I've been loading for my model 94 "trapper" and my loads don't feed for ****. I think the AOL may be insufficient. I have read that guys shooting Marlins have had the same problem. Has anyone found a length they have been successful with? I'm casting 158 gr. SWC.
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My Marlin doesn't "like" SWC boolits but OAL seems to be more important especially when loading in magnum cases. It seems to digest anything in a 38 special case as long as its not too short. As always your mileage will vary.
Wes
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My Model 1894 .357 shoots about anything in a .38 Special case. Makes no difference. SWC, RB but especially likes the RFN bullets. It's not picky.
My friends Winchester on the other hand was a bit picky and many times wouldn't feed some of my loads. It's inherrent in the beast I beleive./beagle
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I have had problems with a second round coming in on top of the link as the previous round is being chambered. It seems like it's not a problem with longer cartridges but I really don't know. Has your friend had any problems like that?
If you're gonna shoot shoot, don't talk.
Are you talking about a 94 Marlin or 94 Winchester?
Most people seem to feed just about anything through most Marlins but I have heard that a lot of Win 94s in 357 can be a bit cranky.
My Marlin will feed any 357 or 38spl that I have ever tried in it.
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This is a common problem in Win 94 .357's. The action was designed for the 30-30 which is a long cartridge with a big head. They modified the action somewhat and then cheaped out with poor fitting soft parts. The gun handles 45 colt and .44 mag ok but .357's can be problematic. I have one and have done a lot of work on it, the only reason I keep it around is it's very accurate. The action is sloppy and rough, my Rossi 92's put it to shame in that dept. Here some links on the misfeed.Originally Posted by Dirty30
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/vi...hp?f=1&t=34790
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/vi...hp?f=1&t=27469
http://www.levergunscommunity.com/vi...php?f=1&t=7996
Since I welded up my link cartridge OAL is no problem in my 94, it will even handle the 358429 in mag cases crimped in the crimp groove. Still a sloppy clunky action though!
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I can't speak to the Winchesters, since the only ones I have are in .30-30 and .44 Magnum, but for the .357 Magnum Marlins using .38 Special cases, the magic number is 1.480" OAL. Anything shorter will cause hiccups, especially when cycling fast.
Experiment with the OAL and find what your rifle likes. I also avoid SWC bullets in my Marlins, except for my .45 Colt Cowboy, which will feed anything.
Hope this helps.
Fred
My 94 Winchester is the Ranger Compact version. It really prefers a longer length than anything you can put in a .38 case.
It feeds 358429 in magnum cases great; the 358627 seated to crimp in the lower crimp groove will feed okay if the lever is worked briskly.
158 RNFP in .38 cases for plinking will occassionally pop out the top before the bolt goes home.
Robert
My Marlin 1894 will feed anything I have tried in a 38 special case. They dont shoot very well but they will feed. Even a 148 gr wadcutter seated with only 3/16" or so about the case mouth.
Can't say I have any experience with boolits in my Marlin .357/.38, but it feeds jacketed 158 gr +P .38s with no problems at all. My .44 is one of those which has no problems with Ideal 431244 either. The current Lyman 429244 should be the clone to that boolit.
I haven't had any problems with mine feeding 38 specials. I have a Lee round nose 158 gr TL boolit.
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Two things to specifically look at are the OAL (see above about 1.480" being the magic minimum) and the SWC boolit's shoulder.
Some leverguns will feed the SWCs and some won't. If you have one that doesn't like them, you have two choices - pick a different shaped boolit, or go to work on breaking the corner where the chamber starts. There's a thread over at marlinowners.com that tells how to do that.
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Fellas I think that was exactly what I was looking for. I'll strip it down tomorrow and see if the welding job on the link is something I can do, if I can't I can have it done. I'll try a few different boolits and see if they work any better. Thanks to everyone for all the good info.
If you're gonna shoot shoot, don't talk.
Never have seen a cowboy action shooter who was successful at getting Semi-Wad Cutter design bullets to run well in a lever action rifle (92, 73, 66, 94 Marlins). So, I'd start with a different bullet before incriminating the rifle.
I use a 158 grain Snakebite Big Lube design bullet. This bullet has many virtues, but for your situation, its advantage is that it yields a .357 magnum OAL in .38 cases. This is due to the fact that it is long for its weight because of the generous lube groove at the back of the bullet. Also, it is a round nose, flat point design with a meplate just large enough to prevent chain firing in a tubular magazine. It is a great bullet and I've used several thousand of them over the past couple of years. I have never had a feeding slow down or problem with this bullet in .38 special cases. It might be the ideal choice for the long action of the '94 Winchester.
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Last edited by fecmech; 09-01-2012 at 11:28 AM.
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Thanks!
If you're gonna shoot shoot, don't talk.
I don't have a Lever Action in 357/38, but I do own a 358 Winchester chambered Mauser that loads a lot smoother with a 158gr RN boolit over the 158gr SWC boolit design as well.
Bruce
I Cast my Boolits, Therefore I am Happy.
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My Marlin 1894c in 357 loves the 180gr in 38 special brass over 10gr 2400.
It my most accurate load.
Man I forgot how accurate this little rifle is. I was shooting shotgun hulls over offhand at 25 yds the other day when trying out my repaired cartridge stop. I'll see if I can hunt up some 158 gr. RN boolits to try out before I buy the mold.
If you're gonna shoot shoot, don't talk.
After reading all the posts I can't figure the absolute necessity for using 38SPLs instead of 357s unless your chamber is 38SPL for some reason??. The 357 can easily be loaded down to most any 38SPL power level desired. Also can't figure welding and modifying parts on an otherwise functional gun just to get there?? Also, shooting a bunch of 38s in the 357 will build up quite a carbon ring just in front of the case. Then if for some reason you want to chamber a 357... it won't until some serious scrubbing is done. Also, all that freebore throat in front of the 38 case may not help accuracy. Just curious.
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