I just bought a Marlin 444P Outfitter and already own a Winchester 94 in 44 Magnum. Since the 444 was based on the 44 Mag, is there a powder that would do double-duty for these cartridges? I want to reload both cast and jacketted bullets.

Thanks

No, you're pretty much out of luck in this regard. One is notably a pistol round, has a "small" case capacity and requires fast buring powders. The other is a rifle round, has a large case capacity and requires a slower burn rate for powders.

4198, 4227, Aa5744.

4198, 4227, Aa5744.

One powder would compromise one or the other...the ones that give the best ballistics in the 44mag. are a bit too fast burning for the .444 (hit max. pressure before utilizing the case volume)...the ones giving the best ballistics in the 444 are a bit too slow buring for the .44mag. (use up the case volume before hitting max. working pressure).

Buy two differnt powders unless you want reduced vel. in one or the other....besides, you don't save any $ by using one powder, you just use it up twice as fast.

Not having any experience loading the 44 Mag or ANY rifle cartridge I needed to hear that. All my experience (7 years or so) has been with 38spl, 40sw, 9mm, and 45acp.

I wanted to have one powder just for the sake of simplification, but not at the expense of poor ballistic performance. I'll buy different powders.

Thanks.

Yes, but you'll get tired of cleaning up after shooting black powder!

Out of luck for smokless, and to make it worse, you really do need 2 different powders for the .44 mag. One for full-power loads (WW296/H110, 4227, AA#9, VV N110, 2400, maybe Blue Dot, etc.) and one for light loads (anything between Bullseye and Unique.

I personally go with AA#2 on the low end and WW296 for max loads in the .44 mag.

Marshall is the guy to ask for powders for the .444. Find his tech notes if you haven't already.

As usual, Mike G hit the nail on the head. I know of no single powder that you can use for high end loads in the 44 and 444. In the 44 mag, I burn mostly H-110 and AA-2 though I burn some AA-5 for more mid range loads. You could spend hundreds of hours figuring out the best powders for the 44 mag. There are so many to choose from. H-110/AA-2 are real good places to start but there are a lot of good powders out there. Still in all, the heavier the bullet and higher the performance, the greater chance you will end up in the H-110/296 camp. The lighter the bullet and lower pressure the load, the more likely you will end up around, AA-2, Bullseye, WW-231 and such. I suspect the most versatile powder for the 44 mag is Blue Dot or something in that burn rate area. I gave the the "one power method" long ago but, as long as you are willing to accept the shortcommings, it will work.

I have not done near the 444 loading that Marshall Stanton has but... While doing the research for the tech notes article on the 444 & pressure, I got some good impressions on suitable powders for the 444. With 330 gr BT bullets I prefered H-322. With 290gr BT bullets I prefered RE-7. For these heavier bullets I found H-4198 a bit too fast (pressure peaked early). I did not test with lighter 240 gr bullets but I suspect H-4198 would be excellent in that area. I can't prove it but my impression was RE-7 is the most versatile of the powders suitable for the 444 Marlin. Marshall has also had great success with H-335 as it truly gives the greatest velocity vs pressure of any powder I tested with heavier bullets (290 to 330 gr) I did not care for all the hassle to stuffing the bullet into that highly compressed powder charge. But that's just me.

Good luck & hope this helps........ Bill

Thanks again.

I have a few pounds of Accurate powders left over from other projects and I want to burn them up first. I loaded up some 240 SWC cast bullets with 15.4gr of AA#7 for my .44 magnum. Accurate's loading manual lists this as a starting charge. We'll see how it works. I also have a pound of AA#9 which the catalog states is ideal for full-power 44 mag loads.

Does anyone use Accurate #7 or #9 for the 44 magnum?

I still have my first can of AA-7. It's about 10 years old and still over half full. Nothing wrong with the powder .. just never used it much. I have burnt a few pounds of AA-9 over the years. It's easier to ignite than H-110 (especially with a 240 gr lead bullet). Good powder for the 44 mag if you are running lighter (less than 265gr) lead bullets in the 44 mag. It will work for heavier bullets but eventually H-110/296 take a lead in performance/pressure on AA-9. With a 240gr lead bullet, AA-9 is probably a better powder than H-110/296.

Have fun........... Bill

I just got back for the range and put 100 rounds of the 240 LSWC/AA#7 load through my Win 94. What a nice little load! It has very mild recoil. I'm not too sure about accuracy because all of my shooting was done standing/offhand. I was able to keep 10 shot groups inside a 4" circle at 60' (offhand) without any problems at all and I'm still getting used to the gun.

It functioned very well and did not produce too much smoke. The barrel wasn't leaded at all and cleaned up easily with a brass brush and several patches of CLP (I love this stuff).

The cases didn't show any signs of high-pressure and there was no primer flow. The cases were fairly clean inside, too, which tells me that the powder is burning completely.

All-in-all I'm pretty plesed with my first attempt at loading the 44 Mag.

---------------

Bill,

I see that you're from Hershey, PA. I've been there a few times to shoot the state PPC championships at the Palmyra sportsman's club (I think that's the name, anyway). Have you shot there? Man, that's one outstanding facility! I really wish we had something that nice close to Cleveland.

meh-92,
You are quite right about the Palmyra Sportsmans Club. It is a great facility. I have been a member there for 3 years now. Next time you are out this way, let me know (via PM) and we can get together.

I'm glad your 44 mag loads are working out. Maybe, as you get comfortable with your favorite AA-7 loads, you could share them.

Bill

If I get out that way again, I'll let you know. I'd love a tour of the whole facility.

I'm going to step up the load just a bit to around 16.5 grains and see if any leading occurs. I use National Bullet 240gr LSWC's and LRN's right now because I live 5 minutes from the plant and can avoid shipping charges. NB's are a little notorius for leading barrels, though. I like to try some Bear Claws soon but not until I fire-lap and slug the barrel. I also have a box of 240gr JHP's laying around somewhere and would like to give them a whirl with both AA#7 and #9.

Now all I need is some decent weather so I can try these loads at long distances. My indoor range is only 60 feet.

Good ole National Bullets,

I have happily dealt with them for about 20 years. I have had good luck and minimal leading with full power loads and their 44 cal 265gr flat round nosed bullet. Feeds great and it's accurate. I think you will have to run the pressures up until the bullet will obturate but then expect good things.

My current favorite "cheapie" bullet is the Mid Kansas 240 gr lead flat round nose sized to .432. I run it out of my 1894P at 1550 fps and my H&R single shot @ 1600 fps. After a hundred rounds there are just thin streaks of lead that come out with 4 or 5 passes with a brush. Very accurate too. I also use a .432 SWC bullet from Mid Kansas with the same results except the bullet drop is noticeably greater beyond 25yards and does not feed 100% in my 1894P.

... so anyway. Have a great time..... Bill