444 Marlin Bullets

I believe that the Marlin requires a very short nosed bullet for decent feeding, prolly the best choice would be the LBT series of WFN bullets. Cast bullets like those used by Garrett, Big Bore and others.
 
I've had luck so far with Hornady XTPs.
I have 200, 240, and 300 gr.
Hornady 265 gr FPs as well.
Cabela's usually has some selection, I just
make a point of getting one box of something
every time I'm there.
 
In my 444S, althougth on a limited basis, there are two cast bullets I use. a 250gr GC and a 325gr GC. With the 325gr I have to crimp over the forward driving band to maintain a C.O.A.L. that will function/cycle through the action.

Even an 'appropriate' jacketed bullet like the 265gr Hornady hasn't been all that readily available lately. That being said, on my last visit to the Edmonton area and my 1st visit to the new Cabela's store there, I picked up two boxes.
 
Johnn Peterson said:
In my 444S, althougth on a limited basis, there are two cast bullets I use. a 250gr GC and a 325gr GC. With the 325gr I have to crimp over the forward driving band to maintain a C.O.A.L. that will function/cycle through the action.

Even an 'appropriate' jacketed bullet like the 265gr Hornady hasn't been all that readily available lately. That being said, on my last visit to the Edmonton area and my 1st visit to the new Cabela's store there, I picked up two boxes.
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I don't have a .444 Marlin but my son does. I reload for him. Henry at Budget Shooter Supply gets 265 gr. Hornady's for me and he also got me some of the 265 gr. FTX bullets. My son shot a buck with one of those recently. Man they hit hard. The Hornady 240/265 gr. bullets are usually at WSS but Henry has them as well. His prices are good and he ships fast.

My son wanted to shoot his Marlin more for less so I cast some 250 gr. gas checked bullets for him. It has been a while since I have been casting. Was kind of fun to be doing it again.

250 gr. Gas Checks like this, John Peterson?
429244.jpg




You have to seat them quite deeply to stay within the COL
444.jpg
 
Rugerman said:
I don't have a .444 Marlin but my son does. I reload for him. Henry at Budget Shooter Supply gets 265 gr. Hornady's for me and he also got me some of the 265 gr. FTX bullets. My son shot a buck with one of those recently. Man they hit hard. The Hornady 240/265 gr. bullets are usually at WSS but Henry has them as well. His prices are good and he ships fast.

My son wanted to shoot his Marlin more for less so I cast some 250 gr. gas checked bullets for him. It has been a while since I have been casting. Was kind of fun to be doing it again.

250 gr. Gas Checks like this, John Peterson?
429244.jpg




You have to seat them quite deeply to stay within the COL
444.jpg
Click to expand...

Not quite,;) but here's a quick scan of the two I mentioned earlier.

44bullets.jpg


The one on top is 325gr and the bottem one, 250gr.
 
300 grain Speer flat points hit like big hammers. I loaded them over a stiff load of H335. Serious moose and bear medicine. They held together exceptionally well at very close range and penetrated over three feet at times. If I ever come into another .444, that will be the bullet I use again (if it is still around).
 
clover-phil said:
Does anyone have any 444 bullets they don't need anymore?

I know Nosler used to make a partition bullet for this calibre.

It seems pretty slim pickings now for buying any grain of bullets for the original 1-38 twist rate Marlin 444
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If you want jacketed bullets then there are a few but not many. If you want cast bullets then you are looking in the wrong place. www.castboolits.com is the place to look.

Myself and a few others have run multiple group buys for various weights for the 444 Marlin and they are all tack drivers. Secret to the older 444's is to size .432 and have the correct length and away you go.

Don't let anyone tell you they can't be made to shoot accurately.

IM002126.jpg


IM002125.jpg



I designed a light weight cast bullet that is hollow point or solid and it works great.
444-1.jpg


Myself and another member designed this one as a multipurpose bullet with three crimp grooves. Top groove is for .444 Marlin, center is for .44 mag rifle and lower is for .44 mag revolvers. My .444 and .44 mag rifles love this bullet as does my model 629 and redhawk revolvers.
It has taken many animals over the last couple of years.
444.jpg


Just a couple of drawings I did for a light weight .444 bullet. One with tumble lube and one with regular lube groove.
BothC434-210-RFHP.jpg


Also look at Ranch Dog's website, he has a few different weights that he offers and they work excellent also. He prefers the Tumble lube for easy lube application so most of his bullets are that style. You can also get his bullet designs in regular Lube grooves from NOE in Utah and he can hollow point them if you want. You can get the correct Tumble Lube sizer .432 on Ranch Dogs site and they work great. http://www.ranchdogoutdoors.com/

I had a Lyman .432 sizer die made for me from a member on castboolits named Buckshot, don't remember the exact cost but I know it was cheap, 30 bucks plus shipping I think.
 
Rugerman said:
Those are nice looking bullets! Have you hunted with them? Results?
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So far, the only bullets I've used hunting are jacketed. On Moose I found that the initial 240gr factory loads didn't offer the results I'd hoped for. Handloads using the Hornady 265gr FP I found to be a considerable improvement.
 
If your looking to buy some cast boolits, I would suggest ben hunchak's bullets. They are hard cast and very well put together. As well as he is a splendid gentlemen to deal with with good prices and fast shipping.

I use his bullets for my 45-70 from 420 gr to a 500 gr, with great results. Send him a PM.
 
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