Hello good folks!.

Has anyone ever done a .44cal neckdown on a .450Marlin case to create a superflying .240grain pistolbullets ?.

Merry Christmas

I think that only the hardest bullets available on the market should be used in that round for sporting purposes.

Many 240 grains pistol bullets would disintegrate on impact at those high velocities
IMHO

My current version is the 350 Rem mag necked up to 44. Good velocity and accuracy. I have tried at least 10 different bullets and only 2 of them will stay together to penetrate properly. The rest of them are just grenades at that speed which runs counter to the purpose of the rifle (feral hogs). The best performing bullet in my rifle has been the Barnes 225 XPB but it is pricey. Second I would take the Speer deep curl 240gr but it again has to be slowed down some to stay together. The Hornady 240gr crimp lock silhouette bullet stays together very well but hardly expands. It all comes down to the bullets designed for pistol speeds are not well suited for rifle velocity. So I would say my hot rod 44 has been somewhat dissappointing because of the lack of proper bullet. I moved up to 458. RandyB.

I know woodleigh have made a 280grain .444Marlin Bullet but I am not interested in that. All I want is max velocity from a .429cal bullet framed in a 336Marlin action...explosions or not

Load some of the 180 jhps at max and you will get vel and explosive results.

I load 125gr in my 357max for 2400fps they just come apart would be a great yote or other varmint round

I guess I am not following you. What will the rifle be used for? Your statement regarding max velocity with .429 bullet seems open ended to me. Explosions? Yes, the 210gr Winchester silvertip @ 2400fps causes quite an explosion when it hits a jackrabbit at 40 yards. Absolutely the most violent bullet impact I have ever seen. Shot a coyote standing broadside at 75 yards front shoulder. Bullet completely fragmented not penetrating more than 2 inches with pulverized meat and bone crater about 5 inches in diameter. Dead? Very. Work good for the hogs? No. Also I need to check case capacity of the 450 compared to the 444. Will post later. RandyB.

I measured the brass using H-380 powder. 444 marlin 68grs,450 marlin 71grs,450 marlin necked down to 44 cal .350" long neck 70grs. Your idea gains 2grs powder over the 444.

THanks Randy

Ofcouse the next step is to look on the .450Alaska case necked down however I wanted stick to already available brass. MY gains are in vain. I´ll stick with the .444Marlin when I find one!

Happy New Year.

I have a 444M, 458 America, both on a Marlin 336 frame and a BLR 450 M.

The 444M cases run about 71-72 gr H2O at 2.20", 450 Marlin about 78-79 gr at 2.085" and the 458 A about 73 gr at 2.145". The weight differences are due to size and internal volume differences.

By resizing the 450 M to 44cal you will loose a tiny bit, but basically you have a 10-12 % increase in volume.

The main problem with doing what you are suggesting is getting deep into the dangerous pressure area for the 336 Marlin receiver...and even worse if you go to the larger 348 case.

The different "Alaskan" cartridges are loaded to about 35KCUP to keep within pressure limitations.

If you want hi-velo and "explosive" impacts with a 44 cal, go to the 180 gr Sierra...I have ONE load that is accurate enough for sage ratz. It is easy enough to make your own lighter, jacketed or cast bullets also...or just cut down the Sierra 180 to make it lighter.

I WON'T list the load to be on the safe side...but the load information is in the Sierra Manual and also online and it does a very good job, but it also has other issues like having to adjust the scope, BC is so low it drops like a rock and is basically only "explosive" out to about 75 yds.

I may not agree with your thoughts, see lots of "problems" with your particular wants...BUT I have no problems with doing what you are suggesting...wildcatting is wildcatting and it's ALL FUN, but I would use much heavier bullets, 300-320 gr.

There is already available a 375/450 M, I designed a 416/450 M to do a barrel and a 338/450 M would be desirable also.

The only problem I can foresee is case availability...if you want to do a wildcat using the 450 M case, better lay in a large supply.

LUCK

If you are looking for max velocity why not the 44WSM in a bolt action? I spent a lot of time with mine and i can assure you the speed is there.

That's definitely true...I don't push my Marlins AT ALL...No sense in it...they are designed for different aspects...but a bolt gun OR a Browning BLR/BAR is a whole nuther animal.

I have several WSM,RCM,belted mag case designs from 375 to 50 cal that look good for a reasonable expectation of ballistics in a Marlin 336, BLR/BAR and for bolt guns if I ever hit the Lotto so I can afford to build them...

For those interested a simple rechamber from 450 Marlin levergun to 450 Yukon(shortened RUM case to keep it easy) will give you very good ballistics without that UGLY, large rim on a 348 case...but ONLY with the 450 Marlin rifle and it's "V" threaded barrel/receiver...

Luck

i think GA did a 416 on a marlin....

One of the gun writers did a 410 on a marlin case duplicating or coming close to the .405 Win.

James Gates did a 416 with a long neck for cast bullets...information is on Beartooth.

I like the 416 cal...long bullets with heavy weights and high BC's plus plenty of very good light, heavy and DG bullets.

Maybe after I finish my 620 HBE project I will do a 416 barrel for my Marlin. That project has been #1 on my todo list but keeps getting knocked down by circumstances and other projects. The 350 gr Speer is a shoe in and I also have a couple of FP cast designs waiting. Basically is "better" out past 100 yds where the higher BC takes over,
than either the 444 or 450 M, but that depends on the bullet profile of the 444 and 450 also.

Luck

RandyB,
is your wildcat a 350 Rem mag necked up to 44 without any other change?

God, I hope I got the pic right.This shows most of the big bore stuff I have been fooling with for the last 3 years. Left to right. All of these are for bolt guns. My first run at the 44 was the 44/06. Easy to do, lots of brass and use 444 marlin dies and data. Did not feed well through my Rem 700 SA. Headspace off case mouth requires trimming frequently. Next I did 44/300WSM. Pretty easy, modified 300WSM dies would even fit in Model 70 WSSM magazine with the light bullets. Heavier bullets would need the Model WSM action & box. Next was 44/WSM -.200" to use the heavy bullets in the WSSM action. Fed well it was just too much trouble. Next is my current 44. 44/350 Rem Mag. It feeds very well through my Rem Model 7. Case capacity is perfect for the velocity I desire. Easy to do, modify 350 Rem Mag dies. Yes you can neck up 350 rem brass but the easiest is to take 300 Win Mag down and back to length then turn to fit your neck diameter. Very accurate and consistent. Next is a dummy 44/300 Win Mag round. Too much of everything and not practical to me because of bullet selection. Next is the 458 WSSM round I am trying out. I am not prepared to opine on this one yet. Next the 458 WSM. This one I really like and have used in the field. Next is the 458/2". My favorite go to gun. Rem 700 SA feeds every time. I use Federal 7mm Mag brass so I don"t have to inside ream. i use 450 Marlin dies to reload. Very accurate and effective. The last is one I am considering because of Kabluewy"s post on the 458 Win Mag short throat for the lighter bullets. I spent a lot of time with the 44 cal and it comes back to the bullets. Overdriven pistol bullets are not the answer for me but I do not wish to get in the way of anyone who wishes to do so. That being said, I am at your service. Editing post. From left to right on the 44"s. 44/06,44/350Rem Mag,44WSM-200".44WSM,44/300 Win Mag

Nice line-up...when/are? you stepping up to 50 cal?

I liked the 350 RM case for Marlin actions...just the right length, case capacity, ease of conversions and not too big OD wise, etc., to get into pressure problems with rechambers in the square threaded actions. RMC was another on for square threaded Marlins...any bigger OD and you really need a V threaded action.

Wildcatting never gets boring...

Luck

Yes the 44/350 is my favorite. I noticed Nosler is now making brass for the 350 Rem mag. I sure wish they still made the 250gr HG Partition. That was an excellent bullet and somewhat affordable. Another bullet worth mention is the Swift 240gr A-frame. I"ve tried cast but haven"t figured out the accuracy part yet. Regarding your question about the 50 cal the answer is yes. Almost. I have the barrel(Pac-Nor .500") and some Barnes 300gr bullets I just can"t decide on the cartridge itself. Have several dummies made up. I have to give credit where it is due. Michael 458 has been my inspiration as well as several others on the big bore forum. RandyB.

Nice line up!. The 9,3x64brenneke case would be better to make a .44Wildcat or the 8x68s. Here could one really put the .429cals into to biggame african class a la the 11,2x72. Ofcouse heavy 400+ grain bullets must be home swaged.
There isn`t fare either from the .416Ruger to a .444Ruger

RandyB, have you ever tried the 265 Hornday yet?

I had built a 44/284 (not much shoulder) that pushed the 265 to 2400fps IIRC.

Thought about doing a rechamber to the 44/350

Yes I have. Accuracy is excellent and feeds very well. Expansion has been inconsistent for me as they sometimes come completely apart. I will continue to use them. RandyB.

There was a line of 429 cartridges offered by Jim Harvey back in the late 50's / early 60's based on belted brass. 2" 458 necked down as a "Junior" a 458 Win Mag as a "Senior" and a 375 H&H length as a "Super Senior". Then as now 429 bullets had a hard time standing the velocities possible. He offered jacketed swaged bullets but they did not hold up well on game. The Junior cartridge is really the best one of the bunch. My Super Senior with the Apex barrel and Hawk bullets would shoot clover leafs. Recoil pretty much the same as a 416 Rem.

458-300 RCM would be interesting to try first then maybe a 44-300 RCM or 4300 RCM lol.