1894 Marlin Cowboy Limited in .44-40 WCF - What Rifling Twist?

[Prairie Cowboy]

The JM Marlin Cowboy Limited was manufactured in .44-40 WCF with a 24" barrel for a few years.
But, I haven't been able to find direct specs stating the rifling twist.

On a Wikipedia Marlin article, I did find a chart listing the JM Cowboy Limited Model 1894CL with a 20" barrel, which was chambered in .45Colt, .41 Magnum, and .32-20 WCF with the 6 groove Ballard rifling with a 1:38" twist in all 3 cartridges. (or so it said)

Oddly, there was a JM 1894CL model in .32-20 WCF, which had a 22" barrel and a 1:20" twist (or so it said).

Can anyone confirm the rifling twist for the JM 24" Cowboy Limited in .44-40 WCF?

[osteodoc08]

My CCL in 41 Mag has the standard for caliber 1:18.

[Randy Bohannon]

Most likely it has a 44 Mag. barrel, so whatever R.O.T. They were using at the time for the .44 Mag. I recall some being really slow like 1:38 and were limited to 240-250 gr. bullets.
Not a problem for the 44-40 WCF 230 grs shoot wonderful in my Win/ Miroku’s (.44 Mag. barrel) the cartridge was designed around 200 gr bullets.

[40-82 hiker]

^^^^^^^^

I found a reference that shows the 1894CCL, in 44-40 had a twist rate of 1:38, right-hand, ballard. This would be right in agreement with Randy, but note it is the "CCL" not "CL". Are they the same? Might be seeing the same reference as the OP.

[Prairie Cowboy]

Most likely it has a 44 Mag. barrel, so whatever R.O.T. They were using at the time for the .44 Mag. I recall some being really slow like 1:38 and were limited to 240-250 gr. bullets.
Not a problem for the 44-40 WCF 230 grs shoot wonderful in my Win/ Miroku’s (.44 Mag. barrel) the cartridge was designed around 200 gr bullets.

I think that most likely you are correct about all .44 caliber JM Marlins using a .429" .44 magnum barrel and 1:38 twist. But, ya never know.....
That's why I was hoping somebody might have one (or had one) of the 24" Cowboys in .44-40 and had researched it.

I have a very detailed article regarding accurate shooting with the 24" barrelled 1894, using 200-215 grain cast boolits, but the author didn't mention the twist.
By the way, what is the rifling twist for your Miroku Winchester(s), and are you referring to 230 grain cast boolits or jacketed?

[Prairie Cowboy]

^^^^^^^^

I found a reference that shows the 1894CCL, in 44-40 had a twist rate of 1:38, right-hand, ballard. This would be right in agreement with Randy, but note it is the "CCL" not "CL". Are they the same? Might be seeing the same reference as the OP.

The Wikipedia article agrees with your data about the Model 1894CCL. Was Wiki your reference, or did you locate another another source?

However, this 1894 is the earlier (I think) Cowboy model with the 24" barrel, and just might have a different twist rate.
The article does not mention the exact model number and I haven't found a reference for it, just that it is a 24" 1894 Cowboy.

I am cross referencing this data with an excellent article about cast boolit shooting with the .44-40, where the author used the 24" barrel 1894 Cowboy to obtain really good 100 yard groups.
But since he didn't mention the twist of his 1894, I don't know for certain if those results were with a 1:38" twist, or a faster twist.

[Outpost75]

Look up Savvy Jack's posts, he has a thread going on long range .44-40

[Prairie Cowboy]

Look up Savvy Jack's posts, he has a thread going on long range .44-40

Thanks. I will.

I wonder if this is the same person as Jack Christian (SASS handle) that is the source of the article that sent me off on this quest?

[Prairie Cowboy]

Thanks for all of the replies. Please keep them coming.

[Randy Bohannon]

I have only used the Accurate 210gr and 230 gr. moulds, the ones mentioned in Savvy Jacks excellent work up,including B/P. I have only used B/P in my 2 Win/Miroku 1873’s in 44-40. I am ringing 10-10 silhouette 200 yd. ram with MVA irons. Have seen no good reason to change anything.
Both moulds are .430” ,I have to size to .429” when using Remington brass, Win. brass no problem as cast with 16:1 alloy.

[Savvy Jack]

Thanks. I will.

I wonder if this is the same person as Jack Christian (SASS handle) that is the source of the article that sent me off on this quest?

That would be John Kort, aka w44wcf, aka 30wcf

[Savvy Jack]

Try this

[john.k]

PC also mentions 32-20 twist rate of 1/20"......this is near standard for calibre ,and not a fast twist ..........it will stabilize maximum of 130 gn bullets .

[Prairie Cowboy]

Try this

Hello. Thanks for your reply. Yes, I am quite familiar with this method.
However I don't own the 24" Marlin Cowboy that was used in John Kort's article: "My .44-40 Black Powder Journey"

What I am doing is trying to relate those results to my JM Marlin .44 magnum rifle, which has a 1:38" twist with Ballard rifling.
I would think that if the .44-40 rifle used in that article has that same twist rate, then I should be able to achieve similar results in my .44 magnum rifle if I can match the 1330 FPS velocity used.

Because of the lesser case capacity, I may not be able to achieve that velocity with black powder, but it would be easy enough to achieve with Unique, Universal, or 2400 smokeless powders.

Would you happen to know the twist rate of that 24" Marlin Cowboy in .44-40?

[Savvy Jack]

Duh, my bad!!!

I don't recall what John's Twist rate was.
My Marlin1894CB (Which is the same model John used), Uberti 73' and Marlin 1889 are all three 1:36 while my MGM is 1:20

[Prairie Cowboy]

Duh, my bad!!!

I don't recall what John's Twist rate was.
My Marlin1894CB (Which is the same model John used), Uberti 73' and Marlin 1889 are all three 1:36 while my MGM is 1:20

Thanks. I think that pretty much confirms it. A slow twist, but it works okay with 200 to 215 grain bullets.

[Savvy Jack]

Thanks. I think that pretty much confirms it. A slow twist, but it works okay with 200 to 215 grain bullets.

240gr bullets do great out to 100 yards but I really have not tried them at a distance of 200 yards, even with the MGM gadgit thingy doohicky!. I think one needs a faster twist for 240gr or higher to stabilize at distance shooting.