Marlin 1894 .357 Mag Cast Bullet Loads

[Capt Hamp Cox]

Be interested in hearing from anyone who has had success (small groups) using the Leadhead 168 gr Keith SWC in their 1894 .357 Mag Marlin with Microgroove rifling.  My initial test loads with 2400 were a bit disappointing, in view of the success I've had with their same style 250 grain bullet in my .44 Mag. Marlin.

[oso45-70]

CAPT.
I have never had any luck with any cast bullets in a microgrooved gun.
Its not that i didn't try, I have used real hard lead and did do a little better
but not enough keep using it, on some of the guns that i wanted to use lead in i just put a ballard type barrel on and got the results that i was looking for,If there is another way to fix them i sure don't know what it is.
Best of luck to ya,  Joe

[Capt Hamp Cox]

Thanks for your comments, OSO.  The little .357 shoots great with lead RNFP cowboy loads using Titegroup, but groups really open up with the hotter Keith loads.  Haven't tried a lot of loads, so I'm not gonna give up just yet.  Might not be real smart, but I have plenty of stubborn in me.

[Mikey]

Fellas:  the Marlin micro-groove barrels can be made to shoot cast bullets very accurately.  Just fire-lap the darn things and you will be very happy with the results.

There really isn't any difference between the Marlin micro-groove barrels - fellas with 30-30s and other calibers find that after fire-lapping their accuracy is better than they had ever hoped for.  

You can buy fire-lapping kits from Veral Smith or from Beartooth Bullets and both work very well.  Fire-lapping is not a problematic exercise or waste of time, it is a pretty scientific approach to applying 'controlled wear' to a barrel (new or old btw) to true up the bore and remove and roughness that may impact negatively on accuracy.  Cast bullets shoot very well from a fire-lapped barrel.  

Drop on down to the Veral Smith Forum (about a foot or so down the forum list) and see what you have to do about order his lapping kits - it is worth the effort.  This is just my opinion, of course, but my Winchester 94AE in 444 sports a fire-lapped  1:38 microgroove bbl and it throws cast gas check bullets with super accuracy.  HTH.  Mikey.

[oso45-70]

MIKEY.
I have tried fire lapping on a bunch of microgrooved barrels and still could not get the results that i expected. I have used fire lapping on new ballard barrels on the results were great. In fact i do all my big bore guns before i shoot them and i always get good accuracy after fire lapping. I've also used a bore cloth with good results with my pistols. If my guns don't do as they should they don't stay with me very long. Have a great day Mikey.
Keep your powder dry.........Joe

[De41mag]

Capt. Cox;

Try using H-110 or W-296, or AA#7 for a little slower speed with those Leadhead bullets in your rifle. Leadheads is the only bullets I use and have found that those fine grain powders seem to work best. Also just came across a light load using Tommy's 250gr. Keith bullet ahead of 10.0gr of Unique out of my H&R Ultra w/ a 44mag. and it's got a micro-grove barrel in it. Went out this weekend a shot those Keith bullets at 100yds. and it would keep them in a three inch circle with 5 shots.
Hope this helps.
Dennis  

[Capt Hamp Cox]

Appreciate your recommendation, Dennis.  Will definitely give it a try  - have H-110 on hand.

Hamp

[dpastor]

Cap'n

Take a look at the new Lee manual.  There is a good section on cast bullets including acceptable pressures for various alloys and estimating pressure and velocity of various powder loads.

I'm using a moly coated 158 gr round nose in my .35 Remington (microgroove) with good results out to 100 yds.

[Capt Hamp Cox]

dpastor,

Thanks for the tip.

Hamp

[rugerman]

I've also had good luck with H110 in my .357 marlin with 158gr Magnus SWC bullets. But it likes the 158 gr gold dots better.

[Blackhawk44]

Microgroove often likes oversize bullets.  With hard bullets, you need to try some at .359.  It may even like them as large as .360.  If buying from a local caster, he may be able to accomodate.  Check around, there may be a caster there in your town or Blanco or Llano that might run up a few for you to try in different sizes.  If not, try giving Lone Star in Halletsville a call.  Might get 100 apiece in .358, .359 and .360 and see which is best.  His are plenty hard.  Wouldn't cost that much to try.  The diameter and hardness have more influence on a Microgroove than powder.  Your 2400 will be just fine.

[Capt Hamp Cox]

Appreciate your comments, Blackhawk44.  Definitely worth a try.

Hamp

[FAsmus]

Capt Hamp Cox,

I happen to have bought a Marlin M94 Microgroove 357 myself about two or three months ago.

I got it kind of by mistake since I would not have bought a MG rifle at all if I'd seen the marker on the barrel, but that is another story.

Once mine it was mine and no going back so I went back in very old loading records for the MG Marlin in 44 Mag I once owned. This rifle would not shoot until in desperation I loaded it with seriously oversize bullets. In this case they were Lyman 429244GC which measured 0.434 as-cast. I loaded these up with no sizing and the rifle immediately settled down to shooting very well.

The M94 in 357 didn't suffer through any load development at all. I just loaded it up with my seriously oversize NEI 357-150-PB that casts at 0.363. I lube-only these bullets in a 0.364 die and load them up over moderate amounts of Bullseye. Groups size with barrel sights at 50 yards (crude rest) is 5 X 1.250.

The loading procedure is easier than usual because the cases do not need to be sized: The over size bullets fit fired cases perfectly. All I have to do is deprime & bell case mouths, seat primers and load the bullets & powder normally.

Sure, this load is light but it works first-rate for the Cowboy Action shooting I bought the rifle for. If I ever want to go for more power I'll get a gas check bullet (oversize) and load them up with confidence for testing.

Good morning,
Forrest

[Capt Hamp Cox]

Thanks for sharing your experience, FAsmus.  The little Marlin is my wife's CAS long gun and shoots great with cow"girl" loads using TITEGROUP and commercial cast 158 gr RNFP bullets.  Didn't run into problems until I tried to work up loads that would be more effective for practical uses where we live out in the country.  Haven't given up yet.