marlin 1894 in 44 mag

6.5x55swm

6.5x55swm

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
102   0   0
just got a mint condition marlin(remlin) 1894 in 44 rem mag, i maybe getting a lee loader kit to make some ammo, not much here in NB for ammo. What issues if any would i have using a lee loader kit for a lever gun? What bullet would you recommend for deer?
 
I had a rifle like yours, it shot well with jacketed bullets but I never could get it to shoot well with cast, partly because of its large .431" bore. The Lee loader should make serviceable ammo, I've dabbled with a couple of the Lee kits and they work, but are tedious to use for any quantity. The most common available Jacketed bullet is the Hornady 240 gr. HP XTP. It is not recommended by Hornady as a deer bullet, because it tends to open a bit too quickly and penetration may suffer. Lots of deer have been killed with them though, and if you place that bullet in the ribs, they'll work OK. In any case, avoid the lightweight bullets, they open faster yet and penetrate less. I'd suggest you look for a jacketed 240 soft point, not hollow point. But they are very scarce in the stores. as for going heavier, I don't think the slow twist rate on that rifle is compatible with bullets much over 240 grains. Good luck!
 
Last edited:
I also echo Longwalker's advice on the Hornady XTP bullet. Put it in the right spot, and you'll soon be eating venison. Another Hornady bullet you might try, is the 265 gr. JSP. Very reliable expansion on deer sized game. Good performer on tough game, like wild boar. Hornady's 225 grain FTX bullet is supposed to be good, too. I have not used this bullet, so can't offer any personal experience with it. But reports sound promising.

Depending on availability, you might also consider Remington's 240 grain JSP. Have used many of these, with good success. Speer 240 gr. JSP is another good bullet.

Ultimately, it will boil down to local availability. But any of the bullets mentioned so far, will certainly put venison in the freezer.

Though rerlatively slow, the Lee Loader(I have several of these) does load good ammo. A major step up from the loader.....but still very simple and easy to use, is the Lee Hand Press. Uses any standard reloading dies. I've been using one of these for at least 30 years, alongside my other reloading gear. Relatively fast and produces good ammo. A handy reloading rig for camp use, too. Might be worth a look.


Al
 
Last edited:
It's a max 100yd gun. My Rossi 44 is no benchrest champion. What it is, a drain on my wallet. Typically I went to the range, shot centerfire, then lots of 22lr waiting for the rifle.i was working on to cool. Now it's 44mag, not rimfire. Too much fun, a.smile generator.

Lots of power for deer within its 100yd limitation, any weight range. Pistol bullets are not long range vld rifle bullets. Any jacketed bullet will absolutely smash a deer. Right now, due to the election of Brandon, anything gun related.is getting absorbed by the States. If you find jacketed 44 bullets, buy them, hold your nose if you must.

I'm loading 180xtp on 25gr 2400. That's still almost 2gr under max, but good.for just under 1900ft/sec in Rossi 92 20".
 
Longwalker said:
I had a rifle like yours, it shot well with jacketed bullets but I never could get it to shoot well with cast, partly because of its large .431" bore. The Lee loader should make serviceable ammo, I've dabbled with a couple of the Lee kits and they work, but are tedious to use for any quantity. The most common available Jacketed bullet is the Hornady 240 gr. HP XTP. It is not recommended by Hornady as a deer bullet, because it tends to open a bit too quickly and penetration may suffer. Lots of deer have been killed with them though, and if you place that bullet in the ribs, they'll work OK. In any case, avoid the lightweight bullets, they open faster yet and penetrate less. I'd suggest you look for a jacketed 240 soft point, not hollow point. But they are very scarce in the stores. as for going heavier, I don't think the slow twist rate on that rifle is compatible with bullets much over 240 grains. Good luck!
Click to expand...

I sell 240gr and 300gr .431, .432, and .433" gas checked cast bullets for 44 mag. Though I don't know if the larger diameter bullets will work in a Lee Loader hand tool.
 
I recently paid over $60/100 for Hornady .430 240 gr XTP. It was a case of "pay and cry" but it is the only bullet that groups well out of my oversize bored Marlin.
I wasted a lot of time trying to get cast bullets to shoot well even with beagled or lapped out moulds. I tried powder coating to no avail.
I would, if starting over, take a try with Jethunter's product but the XTP works well enough for me to stay with it.

I have no experience with the Lee Loader, I've been using an RCBS junior for over 4 decades. The crimp is important on the 44, I'm wondering how hard that is to accomplish with the Lee and how does the Lee handle oversize bullets ?
 
Longwalker said:
I had a rifle like yours, it shot well with jacketed bullets but I never could get it to shoot well with cast, partly because of its large .431" bore. The Lee loader should make serviceable ammo, I've dabbled with a couple of the Lee kits and they work, but are tedious to use for any quantity. The most common available Jacketed bullet is the Hornady 240 gr. HP XTP. It is not recommended by Hornady as a deer bullet, because it tends to open a bit too quickly and penetration may suffer. Lots of deer have been killed with them though, and if you place that bullet in the ribs, they'll work OK. In any case, avoid the lightweight bullets, they open faster yet and penetrate less. I'd suggest you look for a jacketed 240 soft point, not hollow point. But they are very scarce in the stores. as for going heavier, I don't think the slow twist rate on that rifle is compatible with bullets much over 240 grains. Good luck!
Click to expand...

that would be my POV as well.

In addition, the LEE loader doesn't FL resize the case, feeding (chambering) may be an issue. If all you are going to load is 44 Mag, it's hard to beat the LEE hand press and a 4 die set of LEE dies. I've used the LEE Loader and 310 Lyman tong tools, they get old fast. If you have a generous wallet, a 550 Dillon is pretty nice. I have one and just loaded and chrono tested a bunch of 44 Mag today. The Dillon 550 is not a beginners press, unless someone with some experience sets it up and goes through it with you.

As far as bullet, I used a 200 gr Hornady flat point jacketed in my muzzle loader, it did a fine job of harvesting a small buck. No, you can't eat up to the hole, it does a wicked job, penetrated and expanded.

PTyr4W6.jpg


7nKaq7L.jpg
 
I am shooting Speer 270gr Deep Curl JSP in my Marlin 1894, over Hodgdon LilGun (1630 fps from 16.5" barrel). Worked great on this year's whitetail buck, pass through at 100 yards
 
I used to load with the Lee hand tool. It will make serviceable ammo. A bit slow, but you will probably only be making 20 to 50 at a time.

My experience with the 44Mag was that even the hollow points exited the far side of a deer. Buy whatever expanding 240 gr bullet you can find.
 
Last edited:
deer

nowadays .44 ammo is hard to get, anything out there in mag at min. 250g is good, 300g is really good but impossible to find these days...reload your own .44 mag 250 grain min. for deer. You can start playing around with different powders, loads, bullets. ..44 rifles are only good up to 100 yds sights, maybe 200 with a scope...nothing bigger than deer. You can kill a bear with a .44 though up close
 
nowarningshot said:
It's a max 100yd gun. My Rossi 44 is no benchrest champion. What it is, a drain on my wallet. Typically I went to the range, shot centerfire, then lots of 22lr waiting for the rifle.i was working on to cool. Now it's 44mag, not rimfire. Too much fun, a.smile generator.

Lots of power for deer within its 100yd limitation, any weight range. Pistol bullets are not long range vld rifle bullets. Any jacketed bullet will absolutely smash a deer. Right now, due to the election of Brandon, anything gun related.is getting absorbed by the States. If you find jacketed 44 bullets, buy them, hold your nose if you must.

I'm loading 180xtp on 25gr 2400. That's still almost 2gr under max, but good.for just under 1900ft/sec in Rossi 92 20".
Click to expand...

Factory sights on Winchester Trapper AE in 44 mag top out at 200 yards. Using typical 240 grain jacketed soft point. And was a dime shooter at 25 yards using factory 44 special 246 gn RN lead.
 
mbogo3 said:
I was under the impression the Hornady 265gr FN was discontinued.
Click to expand...

It was.
It's been replaced partually by the 265gr FTX which is marketed towards/designed for specifically the 444 marlin.
Pricy bullets, over a buck a round here.

If anyone has hard data on expansion at 44mag velocities or load data that's a comparison between the FTX and the the old flat points, that would be appreciated.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom