I'm about to start handloading for my new 1894 44Mag. I'm wanting to use a heavy hardcast bullet. I heard that heavy bullets wont always load in the Marlin. I was leaning towards a 250gr Keith or similar until I heard it wouldnt cycle. Being able to chamber the load ranks very highly on my "must haves" list for loads. Any recommendations? I'll be hunting in an area with a mix of Texas whitetails (110# is big) or hogs for an intended target, so my design intent needs to be worst case scenario, a 300# boar at about 50 yards. I'd like a "stem to stern" capable bullet that I can load in both the Marlin and my Ruger SBH. I have historically loaded the Hornady 180gr JHP in my SBH for reduced recoil and shot deer only. I'd like an all encompassing load in the future. Thanks. Any feedback would be welcome.

I have yet to start to load for my newly aquired Marlin. I have heard they can be finicky to bullet shapes. Rock Island bullets(this may not be the full name) has done some research on this and recomended their 265 grn bullet for feeding. Keith type bullets hang up on occasion. I have been using PMC 240 which is a tappered flat point and feeds well.
Jim

I recently ordered Beartooth Bullets 250, 280 and 290 grain hard cast bullets in .432" for my Marlin 1894S. I haven't loaded any yet but plan to do so shortly. The .432" fits nicely in a Marlin 1894 44 Magnum, both micro-groove and ballard type rifling. The 250 gr. for higher velocity / flatter trajectory and the 280 and 290 gr. bullets for some major thump. The 290 gr. bullet will stabelize in the Marlin's slow 1 in 38" twist rate. I don't know about the 300+ gr bullets. Some shooters say no problem, while others have stabelization problems resulting in keyholing and/or bullet tumble after impact.

Hope this helps,

JJ

Open the action and look at the top of the receiver where the end of the barrel sticks into it. On the 1894 .44 mags that I have looked at, there is a bit of a gap where the nose of a bullet can hang up.

I'll send you a 280gr. WFNGC so you can make a dummy round, if you'll use the PM (private message) feature of the forum (just tap where it says 'pm' at the lower left corner of my post) to send me your mailing address. You can get to your PM mailbox when you log in, it's one of the buttons at the top.

Anyway if that bullet works for you, you can order plenty more of them from Beartooth bullets, the sponsor of this forum.

If it doesn't feed well, then one of the LFN bullets which has a more tapered nose ought to do the trick.

You'll never get one back, at least not in the first hog :)

Welcome to the forum!

Thanks for the help guys. A buddy of mine who I load with contacted Marshall with Beartooth and got advice from him on all this. Marshall provided lots of guidance, and went on to tell him that our Marlins and Rugers (we both have the same hog hunting rigs, 1894's and SBH's) tend to do well with the .432" dia rounds. After much research, I just got through placing an order online for 400 of the 265 gr gas checked .432 dia WFN's. I cant wait to take delivery, so I can start loading them up. Sure hope I get the chance to do some field testing of the loads. Thanks again.

I've found that the 240 grain XTP bullets have killed pigs very well for me in the past. I'm going to try Buffalo Bore's heavy .44 mag loads when I get a chance, although my Marlin 1894 .44 is giving gunsmiths fits trying to make it work again after brand new parts from the factory still won't fix the feeding problem. I do know that the .44 mag Marlins I've had in the past including the one I still own never liked SWC designs, jacketed or semi, or full lead for than matter, but if you seat your bullets correctly the 265's sound like great hog medicine.
Where abouts in Texas are ya'll hunting?
Thanks for the help guys. A buddy of mine who I load with contacted Marshall with Beartooth and got advice from him on all this. Marshall provided lots of guidance, and went on to tell him that our Marlins and Rugers (we both have the same hog hunting rigs, 1894's and SBH's) tend to do well with the .432" dia rounds. After much research, I just got through placing an order online for 400 of the 265 gr gas checked .432 dia WFN's. I cant wait to take delivery, so I can start loading them up. Sure hope I get the chance to do some field testing of the loads. Thanks again.

I've found that the 240 grain XTP bullets have killed pigs very well for me in the past. I'm going to try Buffalo Bore's heavy .44 mag loads when I get a chance, although my Marlin 1894 .44 is giving gunsmiths fits trying to make it work again after brand new parts from the factory still won't fix the feeding problem. I do know that the .44 mag Marlins I've had in the past including the one I still own never liked SWC designs, jacketed or semi, or full lead for than matter, but if you seat your bullets correctly the 265's sound like great hog medicine.
Where abouts in Texas are ya'll hunting?

I hunt in Freestone County, which is about 1/2 hr south of Corsicana, between Dallas and Houston. Hunting isnt all that good (quantity wise) but I get to hunt on my grandmothers place, with a bunch of relatives. I love getting to see the relatives, and hunt all in the same trips. Good luck this season, and keep your powder dry.

I had a deer lease in Meridian, and a ranch to eradicate hogs off of the Trinity River Southeast of Corsicana, so I've been near your relatives place. Believe it or not, I spotted a hog now 1/4 mile from my parents house two weeks ago, in a field near a bank that's been there for going on 20 years. Nobody believed me, until I ran into a local taxidermist who confirmed there are at least 4 hogs in such a semi-urban environment. I also read that areas not usually known for heavy bodied deer or big racks are going to see above average whitetails due to a variety of good conditions for several seasons going back to 1997, so do some scoutiong before the season starts and you will be rewarded. You might want to put down a salt lick or two in places where livestock can't get at them, and I believe this season that bucks will respond to the doe-in-heat scents and attractors better than ever. You .44 will be more than enough for deer, and most hogs will go down with one well placed shot, hopefully within the limitations of yourself and your rifle.
Happy Hunting and don't forget to post anything about your experience here.
I hunt in Freestone County, which is about 1/2 hr south of Corsicana, between Dallas and Houston. Hunting isnt all that good (quantity wise) but I get to hunt on my grandmothers place, with a bunch of relatives. I love getting to see the relatives, and hunt all in the same trips. Good luck this season, and keep your powder dry.