44 Mag Marlin loads

[davet]

UNQ 10.5gr 240gr. lead     W296 23.0gr 240gr. lead     N-110 24.0gr 200gr. XTP
       1,384                        1,727                                2,030
       1,394                        1,726                                2,043
       1,408                        1,710                                2,053
       1,395                        1,733                                2,017
       1,411                        1,739                                2,020
       1,370                        1,742
       1,388                        1,731
                                       1,741

AVG 1,393                        1,731                                2,033

Worked up a few different loads for my Marlin 1894 44-Mag. The first two is a 240gr. RNFP over 10.5gr. of Unique. Next is the same 240gr. RNFP over 23.0gr W-296. And finally, a 200gr Hornady XTP over 24.0gr. VV N-110. 

The Unique and N-110 loads use standard LP primers. The W-296 I use magnum primers. All three loads shoot pretty much the same groupings at 50 yards. I'm waiting for a new front sight to arrive as I'm all out of adjustment on this XS sight and I'm still shooting 4" low at 50 yards with the slower lead bullets. 

When I get the new front sight I will shoot 'em at 50yds and 100yds to see the groupings and the actual bullet drop. 

FWIW

[davet]

I posted this just to get some thread "running" on a subject near and dear to me. Shooting and hunting and B-S'ing. Just wanted a little relief from major news stories.

[Deleted]

I have a whole bunch of cast lead 240 grain semi wadcutters. Way back in 1994 when I retired, I stocked up on them. Thinking about investing in a .44 mag lever gun. Should be lots of fun shooting.

[davet]

Mutt, the 44 mag rifle is nothing like shooting that cartridge from a revolver. Recoil is a pussy cat.....especially using the Unique load. The 200gr XTP is what I've taken many doe with from a revolver. One shot in the lungs and it's all over.

The velocity of the XTP with the same load gives me about 1400fps from a six inch barrel. Much less than the published numbers. When I bot this rifle I ordered 4 plastic ammo boxes that hold 100 rounds each. With the rifle tube holding an easy 10 ......if you don't have 100 minimum when you go to plink......what's the point?

[dennyf]

Our club has monthly cast bullet BR shoots @ 100 yards. Mostly lever guns, although now and then a single shot will show up. Even 22s have a class, but only for non-plated bullets. First Sunday of each month.

www.msa-pa.org for info.

I load 200gr XTP bullets for my 6" M629 S&W and have used them to take doe with. Same load shot very well in the M92 "Rossi" 44 mag lever action that I once had. Kinda wish I'd kept it.

My 200gr XTP loads: 22grs of 2400. Have Some 110, never used it for 44 mag loads, as the 2400 has always been my go to for this application.

[davet]

H-110 and W-296 are the same powder. (You probably know that) When using either powder, it's recommended to use mag primers. When I first began reloading some 15 years ago, I loaded H-110 near the bottom of the recommended load. I got about 3 or 4 hangfires from the minimum loads. So, once I used up that first jug of H-110, I never purchased it again. I had a little less than a pound of W-296 that I purchased for some rifle load that I no longer have. I used up that W-296 in this rifle.....and again....will never buy that powder again.

To many other quality powders that won't give hangfires when loaded to the lower recommended charges.

FWIW

[dennyf]

Been mostly using extruded powders for my rifles, since I started in the 70s. Mostly IMR stuff and 2400 for 357, 44 mag and 22 Hornet. Tended to avoid all Win/Olin ball powders.

Spent lots of time years ago at the PGC range near Carlisle. There was a weirdo that showed up there from time to time, that the other regulars and I tended to avoid. He'd put on a show anytime someone asked him a question.

Like the time some guys asked him about the 25-06 and he went on a rant about how worthless that cartridge was. An ol' boy I got along with well was at the bench next to me, hollered over and told those guys the 25-06 I was shooting, looked pretty good? So they looked thru his spotting scope at my groups, talked to us and left the weirdo behind.

One day when I was there by myself and Mr. Showman arrived, he fired a few shots from a 22-250, came over and asked me if my cases looked like his did. Them things looked like someone had painted the necks with black ink and the soot was down to the shoulders. Showed him my 22-250 cases, which were fairly clean, asked him WTH he was loading that gooked 'em up like that?

Some Win/Olin ball powder that he claimed was THE best 22-250 powder. Told him, nah, that'd be IMR 4064, which is why my brass was so clean and why my 100 yard groups were half the size of his.



I do have some ball/flake powders around now and am giving them a whirl in a few different cartridges, like the 223. Benchmark, BL-C2 and H110. Mostly got them because they meter better in my progressive, than IMR stuff does.

[davet]

Well, yesterday I finished up loading 500 rounds of 44 Mag with a 240gr powder coated lead bullets over 10.4gr of Unique. I'll be ready for warm weather of April.

Then I'll likely have to load 'em all over again for May.

[Deleted]

I guess I have to fire up my press.  On the way home from camp I stopped in at Juniata Trading.  I picked up a Henry Golden Boy in .44 mag.  Beautiful rifle.  I will plink the living hell out of this one.

[rem700]

Enjoy your new gun those are very nice!

[Deleted]

Pretty is the word, rem.  I'm gonna hate myself when I put the first scratch on it.

[bushmaster]

Mutt, love that rifle!!!!

[rem700]

Mar 8, 2018 16:52:41 GMT -5 muttleysback said:

Pretty is the word, rem.  I'm gonna hate myself when I put the first scratch on it.

Sure is pretty

[davet]

Yes. I thought they had that octagon barrel on 'em.....but wasn't sure. The brass, blued octagon barrel and nice wood sure make's 'em pretty!!

[Deleted]

Yep. Octagon barrel. I will take it to camp the next time I go out and break in the barrel. Will post a photo of a group or so.

[bushmaster]

I love my Henry! Same rifle, just in 45/70.

[davet]

I'm a big fan of the 45-70. I load a 405gr lead over RL-7. I have a Marlin 1895XLR. Very accurate rifle!

[bushmaster]

Mar 9, 2018 7:32:53 GMT -5 davet said:

I'm a big fan of the 45-70. I load a 405gr lead over RL-7. I have a Marlin 1895XLR. Very accurate rifle!

I have a Marlin as well. Not JM stamped, but shoota great and kicks like a mule. I'm actually trying to sell it as I picked up a Henry.

[davet]

The Model 1895XLR I have has a 24″ stainless steel barrel, stainless steel big loop lever, and a black/grey laminated stock. It came with a factory Limbsaver recoil pad that really helps tame the recoil.

When I first got it, I loaded several rounds of "hot" 45-70 loads. But after shooting 'em, and beating up my shoulder, I looked at the ballistic's of a low end load vs a full power. I figured 200fps more in velocity wasn't worth the beating.

[turkeykiller]

Attachment Deleted  

Here is a pic of a "man" 45-70. Springfield 1884. 52 inches long. I shot my first buck with it in 1969. Below the gun is a 1929 metal back tag my father-in-law gave me.

[Deleted]

Mar 10, 2018 10:02:27 GMT -5 turkeykiller said:

  

Here is a pic of a "man" 45-70. Springfield 1884. 52 inches long. I shot my first buck with it in 1969. Below the gun is a 1929 metal back tag my father-in-law gave me.

That would have been the type of rifle my grandfather used in the Spanish-American war.

[davet]

Mar 10, 2018 10:02:27 GMT -5 turkeykiller said:

View Attachment  

Here is a pic of a "man" 45-70. Springfield 1884. 52 inches long. I shot my first buck with it in 1969. Below the gun is a 1929 metal back tag my father-in-law gave me.

I've aways like the way those trap door's looked.

[Deleted]

I like the Trapdoors too. And the Sharps and the Remington Rolling Blocks........