I use the term Remlin jokingly. I love all of my Marlins old and young.
First, let me thank you guys for sharing your knowledge so freely. I enjoy casting and shooting my own bullets and I like when they perform well. And I especially like having ammo loaded up in my safe when the store shelves are empty.
Any success I have had is because of what I have learned here. And because of what i have learned here getting my new Marlin 1894 45 Colt to shoot well has been a breeze.
It is a 2018 built rifle. When I first got it I tried my Blackhawk and Vaquero loads in it and I was disappointed. 8" groups at 50 yards and leading in the throat. These loads were the Lee 255 RF bullet loaded as cast over 8.8 gr of Unique. They worked great in my revolvers though.
I did a pound cast of the throat and I was surprised. The chamber in front of the case mouth was huge! This rifle easily swallows a .458" bullet. I tried to read the SAAMI diagram and if I am reading it right my chamber is in specs. So I turned to Tom at Accurate molds. He emailed me back and recommended his 45-250P mold.
I cast a few, sized them to .454", gave them two light coats of BLL and loaded them over 8.8 gr of Unique. (I use 8.8 gr instead of 8.5 gr because that is what my Lee Disk throws.)
I had a chance to try them today and I am very happy. Great groups and the leading in the throat is gone.
All groups were fired using the stock buckhorn sights. This first group is at 50 yards. This group proves something. I use Outpost 75's method of caring for the bore. When I am done I wipe the bore down with Ed's Red for storage. Then, before I shoot again, I wipe the bore down to dry it. The first round was slightly high but well within what I wanted.
This second group is at 75 yards. That is three shots, two into one hole. I forgot to take my marker down range at 75 and 100 yards.
And finally 100 yards. I was surprised that I could even see that far. I use paper plates with orange dots for higher contrast.
Don't let anyone tell you that Remlins can't shoot.
Best of luck,
Steve in N CA