PP in the Marlin 336

[Nobade]

Just to stir the pot a little, I thought I'd report on the results of my first try with PP in the Marlin 336 30-30. Using #311041 cast from air cooled wheelweights, no gascheck,  sized to .309, patched with 9# onionskin and sized to .309 again using paste wax and a Lee push through sizer, loaded over 30 grains of IMR4895, initially I doubted it would shoot too great because the Marlin has a very abrupt throat, with almost no taper to it. A round chambered and ejected showed strong marks from the rifling engraving the paper for about 3/16". Initially I shot it at 200M at the cowboy highpower rams. It slammed them with no problem, every round hitting where it was pointed. Then I tried some hanging steel at 300M and 385M, 8 inch discs. Once the sights were adjusted I could hit either most every time and misses were just barely off. Looks like paper patching will work in this rifle too. I am impressed with how well this works, I now no longer have any need for jacketed bullets or even gas checks in my 30 cal and bigger rifles. Next project is to see how the Swede Mauser likes PP loads....

[goofyoldfart]

Nobade: ooohh boy, your gonna have fun with the Swede!!! be advised that the 6.5X55 is a whole new book in cast reloading and especially PP'ing. for some reason (suspect that it is bore capacity), It follows strange rules of it's own. by all means check over at Castboolits forum for some help. these guys are a treasure chest of info (not to say people here aren't) they just seem to get excited over answering cast and PP'ing questions . best of luck with this endeavor and please post back here. I'll be looking back in to see how you're doing and might even want to try mine,too. God Bless to all.

[Nobade]

The Swede works great with PP! With normal grease groove bullets my best accuracy was at 1700 fps. Paper Patch is a whole 'nuther animal though. So far I'm loading the BRP 129gr. Loverin style bullet to 2600 fps with Win WXR powder. Accuracy is holding around 1.5 MOA, which ain't bad for the issue sights. Bullets are cast from air cooled wheelweights, so are soft enough to expand on game if you wanted to hunt with it.

One funny thing about doing this is the front sight. Apparently the PP loads are putting a heck of a torque on the barrel, because the front sight won't stay put in its dovetail. I never had this happen with other ammo.

[goofyoldfart]

Nobade:  Sorry for not posting a reply sooner, but the effects of a bad case of flu, month and a half, add on top of that a cold that wanted in on the party, general weakness and malaise and 3 hard drive failures ( my hard drives are OLD, like me )  and I am surprised that I didn't just shoot the "puter ( too tired to pick up the gun  ) .  I'm really glad that you have had such success with your Swede. Keep on Keepin' with the old Girl.  You might try Loctite on the front sight.  God Bless to all.

                               Goofyoldfart  aka GOF

[Nobade]

Good to hear you are recovering! And yes, sometimes those computers need shooting to put them in their place. It's amazing how much dead computer trash I find at the range. I guess a lot of folks get tired of theirs and go out to execute them.

On the paper patch 30-30s, I have been doing some more load workup. This time in my Rem 788, since it is stronger. I have been taking the loads up way past what is supposed to be tops for the cartridge, and have found interesting results. Getting even better accuracy and suprising velocities with PP that I can't get with normal grease groove bullets. I am right on the heels of a .308 now, and cases still fall out of the chamber and primers don't show any pressure signs. I suppose the .303" bullet with paper wrap generates a lot less pressure compared to a .309" bullet, and I haven't found the limit yet. I can't get any more 3031 into the case, so I guess I am at the top. I picked up a really old Ideal 150gr. plainbase mould to use, and I size them to .303" in a push through sizer I made, and patch back up to .309". Talk about cheap high power shooting, I feel sorry for those folks who have to buy jacketed bullets. Using paper patch lets me better their perfomance for nearly free, and learn a lot in the process.