I wanted to share my success with you guys since this forum has been my source of knowledge and inspiration. My latest project is a Marlin 1894CS in .357 mag, my all time favorite caliber ( but I say that about all of the calibers ). This rifle is everything a woods rifle is supposed to be. Light, fast, and now, accurate.
In my previous projects you guys helped me turn a VZ24 7X57 built in the early 20th century into a superb 100 and 200 yard shooter. This was done through beagling, checking, sizing and homemade lube. After that I used the knowledge gained from this site to turn my 30-30 into a cast boolit shooting laser beam that handles cat sneeze loads on cottontails all the way to hammer loads on pigs, etc.
By the time I got my 1894CS I had already read reams of articles on the microgroove preference for larger boolits. But I decided to check for myself. (Isn't it funny how we have to see things for ourselves before we can believe it? Even when we know what we are going to find?) Long story short: the hot cast loads that I had used with great success in my S&W revolvers were terrible in the accuracy department and leaded horribly in my new rifle.
I bought a new Lee 358-158-RF mold that dropped a beautiful boolit. I set aside a morning when I would not be interrupted and lapped out the cavities, then polished them. The boolits now drop at .362-.363". I then honed out a new Lee push thru sizer to .360". After some load experimenting I have settled on 9.1 gr of Accurate #7. It does 1424 fps at the muzzle and the accuracy is outstanding. The target was shot at 38 yards. The accuracy was aided with a Skinner peep sight I might add. This rifle will now take over camp meat/rabbit/squirrel duties from my 30-30.
In closing, you guys are the best. Thanks to each and every one of you.
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My next project is a Thompson/Center Hawken from Gunbroker that I am resurrecting.