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Thread: Loading for a Marlin 1894 44mag

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy ROCKET's Avatar
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    Loading for a Marlin 1894 44mag

    Can I use the same loads as I use in my six guns ? Does the marlin favor 200 or 240 boolits? Microgroove barrel.

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    Boolit Buddy 380AUTO's Avatar
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    I use the lee 429-200-fr in both my revolver and carbine it works for me and saves lead!
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    Boolit Master

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    the only single load that shot well in both my Ruger and my 1971 marlin 1894 were 240gr xtp with 19 gr of 2400
    kids that hunt and fish dont mug old ladies

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    Boolit Buddy ROCKET's Avatar
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    Loading for a Marlin 1894 44mag

    Quote Originally Posted by 380AUTO View Post
    I use the lee 429-200-fr in both my revolver and carbine it works for me and saves lead!
    Got a favorite load for those? I think I'll order a mold myself..

    They drop at 430 for you?

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    Last edited by ROCKET; 09-18-2018 at 11:59 PM.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    For the Marlin, you probably want a mould that will drop a bullet at least .432 diameter. To get that diameter, you'll have to go to a custom mould.

    Winelover

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    Boolit Buddy
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    Yes you can use the same ammo in both the pistol and the rifle, as long as it is safe ammo to begin with. May not get the best accuracy on one of them, but the same ammo works for both.
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    Boolit Grand Master

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    Some info on microgroove bbls and lead https://www.google.com/search?q=shoo...hrome&ie=UTF-8
    My Anchor is holding fast!

  8. #8
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    My revolver and rifle prefer different loads. You can shoot the same load in both, but working up what works best for each gun is the best route.
    The solid soft lead bullet is undoubtably the best and most satisfactory expanding bullet that has ever been designed. It invariably mushrooms perfectly, and never breaks up. With the metal base that is essential for velocities of 2000 f.s. and upwards to protect the naked base, these metal-based soft lead bullets are splendid.
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    Forget everything you know about loading jacketed bullets. This is a whole new ball game!


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    Boolit Master trapper9260's Avatar
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    I shoot the same load that I shoot in my Red Hawk and my Marlin same as you . I did found that when I size the boolit for my Marlin to .431, then to use .430 I use in my Red Hawk, I get better groups.I did get good groups with the .430 .but close in more with the .431. Hope this help. It works for me.
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  10. #10
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    I don't mind loads dedicated mainly to one gun. My 44 SBH likes one load a bit better than others and my 629 has it's favorites. FWIW; the SAAMI groove diameter for 44 Magnum rifle barrels is .431" while revolver barrels are .429". Since I use 99% cast bullets in my 44s so different bullet diameter bullets for a specific gun is sorta needed, and for me it's no big deal to tailor loads for a particular gun even if I have 4 others in the same caliber (I have 4 standard loads in .44 Magnum)...

    But, most of my "One Gun" loads will work satisfactorily/safely in all my 44 Magnums...
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  11. #11
    Boolit Master


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    for SASS I use the same loads--do realize that you have to compromise either getting more recoil with the revolvers or mouse-fart loads in the rifles

    normal 6 stage matches = 60 rounds of each revolver and rifle

    with our advancing age we have found it better to have one for each = carpal tunnel is no fun and not everyone wants bullet paths that look like a mortar round.

    do use same 200 gr bullet though
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  12. #12
    Boolit Buddy ROCKET's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by mdi View Post
    I don't mind loads dedicated mainly to one gun. My 44 SBH likes one load a bit better than others and my 629 has it's favorites. FWIW; the SAAMI groove diameter for 44 Magnum rifle barrels is .431" while revolver barrels are .429". Since I use 99% cast bullets in my 44s so different bullet diameter bullets for a specific gun is sorta needed, and for me it's no big deal to tailor loads for a particular gun even if I have 4 others in the same caliber (I have 4 standard loads in .44 Magnum)...

    But, most of my "One Gun" loads will work satisfactorily/safely in all my 44 Magnums...
    My 629 -1 likes .431"... anything lower than that I get leading
    I better slug that marlin

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    Last edited by ROCKET; 09-19-2018 at 07:58 PM. Reason: 68

  13. #13
    Boolit Buddy

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    My 1894 Marlin, '77 vintage, likes a .432 bullet too. The SBH does great with .430s. Heck the SBH likes about anything I've tried.
    Jeff

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    Boolit Buddy watkibe's Avatar
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    What my Marlin 1894 really doesn't like is a semi-wadcutter boolit. The sharp shoulder hangs up while feeding. I use a Lee .430/200 RNFP, which feeds and shoots fine. My Blackhawk hates that boolit !
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    Watkibe: put a .040-.050 chamfer on the chamber mouth and the gun will feed anything.

    I have posted this here many times.

    Randy
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  16. #16
    Boolit Master

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    For accuracy, my Marlin has a strong preference for gas checked bullets. The bore in mine is on the tight side, so I powder coat and size to .431". I use a 250gr. 429244. It also doesn't shoot well with light loads.

    The same full-throttle H110, 250gr gas checked loads shoot fine in my model 29 and 629, but I shoot mostly 429421 (non-gas check) in them, as well as lighter loads.

  17. #17
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    One Achille's Heel not mentioned so far concerning the Marlin 1894 examples in 44 Magnum is their rifling twist rate. For some reason, Marlin elected to use the old 44/40 WCF twist rate of 1 turn in 38 inches. This works fine with the 44/40's 200-217 grain squatty short flatnose designs, but when the heavier (and therefor longer) bullets are used accuracy can fall off if velocities aren't elevated to increase rotational speed. I have a Winchester 1892 repro as my 44 Magnum lever gun, and its twist rate is 1-24". This is probably a better "default" twist rate for 44 Magnum rifles than the old 44/40 rate, but you have to work with what you have--assuming you don't want to re-barrel, which is a more complex undertaking than with a bolt rifle. I have a 250 grain round flatnose/gas check design from Accurate Molds that runs very well in the rifle and the revolvers (#43-250D).

    ETA--I have tried 310 grain WFN bullets in this rifle, and they are just a bit too much of a good thing. They flew point-forward just fine, but exact a cost in recoil that gets tiresome inside 20 rounds. The 250s at 1800 FPS aren't nearly as bad recoil-wise, and are just a better all-around bullet for 44 caliber applications. The 200 grain SAECO #446 plain-base at 1100-1200 FPS from either my 44/40 or the 44 Magnum is an all-day delight to shoot. In today's uber-magnum era, a 200 grain 43 caliber bullet at 44/40 speeds is not notable, but as the late Frank Barnes noted in an early edition of Cartridges of the World, "The 44/40 WCF has accounted for for more game animals large and small, and more men bad and good, than any other caliber being used currently". I think the 223 Rem/5.56 x 45 might have eclipsed the 44/40 by now in 2018, but Mr. Barnes' point was valid when he made it in the early 1960s. You don't need barn-burner loadings to punch holes in cardboard or knock soda cans galley-west, and you won't feel like you went 4 rounds inside the octagon after firing a couple boxes of 44/40 duplicators. And to close this diatribe with a bit of heresy.......after almost 40 years with the 44 Magnum, my feeling is that the caliber is a far better rifle chambering than it is a revolver round, as loaded currently.
    Last edited by 9.3X62AL; 09-21-2018 at 11:10 PM.
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    The problem you face is micro-grove rifling in the Marlin which requires a fatter bullet....I order 200 gr RF from Casting Machine in .432 add in 10 gr Unique and the gun runs flawless......good luck on a great gun.
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  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy ROCKET's Avatar
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    Anyone tried a rcbs 245-kt ? I think I'll cast some and try them out.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check