.44 for hunting
Picked up a Marlin in .44 mag, and was wondering what distances I can shoot at. 20 inch barrel, iron sights, nothing out of the ordinary. Would like to use it for whitetail, if possible.
Also, what rounds should I be looking at? I'll probably be reloading, so what components can you recommend?
Thanks.
O Lord,
grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can,
and the supreme firepower to make the difference.
Also, what rounds should I be looking at? I'll probably be reloading, so what components can you recommend?
Thanks.
O Lord,
grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can,
and the supreme firepower to make the difference.
0
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Hi 44mag,
Based on my experience I would say limit your shots to 100 to 150 yards - no more.
I liked the Hogdon loads because they deliver maximum performance from the .44 Mag. The top load is about 24.0 grains of H110 behind a 240 grain bullet. This will deliver 1817 FPS from a 20 inch barrel. A Speer Gold Dot is a great bullet.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix0 -
Hello "eastwood44mag"[:)]
1. Lordy, do I love it when people throw me a "marshmellow"!
2. I have had Marlins in .44 magnum. The last one I had I sent back and had converted to .45 Long Colt. I have at lest 3 .44 magnum barrels for the Marlin 336 that have never been screwed onto a frame just in case anyone is in need of one.
When I am hunting coastal marsh hogs in the "Big Bend" area of Florida, I normally use a pump shotgun with a "rifled-barrel" that is specially set up for use of a rifled slug that weights over 700 grains. See www.dixieslugs.com for the finest rifled slugs you will ever put down the barrel. I back that up with a S&W model 29 --- heavy barrel - MagnaPorted - 4 inch barrel. The heads are Hornady 240 grain XTP or 300 grain XTP. I am not about to give you my loading data, as I don't want anyone to stick this up an inexpensive .44 magnum and think that it will stay together.
When I use a "walking rifle" it is my Rossi in .44 magnum and the S&W model 29 as backup. Or I can use the Marlin 336 in .45 Long Colt and my Model 25 S&W or my Ruger Vaqureo .45 Long Colt. Frankly, I don't like single action revolvers in a hog hunting situation. I may "ground-blind" in and even being very videulant, you can have a very large, huge-tusked boar in your blind with you. It can get "Up-Close" and "Personal" very quickly. Hence my dislike for single action revolvers in such a situatuion.
3. My vote is for Hornaday 240 grain XTP's or 300 grain XTP's.
My Very Best To You And Yours During The Thanksgiving Holiday Season[:)]
AdamsQuailHunter0 -
quote:Originally posted by heavyiron
Hi 44mag,
Based on my experience I would say limit your shots to 100 to 150 yards - no more.
I liked the Hogdon loads because they deliver maximum performance from the .44 Mag. The top load is about 24.0 grains of H110 behind a 240 grain bullet. This will deliver 1817 FPS from a 20 inch barrel. A Speer Gold Dot is a great bullet.
Regards,
Heavyiron[8D]
"If I don't see you nomore on this world, I'll meet you on the next one, and don't be late!" - Jimi Hendrix
Well, that does surprise me. I was expecting a 75 yard max. Course, I can't line up open sights at 100 yards even, so I guess I'll be set (I usually take shots at 50 yards or less). I've used Gold Dot in my .22 WMR with devastating effects on varmints (became a personal favorite VERY quickly).
AQH-
If you don't mind my asking, why the conversion, and what did it set you back. Also, were all mod. 336 (I've got an 1894S, so I'm hoping there's no deep dark secret)?
Thanks guys.
O Lord,
grant me the Serenity
to accept the things
I cannot change
the courage to change the things I can,
and the supreme firepower to make the difference.0 -
If you are haveing trouble lineing up open sights, change to a Williams GRS receiver peep sight with the large "twilight" aperture. Your eye will automatically center the front sight in the rear circle. I am over 60 and can no longer line up V type rear sights, but, have no trouble with the peep sights. For hunting in the brush I much prefer iron sights to a scope as the iron sights are much faster to use. 0 -
Hello "eastwood44mag"[:)]
1. Since "Iroqouis Scout" has "spilled the beans", I will tell you the rest of the story. I assume because of his "handle" that I know part of his "heritage". Mine is "Pourch Creek", "Eufala" and "Scottish". When Andrew Jackson came through Florala, Alabama, and Lake Jackson --- named for him, the female members of my people has no choice but to grab any nonattached male and marry him or go on the "Trail Of Tears". My female ancestors made the choice not to take that walk.
2. Yes, I use "Williams rear reciever peep sights. The front sight are "Firesights", I have tried green and red, and found the red to be more useful in a Florida coastal marsh close to dark than the green ones.
3. Under low light conditions - any shot longer than 75 meters is merely a "hope" shot and in my humble oppinion you have no business taking that shot.
4. Yes they were all Marlin Model 336's. Things came along such as Parker's, Ithaca's, L.C. Smith's, even American Gun Company's that I wanted more than I wanted the rifle. It is not exactly any secret that shotgun are far more my thing than rifles or handguns.
5. The conversion from .44 magnum to .45 Long Colt cost me $100 plus my .44 magnum barrel. Marlin would NOT put a six-grove barrel on the gun. It had to be "Micro-groove" .45 Long Colt barrel. Since I did not have to worry about over-all lenght to any great degree, and MOST OF ALL, I DISPISE CROSS-BOLT SAFTIES, I had rather have the 336 I had converted to .45 Long Colt, than buy one of their NEWER .45 Long Colt with octagonal barrel, 6 groove, and "@#$%^&*() CROSS-BOLT SAFTY.
If "HISTE" - "GOD" had wanted lever guns to have cross-bolt safties, then Mr. Winchester would have designed them that way.
6. I have no "beef" with your Marlin, in general. If it is .41 magnum then my S&W and perticularily my Springfield Omega (10mm) can shoot rings around the Marlin. If it is in .44 special/.44 magnum it is a fine machine except for the bliking cross-bolt safety. The same goes for the .45 Long Colt and the stinking straight grip stock.
My Best To You And Your During The Thanksgiving Holiday Season!!!!
AdamsQuailHunter on the GunBroker and BearToothBullets Forums.
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