I have a 444 Marlin Lone Eagle with a muzzlebrake. I DO enjoy shooting it but after 30 or 40 rounds, I have had enough for the day.

A tour of all of the local ammo sources has only turned up 265 grain bullets. On line, I have not found anything lighter than 240 grain. I do not reload (yet).

I would like to be able to use it more in the 'plinking' department. I have been wondering about shooting 44 Mag rounds through the thing.

I do not want to do any damage to the barrel ... or me!

Would that be safe?

POP,
Can you do that? I'll be watching for what the experts say! Wait until you find out!

ps...Welcome aboard! Good to have you here!

Just visited the Marlin site and they don't show that as an alternative shell. I would say, no!

Greg

Any time I hear of someone attempting this kind of thing my first reaction is to shout "DON'T DO IT". Now this may not be disastrous, but the risk is not justified by the gain.

Quite frankly, if you intend to get into reloading, now is the time to do it. Get a press and some dies and a good manual, Ask for help in the reloading threads, and get about a thousand cast .430 diameter bullets. Just tell 'em you need plinking loads for a .444 and you should do ok.

By the way, you'll find the people on this forum to be very helpful, really good people.

Regards, Gene

I have a 444 Marlin Lone Eagle with a muzzlebrake. I DO enjoy shooting it but after 30 or 40 rounds, I have had enough for the day.

A tour of all of the local ammo sources has only turned up 265 grain bullets. On line, I have not found anything lighter than 240 grain. I do not reload (yet).

I would like to be able to use it more in the 'plinking' department. I have been wondering about shooting 44 Mag rounds through the thing.

I do not want to do any damage to the barrel ... or me!

Would that be safe?

.44mag is a pretty close match to the FOWARD end of a .444, but not a great match to the BREECH end. The .444 has a bit of taper to it (to make for easy extraction) and is about .470" at the head (the pasrt just ahead of the rim). The .44mag is about .457" at the head. Now that .013" dsoesn't sound like a whole lot, but it would be possible for the .44mag. case to rupture and send all that high pressure gas rampaging through the rifle's action.

have seen people do it, and the case was well swollen, but held...can't rely on that and the case holding or rupturing would be just a matter of luck. You onely get so many fingers and eyes, is much better not to risk them shooting the wrong ammo.

Would be so much better if you were to just save your .444 empty cases and buy a basic reloading set up...could load your ammo to be as soft recoiling as you'd ever want.

This site is great! Thanks for the fast responses. I will keep checking for any more responses.

I am keeping my brass. I guess I should start hanging out in reloading and learn what I need to know.