just got a 94 timber today with the 17-18" ported barrel and am looking to start some reloading
I have some 265g beartooth WFN GC bullets coming for my 44 mag in .431 and was thinking I could try some with this gun

deer and pig are about all I will probably hunt with and I know I don't need a ton of velocity with a good hardcast

thinking maybe 1500-1800 fps would be plenty for the ranges I will be using this gun in and be easy on recoil

thanks in advance for any load recomendations

I would be ok with changing the order if need be if it's not too late and doesn't screw up Marshall's business

EDIT]

I posted the links first as I was not certain how they would come through.
I attempted to put the Timber rifle specific threads first. You need to look at these carefully to help you establish your COAL. The problem as you will see is making the turn into the magazine with a wide meplat bullet. Winchester did not bulge the magazine all or cut out the receiver wall. I have loaded a great many wide meplat bullets in my Timber rifle without a problem but I had to reduce the COAL slightly to allow these to load into the magazine. You will see in one of the threads there is a way around this but it is unnecessary. The slightly reduced COAL does not detract from the performance of the cartridge. The 265 LBT are a very good bullet for the Timber rifle, in my opinion a little better than the 310-grain Lee bullet. The 310-grain Lee bullet is a fine bullet and worth using in the Timber rifle.
The short barrel does tend to give up a little bit of performance and the ports are quite loud. I have recorded 106 DB from my rifle and these were not the loudest handloads I have developed. Wear hearing protection – I suggest double hearing protection.
There were some issues early on about longevity of this rifle – Winchester was having some quality control issues. My rifle ahs digested many full power loads without difficulty.




http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1850&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1850&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=15942&highlight=timber+rifle (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=15942&highlight=timber+rifle)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=2011&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=2011&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1830&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1830&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=2035&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=2035&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1957&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1957&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1859&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1859&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=5211&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=5211&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=36215&highlight=magazine+tube (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=36215&highlight=magazine+tube)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=18403&highlight=magazine+tube (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=18403&highlight=magazine+tube)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1981&highlight=lee+310 (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=1981&highlight=lee+310)

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=15942&highlight=magazine+tube (http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=15942&highlight=magazine+tube)




http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=9465&highlight=timber+rifle

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=2373&highlight=firing

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=15953&highlight=magazine+tube

everyone here has suggested the 290 grain bullet marshall makes to me and there is a page with some load info on it at http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/archive_tech_notes.htm/44 great information just remember to start 10% under the max unless that load is listed unsafe.

thanks
shot it tonight with factory Remington 240g SPs
I put a limbsaver pad on it as the LOP was on the short side and it would add some length and of course, help with the recoil!

I must say I was a but apprehensive as I fired the first shot as I had heard it can be a real mule kicker
wasn't nearly as bad as I anticipated
no more than a shotgun, I shoot a Benelli M2 12ga and it wasn't any more than that with 7 1/2 shot dove loads

so, I think I will stick with around factory velocities of around 22-2400fps

I will be putting an AO express ghost site on it ASAP though
I think I am really gonna dig it!
it will compliment my tack driving 308 bolt well and be used for walking around / stalking hunts as well as if I have a pig hunt where the aniticipated shots are not way out there

I love mine! I mounted a LimbSaver pad on it and it turned into a real pleasure to shoot. The porting, while increasing the sound, really reduces the muzzle jump. My favorite bullets for this have been the Hornady 265 grain bullets, and some hand-cast from a Ranch Dog mould I purchased, TLC432-285-RF. With gas checks they come in at about 267 grains each. I'm sitting on a couple of thousand that I cast in the past two weeks. I use them in my Winchesters in 44 magnum too. Send me a PM and I'll send you a stack to test in yours.

The Winchester 444 can handle loads in excess of what Marlins can handle. Read Paco Kelly's article on his web site about them. My first experience with shooting handloads in mine were some full power loads I got from Beartooth Bullets. (That was the impetus for the LimbSaver recoil pad!) I put a Williams Receiver sight on mine, but the rifle can definitely reach out further than the receiver sight.

All the best - -

cool
yeah, it's going to be a FUN gun!

I'll shoot you a PM
thanks man

what load are you doing for both bullets?

I have found handloads using the 240 grain bullets from the various manufactures to be ideal for our lighter white tail deer. In my Timber rifle the 240-grain bullets typically run about 2,250 fps with maximum loads. Best accuracy is down around 2,200 fps or just a little faster.
The 270-grain Speer Gold Dot is an ideal bullet for the Timber rifles. These typically nudge 2,100 fps with maximum loads in my rifle and the best accuracy seems to be at the highest velocity.
The 310-grain Lee bullet is a real performer – as are all of the LBT style bullets – and I push this bullet between 2,000 and 2,030 fps in my rifle.
In my rifle Remington factory loads chronograph between 2,200 and 2,250 fps depending on the day.
The 200-grain Hornady XTP is a good bullet that holds together quite well on cull deer. The 200-grain XTP bullets chronographs a consistent 2,430 fps from my rifle.
I use the Timber rifle in ground blinds around water tanks and the rifle is quite handy. I have a 2.5x Weaver scope on mine and this is plenty for seer at short range in the breaking dawn and late evening light.
LET, have you been shooting any of your Devastators?

I have two boxes of 240g XTPs I bought for my 44mag pistol that I was thinking about returning after one 90lb doe took two hits at 70 yards to bring it down (hornady factory load out a 7.5" blackhawk)
first shot was a little off and hit the high shoulder, broke a rib on the far side, no exit
ran off and came by and continued to feed, the 2nd shot right behind the shoulder took care of her but I had no exit either.. hence ordering some hardcasts from BTB

I am placing my midway order right now for the 444 reloading supplies and placed an order of 265 hornadys in the basket... guess it can't hurt to keep them in there...

seems like the 240XTP might blow up at those velocitys if it hits bone, have not checked with Hornady though..

I have not shot the 240-grain XTP’s in the .444. The 200-grain XTP’s will sometimes exit on a broadside lung shot. These bullets are very destructive on a lung shot. I do not believe the XTP’s are any more fragile than the bulk Remington 240-grain bullets. I have had a few 240-grain bullets loose their jackets and only small fragments exited. I have had others punch both shoulders and keep right on going. In general it is hard to beat a cast bullet bullet or the 270-grain Speer Gold Dot for the .444. I have never had a doubt about the performance of the 270-grain Gold Dot on deer.

LET, have you been shooting any of your Devastators?

I've put a bunch through in my 44 magnum winchester but haven't tried them on "steroids" yet. I figure they'll whistle as they sail down-range! :D

I'll send you a box if you want to give them a try. Let me know.

I have not shot the 240-grain XTP’s in the .444. The 200-grain XTP’s will sometimes exit on a broadside lung shot. These bullets are very destructive on a lung shot. I do not believe the XTP’s are any more fragile than the bulk Remington 240-grain bullets. I have had a few 240-grain bullets loose their jackets and only small fragments exited. I have had others punch both shoulders and keep right on going. In general it is hard to beat a cast bullet bullet or the 270-grain Speer Gold Dot for the .444. I have never had a doubt about the performance of the 270-grain Gold Dot on deer.



I would trust the heavier Golddot or perhaps 300g XTP on deer on lung shots, but would wonder about it hitting bone.

I intend to replace the ported .444 barrel on my Timber rifle with a Winchester .307 barrel. I have the .307 barrel but have not yet located a magazine tube and barrel bands. When I come up with the parts I’ll have a second .307 Winchester and will be looking for a non-ported .444 rifle. With my “champagne taste and beer budget this may take awhile.

I have found the 270-grain Speer to be a very tough bullet for use in the .444 cartridge. From my limited view it may be about the ideal jacketed bullet for this cartridge. I now believe that for our light frame deer and smaller hogs a bullet - jacketed or cast - of 280-grains or less kills quicker than a heavier bullet. I have not shot any heavier frame animals with the .444 cartridge and have no reference to draw from. The short barrel on the Timber rifle begins to give up a bit of performance when the bullet weight climbs above 300-grains.

thank you
will pick up a box and try some
part of the fun of a new gun and reloading is trying different loads and seeing what works well