Lee Loader

i use a 444 marlin in tc encore with a 23" MGM barrel. i found a good load for deer, 300gr fn gc with 24.0gr of 2400/tuft of dacron/1624fps. i know it is not fast, but its a handicapable dream. i was wondering if a 350gr ranch dog that will go approx. 1500-1700fps using h4895 will do the trick? i have found a 310gr fn gc and 51.0gr of h4895(max load) will go 1900fps, but nothing beyond 310gr boolit.

does anyone have h4895 with a 350gr rd? i'd be much obliged!!!

Later in its life, this bullet was renamed the TLC432-355-RF.



In that this design uses the same nose as the 300-grain offering, the additional weight must be in the body of the bullet. That means, within the confines of the 444 Marlin's chamber, it is occupying available case capacity. In real terms, a 444 Marlin case has an H₂0 capacity of about 68-grains. This bullet, aft of the crimp groove is going to reduce that to 55 grains of water. Within any cartridge, many assume the extra weight slows a bullet down, but in reality, more weight means less space for the powder that will push it and that is why there is a velocity loss. The good news is that as long as you stick with a non-compressed charge, a charge at or less than 100% of the useful case capacity, you won't get in trouble with pressures.

I've only worked with Hodgdon's powders, and at 100% of the useful case capacity, H335 is the hands down best performance choice with this bullet. 46-grains of it will deliver approximately 1820 FPS with the 18½ barrel up to 1940 FPS with the 24" barrel. This load generates 39.5K PSI.

The Next two considerations would be either H322 (41-grains) or Benchmark (41.5-grains), from experience, I would favor the latter. These, with the 24" barrel will produce about 1725 FPS with pressures not exceeding 34.0K PSI.

As far as performance goes, H4895 is just not an appropriate powder for the bullet, but it would probably meet your performance needs. 40.5-grains would be considered a max uncompressed charge (100%), that would deliver 1580 FPS at 25K PSI.

With all these load notes, remember that their use is at your own risk and to start 10% below the max given and work up in small increments, stopping if necessary to avoid pressure problems.

thank you very much Michael!!!!!!!

i have a 1lb of h322 just sitting there and i have a 1/2+/- lb of benchmark.

i had a stroke several years ago and that left me with my right arm/leg useless. i can no longer shoot my 444 the velocities it intended(2200-2300fps-265gr hornady fn/rel7). but i can shoot cast boolits quite well. the deer don't like it, but........ . i think the deer hated the 275gr ranch dog too!!!

Sorry to hear about your stroke, but glad to hear you are working around it.