Hey guys. I am planning on using my 444 marlin for black bear this year. I have about 5 boxes of the 240 grain corelokts but have heard they are pistol bullets and can blow apart upon impact. Not something I want to experience. I have shot deer with this round with good results but how would it do with bear. Should I just go pickup some hornady superformance 265 gr fp. Anyone have experiences or advice.

I shoot the LE 265gr load in my .444S, but have only shot paper with it thus far. I have heard good things about the 240gr load, but if it was me, I'd opt for the Superformance 265 or LE 265 for a bit more confidence. The link below is to a really good bullet test done with 10 different bullets in the .444. It's a very good read and holds a lot of info, IMHO. Some say that water jugs are not a good medium, but I say comparing using a like medium is always a worthwhile thing. Anyway, here's the link and you'll need to read at least through post #31 to see the full results, I believe.


444 Marlin Bullet Test - Heavyweight Championship

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Dave,
Just as information, the Remington 240-grain bullet used in the factory ammo is specifically made for the 444 Marlin (bullet #R444M) and not available to handloaders. The only 240-grain JSP available as a component is the R44MG2, which is the pistol bullet. So, if you have Remington factory ammo, the bullet is a rifle bullet made for the 444.
Dan

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The first generation of .444 stuff was loaded with the same bullet as the .44 Mag, and it was way too light. Soon after that, Hornady came out with the 265gr FP, and that bullet was a real winner. Sometimes they can be hard to get your hands on as they make way more money selling the rubber pointed bullets. I found the Speer 270gr Deep Curl to be just as good if the Hornady's can't be found, and the 300gr Sierra bullet is also very good in the .444. I haven't used the BTB's, but on this forum it has more than a couple fans.

There are lots of excellent options for your bear basher.

Sir,

I think your intention is well heeded in respect to using a bullet you have confidence in, without doubt. I'd say if some thought is given on the front end of any issue, than a fellow knows his strengths and limitations going forward. As such, even if you did stick with your 240 grain remingtons, I think you would be well armed and capable to the task, as long as you don't get too fancy with placement.

My blush was that you are a factory load man, is this correct? I hadn't been briefed on the new 444 rem offering, but I did consider the one's available in the early 90s fairly soft. How did yours do on the deer? Exit wounds? Any sign of seperation? If you are satisfied with how straight they shoot, and it hasn't looked to you like they flown apart to date, I'd consider that another item in its favor.

I put a friend of mine on a 444 a few years back, and saw the result of a behind the shoulder, soft body hit using one of the Horn FTX's. It rolled the spike his young friend had shot, and that was good, but because the bullet didn't exit. The entrance wound had a cavity look to it, and was blood was exit wound-esqe, so it was one of the things at the end of the day, workd. Still, I did have to wonder about that. Of course, I didn't say anything to the assemblage, as they were high on life, Marlin, Leupold, Hornady, et al, at the time- but I don't think a 265 FTX is in my future for the big bores at least.

I think that if handloading is on the menu, you may want to think either Barnes, Nosler, or one of the heavy for caliber offerings from our gracious host, Beartooth. If not, I'd stick with what you know, have succeeded with, and are already versed limitation wise on the front end of the hunt.

My best to you Sir, hope that it works out.

Steve

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Experience is a hard teacher, because she gives the test first, and the lesson afterwards.

you will be fine with the remington 240 core-lokts

The part where you need to trim a half yd off the case is the down side to me. The cost is twice the original FP's, and the difference in drop over practical .444 ranges is not that much.

I've yet to see any place where the 265gr LE ammunition was not cheaper than the original Remington 240gr factory loading. Look on Midway now and you'll see that both the LeverEvolution and Superformance loads are a good bit less expensive than the Rems. $34/Superformance, $35/LE and $41 for Remington 240gr JSP. Not to belabor the point here, but I personally don't see the 240gr bullet outperforming either of these loads.


Ammunition - Shop Premium & Discount Ammunition at MidwayUSA

__________________
A veteran is someone who, at one point in his life, wrote
a blank check made payable to "The United States of
America" for an amount of 'up to and including my life.
That is honor, and there are way too many people in this
country who no longer understand it.

Ya got me there TN, I never look at the price of loaded rifle ammo, except for .22LR. The component prices are pretty much twice as much as the legacy FP's.

My buddy killed 3 PA. black bears with REM 240's. Shot placement is always the key.