Ok - got no answer on this before, but come on guys I wanna hear what ya got.

Just got one of the new Katahdin .444 Marlin barrels for my Encore. Any experience w/ bullets/loads would be appreciated. This will be mostly for black bear.

Thanks,
steve

Sorry Steve, I don't remember seeing your post.
I have the rechambered 14" Contender hunter barrel done by Mike. Also had him fire lap it. I really haven't shot it that much. I have a load of 53.7grs. of H322 behind a 240gr.JSP made by Speer, Rem and Nosler. It's right at 2000fps. with all of them, and all were one hole groups at 50yds. and moa at 100 with the Speer. I have a couple boxes of Hornady 265s but aint had time to work with them.
The 240s will work fine on Black bear but the 265s would be even better. You could use the 300s but I think the 265s are perfict for the 444. I haven't tried any cast bullets yet.

[ 07-19-2002, 01:55: Message edited by: Jules ]

My 14" Contender barrel shoots 300gr XTP's at just under 2100fps with 52gr of H322. Excellent groups.

Have a brake on it Dan?

Thanks Jules & DadB -
Have you seen how they perform on any game yet? I'm a little concerned about the pistol bullets on big game...

steve

Stay with the soft point bullets in 240gr and above. The 300gr.JHP XTP works great from what I have heard, as does the Speer 270 Gold Dot. The 265 Hornady was made for the 444.
I don't think you'll have any problem putting down any game.

Now THAT's what I was looking for.

Thanks again.

I am really thinkin about a Katahdin barrel nice length. Maybe in 450 Marlin. Ya like yours?

Just picked it up on eBay. Haven't even sent payment yet. I'll definately let you know how it tests out...

Went by my local gun store (that doesn't mean much here in Sacramento) and picked up the only two boxes of heavy .44 bullets they had.

Speer Gold Dot UNI-COR 270 grn
Hornady HP/XTP 300 grain. Interesting thing about these is that they are actually marked .430 instead of .429...

steve

[ 07-19-2002, 07:33: Message edited by: 1buba ]

Brake.......yes it is Mag-na-ported, but I would like to try one that is not ported. My .338JDJ#2 is pushing out some impressive numbers without being braked and the recoil is mild. The .444 shoots more bullet but is slower so a little of the recoil would be equalized and may not be that much more than the .338. I'll have to punch some #'s into an on-line recoil calcualtor and see what it says.

I dropped two critters (g-hogs) with it (the JDJ) the other evening at 195 and 260yds (with only two shots fired!!) using 180gr BT's and just Kleenex as ear plugs. Had it been braked I'd surely had my muffs along.

The only bullet I have used on game from this barrel is the factory Remington load with 240gr SP's. This was used on several deer with good terminal performance.

The link below goes to an article I wrote on the Super 14 .444 Marlin a year or so ago. It may help you a little.
http://www.handgunhunt.com/tech/t6/index.html

[ 07-19-2002, 13:21: Message edited by: DanB ]

Thanks Dan, I'll check it out.

Steve

Steve,I would stay away from the 240 gr. bullet.Any of the thinner jacketed 44 caliber handgun bullets and especially the hollow points were made for the 44 magnum handguns.You are much better off using a Hornady 265 gr.Flat Point bullet.I believe Hornady also has a 300 gr. available.I took a nice Black Bear in Newfoundland using the 265.Performed perfectly.