Marlin Cowboy in 357

[ddeaton]

I just picked one up at the show today. Anyone suggest a good mold to get to load for this? Do these feed 38's ok also?

[BoolitSmith]

I have the 1894c.The Lee 158gr RFN is what I use.Mine feeds 38's and 357's with no difference.

[EDK]

A 24 inch 357 Cowboy went for $675 at the local shop just before christmas! I had an 1894c from the early 80s and a Cowboy for the last ? years that got fed mostly 38 brass. Finding a 357 Cowboy or 1894c is hard and at a reasonable price even more so. Used ones....forget it.

I like 358665 and 358156 in either magnum or special brass. I've got a RANCH DOG TLC 359 190, but it will have to be loaded in 38 brass in unaltered guns.

Glenn Fryxell has numerous articles at www.lasc.us and one in particular on loads for the MARLIN 1894s in 357--44--and 45. A bunch of good loads and velocity data. If I ever get to meet him, I'm buying lunch....Glenn is THE MAN on cast boolits!

[ddeaton]

Thanks EDK, I guess I didnt do too bad at $425 for it then. Actually, I bought it for the wife, she was with me and carried it out. I didnt even get to look at it. Now I have to scrounge up molds and dies. I dont load any 38/357 currently. I will check out the link you gave me for the loads.

[DJWright]

I use a LBT mould that casts a 180 grain gas checked bullet. I've used a few different moulds, but the heavy LBT is the only one that shoots well at all velocities. My favorite load is 16.0 grains Hodgdon 'Lil gun powder. It maintains accuracy at looong range, where the lighter bullets seem to loose it at about 300 yards. The same load seems to shoot best in both my revolves as well. Cheers

[opentop]

Hey Deaton,

Check this one out!

http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.a...0-6d4ee38b0030

[opentop]

I also have the lee 158 Gr RNFP if you want to try some.

[45r]

The saeco 180GC mold is a good one.I got 3 Mtn molds for mine and they all shoot under an inch at 50 yards with no leading.2 are PB and I use RE-7 for them.

[cajun shooter]

I've had one of these since it was put in my hands in 1984. I use mine as back up in CAS shooting. It will shoot 38's all day long for loads of fun. If you are going to shoot the rifle alot, install the one piece firing pin as the stock one will break. The great thing about the Malin is that all you have to do is remove the lever screw and slide out the bolt. Then it can be cleaned like a bolt action, from the chamber end. My rifle loves the Lyman 358665 bullet. I even load this one with BP for CAS. Once she learns the rifle, you will be in trouble keeping her in ammo.

[ddeaton]

Hey Deaton,

Check this one out!

http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.a...0-6d4ee38b0030

Opentop, I couldnt get the link to work, but I think I found the one you are looking at
http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.a...0-6d4ee38b0030

I dont know if this one works either. That is a decent looking boolit. Is there feeding problems when using 38 special brass? That is all I have at the moment.

[ddeaton]

I've had one of these since it was put in my hands in 1984. I use mine as back up in CAS shooting. It will shoot 38's all day long for loads of fun. If you are going to shoot the rifle alot, install the one piece firing pin as the stock one will break. The great thing about the Malin is that all you have to do is remove the lever screw and slide out the bolt. Then it can be cleaned like a bolt action, from the chamber end. My rifle loves the Lyman 358665 bullet. I even load this one with BP for CAS. Once she learns the rifle, you will be in trouble keeping her in ammo.

Cajun, where do you get the firing pins at?

[opentop]

Deaton,

I can't get your link to work eighter but its the Snakebite Greasewagon 38 Special Cal 158 grain Big Lube

The long Ogive Flat Point is designed to allow loading in 38 Special brass to give a cartridge OAL that will function well in .357 Magnum rifles and pistols.

BTW, I'm going to the sportsmans clup Saturday morning for "Orientation"

[ddeaton]

Opentop, thats the one. What do you think of it? I havent tried to cycle anything through my Marlin yet, so I dont know if I will have an issue with length or not. Maybe someone will chime in that knows more about it, hint, hint.

As of now, I only have 38 brass. Will this feed ok with the round flat points in 158 gr? Or do I need to aquire some 357 brass?

[cajun shooter]

ddeaton, The snakebite which I have and load is made for BP shooting. It was designed to load into 38spl cases and give the same oal as a 357 round. If you shoot CAS and have the Carbine it will only load 9 rds until it's modified. If you are just shooting smokeless powder then you don't want the snakebite. The best bullet that I've found to date to shoot in 38spl cases is the 358665. If you want to try some let me know. The one piece firing pins can be purchased from Brownells. The rnfp design is probably one of the best to use in any lever action. You have the flat nose for impact and the round edge for feeding. The flat nose also is helpful in not setting any rounds in the magazine off as we all know.

[opentop]

Thanks Cajun, It's nice to hear from some one that's used the snakebite.

Deaton, I can give you some of the lee 158's so you can make some dummy rounds to see how they feed.

[ddeaton]

Opentop, I will take you up on that. You dont happen to know a fellow out your way at Gunstocks Plus by the name of Otto do you?

Thanks Cajun, It's nice to hear from some one that's used the snakebite.

Deaton, I can give you some of the lee 158's so you can make some dummy rounds to see how they feed.

[opentop]

I know of Verg Otto, but never have formally met him. Some day I want to build a flintlock rifle and thought about getting a stock from him.

[ddeaton]

What diameter are you guys sizing these at?