.444 Marlin Bullet (new ? asked)

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21 July 2009, 00:50

ledvm

.444 Marlin Bullet (new ? asked)

A good bear bullet for a .444 Marlin???

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
J. Lane Easter, DVM

A born Texan has instilled in his system a mind-set of no retreat or no surrender. I wish everyone the world over had the dominating spirit that motivates Texans.– Billy Clayton, Speaker of the Texas House

No state commands such fierce pride and loyalty. Lesser mortals are pitied for their misfortune in not being born in Texas.— Queen Elizabeth II on her visit to Texas in May, 1991.

21 July 2009, 07:11

buckeyeshooter

280 grain swift A frame.

21 July 2009, 17:19

POP

270 Speer gold dot

21 July 2009, 20:28

aliveincc

The 270 Speer GD impressed me when I tested it in my 44. I shot it into my test medium at close range and it held together VERY well and retained alot of weight. Looked pretty too!

22 July 2009, 10:21

Winchester 69

Hardcast 300gr WFN with a gascheck.

22 July 2009, 19:06

ledvm

quote:
Hardcast 300gr WFN with a gascheck.

Are these suitable for large game like elk & bear?

What brand do you like or do you cast your own?

What powder & charge do you load in yours?

I load these already in mine for shooting hogs behind dogs at close range. I just load thses with 12 gr of Unique.

22 July 2009, 21:21

aliveincc

I've had excellent dealings w/ Beartooth bullets. If you go to the website, you WILL learn more a/b cast bullets than you ever dreamed.
I talked w/ Marshall Stanton this week when I ordered 416 bullets for my Taylor. He gave me additional info and insight for my loadings and I highly recommend Beartooth.
I've also had good success w/ Leadheads in KS
and Montana bullet works.

23 July 2009, 08:17

Winchester 69

quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
Are these suitable for large game like elk & bear?

What brand do you like or do you cast your own?

What powder & charge do you load in yours?

I load these already in mine for shooting hogs behind dogs at close range. I just load thses with 12 gr of Unique.

I would not attempt to hunt tough, dangerous game with jacketed pistol bullets. What's suggested will be far more effective.

I don't hunt, and I load BHN 11 cast bullets for my 44 Spec and 44 mag rifle; the rifle's magazine, box type, will not accept 300 gr bullets.

I don't have any .444 Marlin loads.

23 July 2009, 08:23

wrongtarget

+1 of the 265gr Hornady FP or Beartooth bullets. Someday I'll hit that damned penny!!

23 July 2009, 10:07

Frank Martinez

Another vote for the heavy hard-cast in the 444.
I got mine from this gentleman.

chuck williams <chlodama@hotmail.com> Add to Addresses
Frank

23 July 2009, 18:40

Hot Core

Hey WrongTarget and Frank Martinez, Are you able to use those Lead Bullets with the normal "Trim Length"on the Case? Or did you have to shorten the Case a bit?

That sure is some fine shooting.

23 July 2009, 21:33

wrongtarget

Thanks, works fine at normal length in my H&R, dunno about a levergun tho, I've not read a problem with case length for the 355gr BTB bullets, they mention neck turning on 405gr for the .444 tho.

http://www.beartoothbullets.co.../archive_field.htm/7

http://www.beartoothbullets.co...lletselect/index.htm

23 July 2009, 23:29

Lorenzo

Hornady makes a special bullet for the 444 Marlin.

I think it's the 265 grainer.

L

23 July 2009, 23:29

Reloader

What about the 265grn HDY FTX?

I know several guys that are loving them in their H&R 444s on deer sized critters, but I haven't heard of anyone using them on bigger game.

I'm going to try the 325 FTX in 45-70 for large bodied whitetail this fall(hopefully

) From the nice bucks I've seen go down with the .458 325grn FTX, the performance has been good so far.

Reloader

24 July 2009, 19:27

ledvm

WrongTarget,
Which BearTooth bullet is that 355 grainer specifically? I like the looks of it and want to try it.

24 July 2009, 19:42

Hot Core

Hey WrongTarget, The OCL has to be 2.57" or less to cycle through a Marlin Lever Action. If you have a chance to measure one of them, I'd be much obliged.
-----

Hey Ledvm, I've seen a lot of Bears Killed with 308Wins using 165gr Hornady Bullets and 358Wins using 200gr Hornady Bullets, but none with the 444Mar.

So, the following is speculation on my part. I would feel well prepared with either a Heavy Hard Cast Lead Bullet, or a 250gr Nosler Partition in my 444Mar, but have not actually tried either of them on a Bear.

Best of luck to you.

24 July 2009, 21:05

ledvm

My .444 is a Win 94 big bore in the little short version. Can't remember its specific name.

Anyway, its bore .430 not .429 . So I have been shooting the only Hard Cast Lead I could find in .430, a brand I got out of Midway can't remeber name with out going to my gunshop and looking.

I remember now that I did not start off with Bear Tooth cause they were .429 .

How important is it for me to shoot .430 buttlets?

24 July 2009, 21:45

wrongtarget

It's a bit long then as I load it at 2.631", but all the data listed shows it loaded to standard 444 length.

Beartooth offers the 355gr sized from .429" to .432"

http://www.beartoothbullets.co...splay.php?catagory=4

http://www.loadswap.com/displa...355&cartridge_id=104

http://www.beartoothbullets.co...ve_tech_notes.htm/17

http://www.beartoothbullets.co...ve_tech_notes.htm/19

http://www.beartoothbullets.co...ve_tech_notes.htm/28

http://www.beartoothbullets.co...extras/marlindia.htm

http://www.beartoothbullets.co...ve_tech_notes.htm/44

24 July 2009, 21:59

ledvm

quote:
Beartooth offers the 355gr sized from .429" to .432"

I stand corrected! I see the drop down box on the web-page offers more than .429 . Thanks for the correction.

24 July 2009, 22:19

wrongtarget

Don't expect Beartooth bullets to arrive real soon, most of my orders have taken a month, sometimes several months depending on what they have in stock at the time, but I always get what I ordered.

24 July 2009, 22:34

aliveincc

Beartooth will usu tell you an app order time. I tried to order 44 bullets earlier this year and they honestly told me it would be 3-4 months due to their lack of inventory. I spoke w/ the owner this week and he told me he has been cranking out the bullets and my particular order would be based on what he had in stock.
Another GOOD source for cast is Montana Bullet works. The owner took my order for the 44 bullets mentioned above. Nice bullets, but I don't think MTB takes credit cards. I sent him a check.

25 July 2009, 01:11

buckeyeshooter

quote:
Originally posted by buckeyeshooter:
ledvm,
I have the same 444 --- the timber carbine winchester big bore. The larger diameter leaders will shoot ok. I always like jacketed bullets for game, just my personal bias . Good luck on your hunt.

25 July 2009, 02:38

Hot Core

Thanks WrongTarget, Looks like some Case Trimming would be needed for them to cycle properly through the action.

25 July 2009, 03:25

wrongtarget

All the loads listed on page 13 for the 355gr bullet show a trim length of 2.215" which is the standard length in my books, COL is 2.57", Beartooth did their load work in the 444S.

http://www.loadswap.com/commen...e=Rifle_Data&id=1204

25 July 2009, 19:52

Hot Core

Thanks again. Excellent!

28 July 2009, 21:12

ledvm

Ordered me some 300 gr Beartooths. Want to use H4198 (unless y'all talk me outa it). Anyone have a load or a suggested starting charge for it?

29 July 2009, 19:47

ledvm

No one gonna help me out with my starting load question???

29 July 2009, 22:00

DIXIEDOG

I would contact Beartooth bullets they will help you out with a starting load.

30 July 2009, 00:21

wrongtarget

Geez, do we have to load em for ya too!!

Try Hodgdon's 300gr jacketed data, they use Rem brass and 9½ primer.

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

30 July 2009, 01:03

aliveincc

ledvm, If you have never loaded cast, do yourself a favor and go to the Beartooth website. It has a boat load of info. If you still have questions, call Marshall Stanton @ Beartooth. He is a WEALTH of knowledge and easy to talk to.
He WILL have the info you need and much more!
He also has a book that is very informative. And no, I don't have ANY affiliation, association or otherwise w/ Beartooth, I just like doing business w/ good AMERICAN companies.

30 July 2009, 01:30

ledvm

Thanks everyone. Sorry to bother wrongtarget.

30 July 2009, 02:07

wrongtarget

No bother, just ribbin ya!!

31 July 2009, 01:02

jackfish

quote:
Originally posted by ledvm:
Ordered me some 300 gr Beartooths. Want to use H4198 (unless y'all talk me outa it). Anyone have a load or a suggested starting charge for it?

444 Marlin
300 grain Beartooth LMN DCG seated to 2.62" and crimped with a Lee Factory Crimp Die
Remington brass
Remington 9 1/2 L primer
40 grains H4198 START
45 grains H4198 MAXIMUM 2200 fps