hi!this my frist message.likewhat you have got here looks good. my PC skills ar not. iwould like to know if any one share some good loads for .444marlin in T/C 14IN. barrel 180 .240 gr. for deer . what kind of yardage would be expected. thanks for leting me in! DEN MITCH
Posts: 11 | Location: herod ill. u.s.a. | Registered: 25 January 2002
I`m at work now , but I`ll get back to you after the weekend . I had my 14" bullbarrel rechambered to .444 Marlin (was a .44 Mag.)a few years ago , I haven`t used it that much but have worked up some reliable loads !I`d suggest to use a heavier bullet , it is not a flat shooting cartridge from the beginning so why give up penetration and kinetic energy ?
Welcome to this forum. I don't have a T/C but I have a Marlin guide rifle in .444 Marlin. I use bullet 240 gr with 56 gr of powder. I don't know If the barrel of your T/C are ventilated or not. But more you used heavy bullet more you have heavy recoil. You can use light loads for all bullet weight but don't forget if you reload yourself to crimp a little bit more neck of case. The case will be not full of powder with light loads, this in order to have a very good burning powder. All rifle powder are slow burning powders.
dennis n. mitchell and J�rgen, I will be very interrested to know your feelings after shot this cartridge in your T/C. I love big bore handguns .454 Casull and .50 AE but I have no idea of recoil energy in a T/C. And most important thing if you can handle it without problems. Thanks to let me know smth.
------------------ BER007 Keep the faith in any circumstances ------------------------ BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM
Posts: 831 | Location: BELGIUM | Registered: 23 May 2002
Jurgen, thanks for the reply.Impressed somebody that far away took interest in my topic. I also rechambered a 44mag. to 444.but I used carbine 22in.barrel down to 14 in. I have worked up some really good loads,but all for the longer barrel and slow burning powders. I haven't seen any loads listed for some of the faster pistol loads. And I know there is alot to be gained but a guy has to be carefull with some of those powders. I use the 35 rem. alot in the tc. and the recoil is managable but I am sure the 444.would be a wrist twister. Must be nice to be a bike dealer,ride something new every day! I ride a 2000 Triumph denmitch
Posts: 11 | Location: herod ill. u.s.a. | Registered: 25 January 2002
BER007, blows me a way that my first rplies are so far away. Thanks for the replie. I have uses the 444. marlin for a long time in a T/C carbine for years. The 240 gr. at 150 yards is superior to most deer hunting rounds. And with care and bullet placement 200 and 250 yds. is not out of reason. I took a real nice 10 pointer buck this year at 210 yds. You are absolutely right about the crimp, I have found the heaver the better. Any crimp is better than no crimp in this bruser. I don't full resize my cases either just enought to seat the bullet. I have found these to be more accurate in tighter groups than the uncrimped. I guess it makes more consistant powder burn,but I don't know really why. But I have no experience at all with the faster pistol powders. Like I told JuGEN I haven't seen any listings for the 444. short barrels using the faster powders. I do know a guy would have to be carefull when working up such a load. I would like to get this worked out so I can use during pistol deer season. I have always liked the look and feel of the BIG BORES.!At short yardages and all that big led energy they can't be matched. DENMITCH
Posts: 11 | Location: herod ill. u.s.a. | Registered: 25 January 2002
BER007 i use Hornady .430 240 GR.HP/XTP. MOST SHOTS ARE UNDER 125 YDS. SO I'M NOT CONCERN ABOUT PENETRATION.ANY WAY,I NEVER HAD ONE FAIL TO GO THROUGH,EVEN AT EXTREME YARDAGE. BUT THIS IS ON DEER SIZE GAME. DENMITCH
Posts: 11 | Location: herod ill. u.s.a. | Registered: 25 January 2002
Hi Dennis , Hi BER007 , it finally is monday and I`m back at work ! Hey Dennis , how do you know I`m a bike dealer ? But you`re right , we are an authorized Harley Davidson Dealership .But let`s get back to our hobby : I used several loads in the past but haven`t checked the velocity out of my 12" barrel(+2" brake). Due to availability and price I almost exclusively use N120 or N130 powder from Finland. With N120 I use 55gr. with a 200gr bullet , 50gr. with a 240gr. bullet , 48gr. with a 265gr. bullet and 43gr. with a 300gr. bullet (usually HORNADY)These are MY Maximums ! Be really careful and start 10% below this !Cases are Rem. primer is CCI BR-2 !What I haven`t tried is N130 50gr. with a 300gr. bullet and IMR 4198 40gr. with a 300gr. bullet. Now to answer BER 007`s question about what it`s like to shoot a Contender like this , well ........!Let me put it this way , I`d rather shoot a handgun in this caliber than any rifle , simply because the recoil can be absorbed by my arms and not by my shoulder !Before I had the .444 Marlin barrel I had one in 45/70Govt. and right now I use 405gr. bullets as my target load and have worked up loads with 535gr. bullets too , now , spell this RECOIL !But to be honest , I`m not shooting more than 10 shots in a row with any of these loads and my favourite hobby is to hand it to other shooters watching me (you know those 9mm Luger Pistoleros )to give it a try ! If there`s anything else that I can do for you , please let me know , have FUN , J�rgen
Sounds like very fun shooting. I love to shoot with my Marlin in .444 (about 50 rounds) each time at my shooting range. My lever have no muzzle break. For sure you'll love a .454 round in a revolver. It is realy great recoil and accuracy. If you aren't too far from Belgium border....send me an e-mail. If it s not the case send an e-mail too if you want.RGDS
------------------ BER007 Keep the faith in any circumstances ------------------------ BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM
Posts: 831 | Location: BELGIUM | Registered: 23 May 2002
J�rgen I must have esp or something but i clicked on your profile and read it. H.D. dealer in Germany must be really cool. Appriciate your time on this matter, don't worry I'll start low and work up to your loads.It is better safe than sorry. I am speaking from past experience haha. Thanks again and keep intoutch if you have any more information on this subject. Where on the earth can you get a 535 gr.bullett. It must be a cast in what diamiter.Recoil would not be the word for it bruttle would be more fitting for it. Anyway I would give anything to see the face on them pistoleros. DEMMITCH
Posts: 11 | Location: herod ill. u.s.a. | Registered: 25 January 2002
I`m glad I helped you , at least a little bit !If you have any results , let me know ! The 535gr. bullet is in .458 dia. it is a Lyman mould , best of all ,if you don`t cast your own you can buy it from them sized and lubed !Take care , J�rgen
quote:Originally posted by J�rgen: The 535gr. bullet is in .458 dia. it is a Lyman mould , best of all ,if you don`t cast your own you can buy it from them sized and lubed !Take care , J�rgen [/B]
Could you give me more details on velocity,... Just curious. Thanks.
------------------ BER007 Keep the faith in any circumstances ------------------------ BBER007@HOTMAIL.COM
Posts: 831 | Location: BELGIUM | Registered: 23 May 2002
Sorry , I haven`t checked the velocity yet ! But the momentum is enormous ! This really twists your wrist , actually it`s the worst thing I`ve shot ! But I ordered a barrel (Encore !) in 35 Whelen Imp. , I`ll let you know how this one behaves ! I expect it to be really vicious , it is almost the size of our 9,3x62 and german hunters use this one on anything here in Europe !
Thanks. But I think the worst thing you can shot with handguns is .500 Linebaugh Long. Imagine : bullet diameter .510 case .358 Win Mag @ 1.600" bullet weight 435 gr velocity 1467 powder 40 gr of H4227 Without muzzle break in a Ruger Bisley custom.
Or an other worst thing to try is a Bullberry barrel in your T/C, in .458 Win Mag But I have visited Bullberry's website I haven't found it. But it exists I'm certain.
