Marlins at the range

[jtaylor1960]

I took three Marlins to the range today.A 1895-45/70 a 336 35 Remington from 1950 and a new 1894 357.Istarted with the 35 Rem.I was trying two loads for the RCBS 200gr cast bullet.I wasn't happy with either one.I suspect I am pushing too hard with the alloy I am using.Also The bullets are sized at .358 because they drop at .3585.I think maybe Beagling them to .360 might also help.Next I shot the 1895 45/70 I shot loads with a RCBS 300gr. gc. which shot about 1 1/2 inches at 50yds.Not bad with a peep sight but I wanted a little better.Next a 420 gr.bullet from an NEI mold.I shot three shot at 50 yds. I walked up to the target and was pleasantly suprised .I measured the group when I got home.I got .673" for three shots.I think I just found a new favorite load.After that It was all down hill.I shot the 1894 finding it was shooting about a foot to the right of POA.I also niticed that the screw in the forearm barrel band snapped in half and was sticking out.After the group with the 45/70 It didn't really bother me that much.

[Marlin Junky]

I was trying two loads for the RCBS 200gr cast bullet.I wasn't happy with either one.I suspect I am pushing too hard with the alloy I am using.Also The bullets are sized at .358 because they drop at .3585.I think maybe Beagling them to .360 might also help.

If your vintage .35 is anything like mine it'll run between .3595" and .3600" in the grooves. I've had my best luck with a shimmed SAECO 352 mold that drops boolits at about .3605". Without the aluminum tape shims it drops boolits on the order of .3595". I think the extra bearing surface of SAECO 352 gives it an accuracy advantage over RCBS 35-200 in those old wide groove Marlins. I've shot quite a few BHN 15 (or thereabouts) 352's through the .35 at over 2000 fps (24" barrel) with 38 to 39 grains of AA2520 and the accuracy has been on the order of 1.5 to 2 MOA with receiver sights and a fine front bead. I'm in the process of tuning up the trigger on the old .35 and am going to try some straight clip-on WW alloy in the next few weeks... hopefully I'll be able to get enough diameter out of this alloy/mold combo. A 360-220 mold from BABore is on my list of molds to acquire because I want a bit more velocity and a bit less recoil.

MJ

[arcticbreeze]

I started with the 35 Rem.I was trying two loads for the RCBS 200gr cast bullet.I wasn't happy with either one.I suspect I am pushing too hard with the alloy I am using.Also The bullets are sized at .358 because they drop at .3585.I think maybe Beagling them to .360 might also help.

My RCBS 200 also casts at .3585. I use a .360 size die only to apply lube and GC. I have had great results with that boolit in my Marlin 336. In fact I am hunting wild pigs and deer with it this year. I am loading it over 38 gr of H335. It shoots an 1.5-2 inch group at 100yds. Good Luck

Marc

[jtaylor1960]

My bore slugged at .359.I just used the RCBS as is to get a base to start on.I have an NEI mold that drops at 250 grs. but don't want to go that high in this gun.The BRP mold you mentioned sounds good.They also have a 200gr. with a .360 diameter.

[Newtire]

My RCBS 200 also casts at .3585. I use a .360 size die only to apply lube and GC. I have had great results with that boolit in my Marlin 336. In fact I am hunting wild pigs and deer with it this year. I am loading it over 38 gr of H335. It shoots an 1.5-2 inch group at 100yds. Good Luck

Marc

Hey Marc,
I saw tha tload posted somewhere and tried it also with the RanchDog 190 gr. sized at .359" Mine is a 1950's 336 rifle with the 24" barrel. With that load, it clocks 2163-2227fps. I used Felix Lube rather than the tumble lube-worked fine and good accuracy.