Unleash the Full Potential of Your Lever-Action Rifle with Hornady LEVERevolution .444 Marlin Ammunition

For generations, the lever-action rifle has been an iconic symbol of American hunting, renowned for its rugged reliability and fast follow-up shots in dense cover. However, traditional ammunition designs presented inherent limitations, particularly for tubular magazines, often restricting ballistic performance, range, and terminal efficacy. Hunters frequently asked: "How can I get more range and power from my lever gun?" or "What's the best ammunition for ethical big game hunting with a .444 Marlin?" The answer, developed through groundbreaking innovation, is Hornady LEVERevolution. This revolutionary ammunition, specifically the Hornady 82744 LEVERevolution .444 Marlin 265 grain Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) bullet, redefines what's possible with your cherished lever rifle, transforming it into a formidable long-range big game slayer.

The Problem with Traditional Lever-Action Ammunition

Historically, lever-action rifles with tubular magazines required flat-nosed or round-nosed bullets to prevent accidental primer ignition in the magazine tube under recoil. While safe, these bullet shapes have significant aerodynamic drawbacks. Their blunt profiles lead to rapid velocity decay, parabolic trajectories, and diminished energy retention at extended ranges. This meant hunters using calibers like the .444 Marlin, despite their inherent power, were often limited to shorter-range engagements, typically within 100-150 yards for optimal performance, especially on larger game. This posed a challenge for hunters seeking versatility across varied terrains and shot distances.

Hornady LEVERevolution: A Game-Changing Solution

Hornady, a leader in ammunition innovation, addressed these limitations head-on with their LEVERevolution line. The core of this advancement lies in the pioneering Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX) bullet. This unique design features a soft, elastomeric polymer tip embedded into a traditional spire-point bullet profile. This revolutionary tip serves a dual purpose: it makes the bullet safe for use in tubular magazines by preventing primer detonation, and crucially, it vastly improves the bullet's aerodynamics.

The result is a cartridge that flies faster, farther, and hits harder than anything previously available for lever-action rifles. Hunters can now achieve significantly flatter trajectories, extending their effective range while maintaining impressive downrange energy. This means less guesswork on holdovers and more confident shots in the field.

What Makes the FTX Bullet So Effective?

• Patented Flex Tip® Technology: The soft, compressible polymer tip not only makes the bullet safe for tubular magazines but also initiates rapid expansion upon impact, even at lower velocities. This ensures reliable terminal performance across a wide range of engagement distances.
• Enhanced Ballistic Coefficient (BC): Unlike traditional flat-nosed bullets, the pointed FTX design significantly reduces aerodynamic drag. This means the bullet retains more velocity and energy over distance, leading to flatter trajectories and more consistent performance.
• InterLock® Ring (where applicable): Many FTX bullets incorporate an InterLock® ring, a raised band on the jacket that is crimped into the bullet's core. This locks the core and jacket together, preventing separation during impact and ensuring high weight retention. High weight retention is critical for deep penetration and maximizing energy transfer to the target, leading to swift, ethical kills.
• Specially Formulated Propellants: Hornady engineers meticulously develop propellants tailored to each LEVERevolution cartridge. These modern powders maximize velocity while maintaining consistent pressures, contributing to the cartridge’s superior performance and accuracy.

Unmatched Performance for the .444 Marlin

The .444 Marlin, a powerful big-bore cartridge, finds its true calling with Hornady LEVERevolution 265 grain FTX ammunition. This specific loading is engineered to deliver a stunning 2325 feet per second (fps) muzzle velocity, generating a robust 3180 foot-pounds (ft-lbs) of muzzle energy.

But the real advantage isn't just at the muzzle. LEVERevolution outperforms conventional loads by delivering up to 40% more energy downrange, making it incredibly effective on a wide variety of medium to large game. Hunters pursuing deer, elk, moose, bear, or wild boar with their .444 Marlin will appreciate the enhanced stopping power and the confidence that comes with knowing their ammunition is performing at its peak. The flatter trajectories mean less drop at typical hunting ranges, simplifying aiming and increasing shot placement precision.

Key Performance Benefits for Hunters:

• Extended Effective Range: Engage targets with confidence at distances previously considered impractical for lever-action rifles.
• Superior Terminal Performance: The FTX bullet ensures rapid and reliable expansion, delivering devastating energy transfer for quick, humane harvests.
• High Weight Retention & Deep Penetration: The robust bullet construction ensures the bullet holds together, penetrating deeply to reach vital organs, even on larger, tougher game.
• Flatter Trajectories: Simplifies shot placement and reduces the need for excessive holdover calculations, especially in varied field conditions.
• Increased Downrange Energy: Experience significantly more kinetic energy upon impact, ensuring effective incapacitation.

Who Is This Ammunition For?

• Lever-Action Rifle Enthusiasts: Individuals who cherish their Marlin, Winchester, or similar lever-action rifles and want to maximize their ballistic capabilities.
• Big Game Hunters: Essential for those pursuing deer, black bear, elk, moose, or other medium to large game where stopping power, deep penetration, and ethical kills are paramount.
• Brush Hunters: While extending range, its power and quick handling make the .444 Marlin paired with LEVERevolution excellent for hunting in dense brush where opportunities can be fleeting.
• Hunters Seeking Versatility: For those who need a single rifle and ammunition combination capable of handling a wide range of hunting scenarios and distances.
• Anyone looking for a significant upgrade: If you're currently using traditional .444 Marlin loads and desire a substantial improvement in performance, especially in terms of range and energy.

Why Hornady? A Legacy of Innovation and Quality

1. Cutting-Edge Technology: Hornady consistently pushes the boundaries of ballistic science, and the FTX bullet is a prime example of their pioneering spirit.
2. Unwavering Quality Control: Each cartridge is manufactured to exacting standards, ensuring consistency in velocity, pressure, and accuracy from one round to the next.
3. Field-Proven Performance: Hornady ammunition is rigorously tested in real-world hunting scenarios, providing hunters with confidence in its reliability when it matters most.
4. Dedicated Research & Development: Hornady continually invests in R&D to bring hunters and shooters the most advanced and effective products available.

Choosing Hornady LEVERevolution is an investment in superior performance, ethical hunting, and the confidence that comes with using ammunition from a world-renowned leader in the field.

Practical Applications and Considerations

When planning your hunt, understanding the capabilities of your ammunition is crucial. The Hornady 82744 LEVERevolution .444 Marlin 265 gr FTX is designed for optimal performance on medium game, expanding reliably at a wide range of velocities. For hunters targeting larger species like elk or moose, the heavy 265-grain FTX bullet delivers ample kinetic energy and the deep penetration necessary to reach vital organs. Its high weight retention ensures that the bullet maintains its mass, driving through tissue and bone for decisive results.

Factors to Consider for Optimal Performance:

• Rifle Sighting: While LEVERevolution offers flatter trajectories, re-sighting your rifle is essential to maximize the benefits of this ammunition. Zeroing at 150-200 yards will unlock its extended range capabilities.
• Shot Placement: Regardless of ammunition type, ethical hunting always prioritizes precise shot placement to ensure a quick and humane harvest. The flatter trajectory of LEVERevolution helps in achieving this precision.
• Recoil Management: The .444 Marlin is a powerful cartridge, and while the LEVERevolution's design focuses on ballistic efficiency, managing recoil is still important for follow-up shots and shooter comfort. Practicing with your rifle and ammunition is key.
• Storage: Like all ammunition, store your Hornady LEVERevolution cartridges in a cool, dry place, away from direct sunlight and extreme temperatures, to preserve their integrity and performance.

Each box contains 20 rounds, with 10 boxes per case, providing ample supply for sighting in, practice, and multiple hunting seasons. This bulk packaging is convenient for serious hunters and shooters. The brass casing material ensures reliable feeding, extraction, and is reloadable for those who pursue handloading after initial use.

The .444 Marlin: A Powerful Legacy Reimagined

The .444 Marlin cartridge was introduced in 1964 as a powerful big-bore option for lever-action rifles, designed to offer rifle-like performance in a cartridge that could be chambered in a classic lever gun. It quickly gained a reputation for its immense power and effectiveness on large North American game. However, its full potential was often limited by the ballistic inefficiencies of traditional bullet designs.

With the advent of Hornady LEVERevolution, the .444 Marlin has been revitalized. It’s no longer just a powerful short-range thumper; it’s a versatile big game cartridge capable of reaching out further than ever before. This ammunition enhances the inherent strengths of the .444 Marlin, providing a modern twist to a beloved classic. Whether you're hunting whitetail in the thick woods or stalking elk in more open country, the Hornady LEVERevolution 265 grain FTX for your .444 Marlin offers a compelling combination of power, precision, and performance that few other cartridges can match. It’s a testament to Hornady’s commitment to providing hunters with the best tools for success in the field.

Hornady LEVERevolution 444 Marlin 265 gr FTX Specifications

Feature	Description
Brand	Hornady
Model	LEVERevolution
Caliber	.444 Marlin
Bullet Type	Flex Tip eXpanding (FTX)
Bullet Weight	265 grain
Muzzle Velocity	2325 fps
Muzzle Energy	3180 ft lbs
Rounds Per Box	20
Boxes Per Case	10
Casing Material	Brass
Game Type	Medium (Big Game)
Application	Hunting
SKU	23904
MPN	82744
UPC	090255827446