I have to say I've been here in the past looking for information on th 444 Marlin cartridge and associated guns. I found more solid info here then virtually anywhere else thanks to Marshall. I spent time on the MT Big Bore site because of the discussions on Marlin Big Bores. I've just registered here and look forward to picking up more quality information in the future.

The question I have concerns bullets for the 444. I see some using pistol bullets for their cartridges. Don't they break up at the velocities involved with a 444? Is one brand more consistant over the other? I'm familiar with Marshall's Beartooth Bullets but I would like to use some of the 240 - 300gr jacketed types also.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Hey Trapshot, welcome to the form. To answer your question about jacketed pistol bullets at 444 velocities is, yes they are very frangable. I have shot the 240 xtp and 300 xtp into phone books and such, and they come apart like little bombs. They are plenty accurite,and I think they would be sufficiant for deer sized game but I wouldnt count on it for penetration on big game at all. From what I have heard the 265 gr. hornady is designed for the 444 and is actually considered a rifle bullet, its supposed to hold together better but I have never used it yet. I am still fairly new to bullet casting but I think the cast bullets are the way to go with the 444.

Hey Trapshot, welcome to the form. To answer your question about jacketed pistol bullets at 444 velocities is, yes they are very frangable. I have shot the 240 xtp and 300 xtp into phone books and such, and they come apart like little bombs. They are plenty accurite,and I think they would be sufficiant for deer sized game but I wouldnt count on it for penetration on big game at all. From what I have heard the 265 gr. hornady is designed for the 444 and is actually considered a rifle bullet, its supposed to hold together better but I have never used it yet. I am still fairly new to bullet casting but I think the cast bullets are the way to go with the 444.

I'm planning on using them for black bear so I don't want anything that won't make at least a fatal wound channel on the inside and at best a hole out the other side.

If your heart is set on using a jacketed bullet then the hornady 265 xtp would be my best guess. Im certainly no expert on this, I have never even hunted blackbear. The only jacketed bullets I have shot through my rifle so far are the hornady xtps and I wouldnt count on them to penetrate bone very well at those velocities. I have heard of people taking blackbear with 44 mag handguns so I would think if a guy downloaded to those velocities with pistol bullets he should do fine. All I can confirm from experience so far is at 2200+fps pistol bullets are really explosive.

Sorry, I made a mistake, the hornady 265gr is not an xtp bullet.

If I had a .444 and wanted to use a jacketed bullet,I would use the Nosler or Speer Unicore both can withstand the 444 velocities.Any premium bullet would suffice.Yes they work on Elk.The Unicore is the cheapest and they do not come apart.I shoot them in my .454 and there out for the 45-70.

Just my opinion.

I don't have a .444 either, but Hornady states in their #4 manual that the 265 grain flat-point was designed for the .444 Marlin. They rate it for 1500-2200 feet per second, faster than their other .44 bullets.

Check out the .444 articles in Tech Tips.
http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tech_notes/index.htm

Bye
Jack

I have shot the 265 grain FP Hornady for years and have never had a problem with it. I killed a black bear with that bullet and too many deer to count. Have yet to recover a bullet. In one side out the other.

Give Georgia Arms a try. Thats what i shoot through my .444. They load both a 270gr and a 300gr speer gold dot bullet. the 270 shoots by far the best out of my gun than anything else I have tried, and I have been told that the speer gold dot bullets have a great rep for not comming apart. Plus at 17 bucks for 20 if you by in bulk you can't beat the price. Their website is http://www.georgia-arms.com/ I won't buy factory ammo anymore, these people are the best.

I'm planning on using them for black bear so I don't want anything that won't make at least a fatal wound channel on the inside and at best a hole out the other side.

The Speer 270gr. and 300gr. bullets hold up well as does the Hdy265gr. In addition the Hdy 240 C-Lok and Sie250gr bullets hold together also. Barnes used to make a solid for 44 cal that is a pentetrating marvel if you can find any. BTB's 290gr LFNGC is my favorite.
Walt