What This Cartridge Is

This is a .44 Remington Magnum loaded ammunition built around the Gold Country Rhino 265-grain flat-nose bullet, assembled to deliver balanced penetration, momentum, and reliability in real .44 Magnum platforms.

It is manufactured by Gold Country Ammo using new Starline brass and assembled for lever-action rifles and revolvers that reward predictable behavior over extreme velocity claims.

Who This Load Is For

This load is for shooters running:

• Marlin 1894 / 1894 SBL rifles (1:20 twist)

• Other lever-action .44 Magnum rifles

• .44 Magnum revolvers that benefit from heavier, stable bullets

• Shooters who want one load that behaves consistently across rifle and handgun platforms

This is not a specialty boutique load.
It is a working .44 Magnum load for people who actually shoot their rifles and revolvers.

Why the 265-Grain Weight Exists

The 265-grain weight sits in the functional center of the .44 Magnum ecosystem:

• Heavier and deeper-penetrating than 240-grain loads

• Faster and more versatile than 300-grain loads

• Stable in common 1:20 twist lever-gun barrels

• Manageable recoil with meaningful momentum

This weight avoids the two common extremes:

• light, fast loads that lose penetration

• heavy, slow loads that give up velocity and flexibility

It is the lever-gun sweet spot.

Why a Flat-Nose Rhino Bullet

This ammunition uses the Gold Country Rhino 265-grain flat-nose bullet, designed around mechanical realities—not catalog ballistics.

The bullet features:

• Wide exposed-lead flat nose (meplat) for immediate energy transfer

• Thick, uniform copper jacket for structural integrity

• Cannelure for secure crimping and consistent ignition

• Flat-base geometry for predictable pressure behavior

Rather than relying on fragile tip expansion, the Rhino advances intact and crushes tissue through momentum and frontal area, producing straight-line penetration and reliable performance across velocity ranges.

How This Load Behaves (Observed / Documented)

This load has been tested and performs particularly well in 1:20-twist Marlin 1894-pattern rifles, including the 1894 SBL, while remaining fully compatible with revolvers.

Observed characteristics:

• Bullet: Gold Country Rhino · 265-grain · Flat-nose

• Muzzle Velocity: ~1350 FPS (documented load data)

• Behavior: Balanced penetration, structural integrity, predictable feeding

• Function: Reliable cycling in lever-action rifles and revolvers

This load is tuned for repeatable real-world results, not maximum-velocity marketing numbers.

Feeding & Overall Length (This Matters)

Overall Length (OAL): 1.590″
SAAMI Maximum OAL: 1.610″

This cartridge length is deliberately set inside the reliable feeding window for lever-action rifles and revolvers.

• Tube-magazine safe

• Stable under recoil

• Predictable pressure behavior

Do not alter seating depth or substitute components.

Where This Load Fits in the Gold Country System

• Lever-Gun Ammunition using Rhino

• Heavy-penetration .44 Magnum systems

• Gold Country Rhino Bullet System

This ammunition is supported by Gold Country compendiums, technical notes, and range documentation where applicable.

Referenced in:

• The Model 1894 Shooter’s Lever-Action Journal Issue No. 1
• The Forgotten Heavyweights – .429 Magnum and Beyond
• Chapter 7 — Accuracy & Precision Expectations
• TN-17 — Rifle vs. Revolver Loads: Mechanical Realities

Specifications

• Manufacturer: Gold Country Ammo

• Cartridge: .44 Remington Magnum

• Bullet: Gold Country Rhino

• Bullet Weight: 265 Grains

• Bullet Design: Flat-nose, exposed lead

• Brass: New Starline brass

• Muzzle Velocity: ~1350 FPS (load data based)

• Overall Length: 1.590″

• Quantity: 50 rounds per box

• Packaging: Gold Country 50-round box

• Intended Use: Hunting, field use, defensive application

• Made In: USA

Gold Country Rhino 265 grain bullets mushroom to about the size of a quarter and retains mass when fired at 2200 FPS.

Watch this video of 265 Grain Gold Country Rhino Flat Nose Bullets at 2200 FPS

Gold Country Rhino Flat Nose on left. Nosler in center, Hornady XTP right.

THIS IS NOT LOADED AMMUNITION

No profile found for this bullet.

Gold Country Load Data – 444 Marlin Rifle

***Can use same load data as 265 grain Hornady FP

Gold Country Load Data – 44 Magnum Handgun