" over bore diameter they're decent performers.
 
I was pleasantly surprised with my XLR in 444. Home rolled 265's will get three rounds sub MOA with my Leup FXII 4x33. The same load shoots 5" groups at 200 yds, not bad considering I can hardly see my home made targets!!
I've yet to take animal with it, but my chance to try is only weeks away.
 
I also have a 444s circa 1980. shoots beautifully, but from what i've heard on the 444 forum at marlinowners the 265 FP IL bullets are going to be nearly impossible to find anymore. apparently hornady has cut production of them some time ago and there is no talk of when they'll start up again. Ergo, as we speak im stocking up on casting supplies. from what i read the .444 really shines with cast. sad really though, i have a box of the 265g's and they do shoot beautifully. i'll probably use them to whomp a deer this year.
 
Another great bullet is the Speer 300gr. I have some and will be loading some up for testing. Hopefully they shoot as good as the LE.

The 270gr Gold Dot is another good bullet. Haven't tried them yet but I have been hearing good stories.

Who says leveractions can't be accurate!
 
mikeystew said:
I also have a 444s circa 1980. shoots beautifully, but from what i've heard on the 444 forum at marlinowners the 265 FP IL bullets are going to be nearly impossible to find anymore. apparently hornady has cut production of them some time ago and there is no talk of when they'll start up again. Ergo, as we speak im stocking up on casting supplies. from what i read the .444 really shines with cast. sad really though, i have a box of the 265g's and they do shoot beautifully. i'll probably use them to whomp a deer this year.
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I hope not!! Checking my supply/stock I see I have two boxes of bullets but I'll definately keep my eyes open for them at coming gun shows. I do have a couple of cast bullets I've been 'playing' around with but I prefer the Hornady 265gr FP's for hunting.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
I hope not!! Checking my supply/stock I see I have two boxes of bullets but I'll definately keep my eyes open for them at coming gun shows. I do have a couple of cast bullets I've been 'playing' around with but I prefer the Hornady 265gr FP's for hunting.
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Yeah, i know the feeling. im thinking about casting some soft hollowpoints for hunting now. but apparently since hornady dropped the 265 light magnum load, they are now "promoting" the use and manufacture of the gummy tips. nobody down south has been able to find the 265 FP bullets for months, so you can imagine how long it will take before we will see them again. the sad speculation is that they are going the way of the do-do because nobody but 444 owners buy them... too small of a market for big ol' hornady... f**kers
 
mikeystew said:
Yeah, i know the feeling. im thinking about casting some soft hollowpoints for hunting now. but apparently since hornady dropped the 265 light magnum load, they are now "promoting" the use and manufacture of the gummy tips. nobody down south has been able to find the 265 FP bullets for months, so you can imagine how long it will take before we will see them again. the sad speculation is that they are going the way of the do-do because nobody but 444 owners buy them... too small of a market for big ol' hornady... f**kers
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Just for the hell of it I think I'll see if I can make contact with them on their website and ask. I'll let you know what I find out.
 
mikeystew said:
Yeah, i know the feeling. im thinking about casting some soft hollowpoints for hunting now. but apparently since hornady dropped the 265 light magnum load, they are now "promoting" the use and manufacture of the gummy tips. nobody down south has been able to find the 265 FP bullets for months, so you can imagine how long it will take before we will see them again. the sad speculation is that they are going the way of the do-do because nobody but 444 owners buy them... too small of a market for big ol' hornady... f**kers
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I have enough stockpiled for awhile for the 444, but I would really hate to see them gone for good. I've been using them in the 44 mag as well. Guess I will have to start rationing them.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
Just for the hell of it I think I'll see if I can make contact with them on their website and ask. I'll let you know what I find out.
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this is a couple posts cut and pasted from marlinowners who did just that;

"I wrote Hornady and this is what they replied with regarding the next availability of the 265 FP... Not what I wanted to hear. We'll just have to find an alternate or hang on a waiting... Sad


From: sales [mailto:sales@hornady.com]
Sent: Monday, August 02, 2010 2:44 PM
To: #########x@embarqmail.com
Subject: RE: "Product Availability Inquiries" Contact from Scott #########

We apologize for the wait on these bullets. We are scheduled to be in production on them the middle of October and shipping close to the first of November. We do appreciate your patience with us on this.

Thank you!"

"Don't hold your breath waiting for those. When and if they hit the shelves again...then I'll believe it. "

"I have been tracking the production and releases of the 265 fp and I have to say right now, if you do not have your name HIGH on a waiting list, then you wont see any. The back order runs out to about a year or more. The 300 grain Speer Uni bullets are also getting backlogged."

And this is from American reloaders! we my friend may not see them again for a long time if ever:(
 
I feel somewhat lucky I've got near 500, for now!! If you need contact "Henry Nierychlo" here on the site. He just got me a set of dies that I couldn't even get for RCBS themselves!
 
Might have to start using cast myself. Is there a good supplier of cast bullets here in Canada for someone who doesn't have the facilities to cast themselves?
 
444shooter said:
Might have to start using cast myself. Is there a good supplier of cast bullets here in Canada for someone who doesn't have the facilities to cast themselves?
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In the 444 there's two primary cast bullets I use, a 250gr SWGC and a 325gr SWGC, both of which seem to do well in the limited trials I've done. I like reloading but casting bullets is right up there with watching paint dry, for me anyway:p. I get all my cast 'supplies' from a friend locally. I'd guess the downside is shipping costs. He's not too interested in 'expanding' but keeping that in mind, I'll PM you his contact info.
 
mikeystew said:
I also have a 444s circa 1980. shoots beautifully, but from what i've heard on the 444 forum at marlinowners the 265 FP IL bullets are going to be nearly impossible to find anymore. apparently hornady has cut production of them some time ago and there is no talk of when they'll start up again. Ergo, as we speak im stocking up on casting supplies. from what i read the .444 really shines with cast. sad really though, i have a box of the 265g's and they do shoot beautifully. i'll probably use them to whomp a deer this year.
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UPDATE:
Fearing the worst I contacted Hornady with reguards to the present and future availability of item # 4300 FP, their 265gr 44 cal bullet. I received the following response from Tonya Finch at Hornady;

Johnn,

The bullet has not been discontinued. I'm sorry to say that with the current demand for our products, we have been unable to get item 4300 produced. The bullet is tentatively schedualed for a Mid-October run date.

Thank you
 
Thats good news Johnn. it's tough to top those bullets performance on deer.

I just bought an NOE built mold for a 265 grain gaschecked cast bullet designed by ranchdog specifically for the .44 and .444 marlin microgroove barrels. from the tests i've seen over at castboolits and marlinowners with the right hardness it performs nearly exactly the same as the hornady 265. the cast version however expands a little less than the hornady but penetrates deeper.

Im now sitting on enough wheel weights also to make ALOT of them! and if they hit to the same POI as my hornady's i'll use them to practice ALOT and save my limited supply of jacketed bullets for deer season.
 
All manner of Heavyweight .432" ( or .430") cast bullets, mainly LBT designs of LFN or wfn gas check, available from M.T. Chambers' Supply in RIDERVILLE.
 
mikeystew said:
Thats good news Johnn. it's tough to top those bullets performance on deer.

I just bought an NOE built mold for a 265 grain gaschecked cast bullet designed by ranchdog specifically for the .44 and .444 marlin microgroove barrels. from the tests i've seen over at castboolits and marlinowners with the right hardness it performs nearly exactly the same as the hornady 265. the cast version however expands a little less than the hornady but penetrates deeper.

Im now sitting on enough wheel weights also to make ALOT of them! and if they hit to the same POI as my hornady's i'll use them to practice ALOT and save my limited supply of jacketed bullets for deer season.
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I've mentioned it previously, but for cast bullets in the 444 and 44 Mag, there's primarily two I use. A 250gr Keith style SW with gas check and a 325gr same style and again, with a gas check. Even taking into consideration the micro groove rifling of my 444S, slightly oversized and hard cast the shoot well:). From where you live and if you've been to gun shows in the Duncan area you may well have met the guy that I get my cast supplies from. Anyway, he's close at hand and you could save postal costs by picking them up if you happen to be in the area;):).
 
Johnn i have not been to a gun show yet... i know, i haven't yet lived... but im curious. im on Gabe and duncan is not far for me to travel to get supplies at all. I just ordered most of my gear from midsouth shooters supply and buffalo arms. i feel kind of bad actually because i had been talking to phishroy and planned on buying from him until i saw the price differences. sorry Roy.

Ben, this MT Chambers supply you mention has been brought up numerous times on here and i have not been able to figure out who, or what it is. Google brings up nothing. but my next buy will be a heavier bullet mold for sure. im thinking of maybe even trying the 6 cavity Lee .430-310. i have heard they drop larger and lucky me, my bore slugs out a tiny hair under .429 so i think i might have OK luck with it in a pinch if i size it to .431.
 
mikeystew said:
Johnn i have not been to a gun show yet... i know, i haven't yet lived... but im curious. im on Gabe and duncan is not far for me to travel to get supplies at all. I just ordered most of my gear from midsouth shooters supply and buffalo arms. i feel kind of bad actually because i had been talking to phishroy and planned on buying from him until i saw the price differences. sorry Roy.

Ben, this MT Chambers supply you mention has been brought up numerous times on here and i have not been able to figure out who, or what it is. Google brings up nothing. but my next buy will be a heavier bullet mold for sure. im thinking of maybe even trying the 6 cavity Lee .430-310. i have heard they drop larger and lucky me, my bore slugs out a tiny hair under .429 so i think i might have OK luck with it in a pinch if i size it to .431.
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The next show in Duncan is August 22nd. If you're able to make it I'll introduce you to the guy I get my cast bullet supplies from plus another guy from Lake Cowichan that puts out some good stuff, and also for reasonable prices. With both guys, quality, variety, availability and prices are top notch.

In addition to cast bullet supplies, as of late I've been dealing with a guy on site for other components, Henry Nierychlo. Prices are decent, availability is good and service is great.
 
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