[Beladran]

so i have been collecting 444 brass for some time now. I would say 30% of what i get are hornady LL cases. out of that i would say 70% show signs of over pressure ale: most common is primers backing out, fallowed by cratering, flattening, and a few were starting to actually flow. I have a feeling hornady is walking a fine line in regards to the pressure these bullets are making.

 

[Reloader]

What rifle are you using?

 

[Beladran]

no clue. these cases were given to me or purchased on gb

 

[Reloader]

It may not be Hornady doing the reloading.....maybe someone else who can't see signs of poor judgement in loading.

 

[Reloader]

I forgot to mention that Hornady LL cases are .0060" shorter than regular .444 brass. This doesn't seem like much but decreasing case capacity creates some additional pressure. I don't know if it would make that much difference. I quit trying to load Hornady LL .444 and .45/70 because my RCBS dies wouldn't crimp the bullet.

 

[Beladran]

well i thought about that but the primers look factory. xd gave me a small bag while back and there was two in it that was starting to back out and they are once fired from a handi rifle if im not mistaken.

 

[Beladran]

little bit more than .006????

 

[Xd357]

And you would be correct. I know on the .35 whelen all the primers are flatten but not to the point of filling the entire pocket.

 

[Xd357]

I thought they only did that on the 45/70??

 

[Reloader]

My book showed trim to length versus the actual length when I measured. I thought it was .006" but it has been awhile and my memory isn't what it used to be....I'm probably wrong. That looks like .125 or 1/8 inch.

 

[jbpmidas]

I haven't had any problems with Hornady .45-70 brass that I have reloaded. Hornady is all I have reloaded so far.

 

[msredneck]

Not surprising to me

Its a well established fact that leverevolution ammo is loaded with shorter brass for some reason on 444 Marlin anyway...

I'm betting 90% of that ammo that is shot in MS is in H&R Handi rifles...

when I reload, I'll reload Remington brass

I did not like the Hornady ammo anyway...nor the Corbon

 

[Beladran]

corbon loads some barnes bullets if im not mistaken. the thing i like about this bullet is it was designed for the 44spl and its velocity. which to me means good expansion at longer ranges

 

[msredneck]

Off subject, but just as a FYI, I've been less than impressed with the Corbon 444 Marlin loaded with Barnes 220 gr TSX

I've had to track 2 deer deer shot with em at close range...and both shots were perfect behind the shoulder at under 100 yards.

I'm used to flattening every deer I shoot...I don't like deer running off on me....when you hunt hills and hollows....it creates a lot of hard work tracking and draggin

:OT1:

 

[Beladran]

tsx is a rifle bullet so i imagine you punched a nice little hole in those deer. I know alot of solid copper bullets need speed to open up, the accubonds i shoot in my 375jdj dont mushroom for crap when you get down to about 1400fps and they have a soft lead core. i bet those barnes need at least 1800 or better fps.

 

[Beladran]

thats a tsx recovered from a moose
300 winmag

 

[msredneck]

The Corbon Box says they are 2200 fps 225 DPX bullets

 

[determined451]

Guys, try the 265 Hornady XTP... It was designed for the 444, and it is a hammer...D-451

 

[TimeKiller911]

I've been looking into reloading my 45-70, so this may be a related issue. Right now, I use the factory leverevolution 325gr. So I've been saving the brass. From what I understand, that catridge was specifically designed by Hornady for the FTX bullet and that is the reason it's shorter. Then again I could be way off.

 

[Brutus]

A friend and a cousin of mine have both had trouble with the LeverEvolution ammo at relatively close range and when placing a behind-the-shoulder shot and not a true shoulder shot. My friend has a .45-70 and my cousin has a .35 Remington.

My thoughts are 1) these are very high velocity loads for their calibers when compared with more conventional loads in these calibers, 2) at close range they are still hauling ass and need significant mass to be in their way to get good bullet performance, and 3) at close range the surest mass to put in front of the bullet is the shoulder blade and not the more traditional behind-the-shoulder heart/lung shot.

I've NEVER put a solid shoulder shot on a deer and had him run off. The best any of them have done is stumble around a bit and drop within 10 yards of where I shot them.

Take the running gear out and you don't have to go a lookin' for 'em.