wadcutters

[Tag]

Just picked up a 94 44 mag and was wondering how the levers handled semi wadcutters in the 240gr. gas checked boolits

[EDK]

MARLIN or WINCHESTER?

My Marlin Cowboy rifles in 44 magnum feed LYMAN 429244 and 429215 very well...if you mess with over all length, most of the KEITH boolit clones will work also. If you really want trouble free AND good performance, get the RANCH DOG TLC 432 265 or LYMAN 429667 or one of the other round nose flat point designs like the original boolits for 44/40 and other classic lever gun cartridges.

Go to lasc.us and look at Glenn Fryxell's article on 1894 MARLINS for a lot of good information.

[beagle]

I have a M94 Winchester Legacy and it feeds Lyman's 429421 just fine and shoots accurately in it as well. Same with the 429244 and 429215 Lyman./beagle

[blackpowder man]

My Rossi '92 will feed 240 lee semi wadcutters in mag, but gets finicky in .44 special cases. EDK is right about the RD 432-265 it feeds and shoots great. The only cowboy shoot I've been to I used the RD 265 and it fed as fast as I could lever without a hiccup.

[Tag]

Thanks guys, it's a Winchester, sorry I didn't know Marlin made a 94. do they make a gas check in RFN mold?

[Tag]

I see the 432-265 is a RF but I don't tumble lube

[NHlever]

My Trails End 94 Winchester 44 mag will feed, and shoot just about everthing including the Lyman 429421. My go to hunting load is the 429244 over a healthy dose of H-110. I haven't found anything it won't feed yet. My 94 Legacy in .357 is the same way, and handles the RCBS 35-200 just fine. My Marlins are a little more fussy, but not overly so.

[Tag]

Thanks, NHlever I guess it's time to buys some molds

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have found occasionally (I stress occasionally!), lever guns will feed SWCs, but generally in shorter cases, e.g, 38Special cases in 357 rifle and 44Spec in 44Mag, but each rifle is a law unto itself. I wouldn't bother with them unless you have a good stock of them and I would only use them for plinking, not worth spoiling a hunt or a competitive match with a fail to feed.

[NickSS]

I agree with 4 fingers of death. I have shot quite a few lever guns and very few of them are reliable with SWC bullets. I got so frustrated with failured to feed and other hangups that I only use RF shaped bullets in my lever guns. I do not have time for being frustrated besides I found that RF bullets generally are more accurate for me too.

[ReloaderFred]

Of the roughly dozen lever action rifles that I own, only one will feed SWC bullets smoothly, and that's my Marlin 1894CB in .45 Colt. If you stick with Round Nose Flat Point bullets, you'll save yourself a pile of aggravation.........

Hope this helps.

Fred

[Tag]

Thanks guys, I think I will go with the Lee 310 RF and the 200 RF and call it good

[Tag]

Well the lee 310gr. RF won't feed in my Win.94 in 44mag, so all you 44mag. guys chime in and give me some idea of what mold to try next

[TomAM]

This is a 240gr gas check that's designed for the lever. AM43-240L.

[Tag]

Tom,have you tried it in the 44mag?

[TomAM]

Yes, 44 mag Marlin lever. It does not exceed SAAMI maximum 44 mag OAL like most SWCs do, and the shoulder is only .008 and steeply beveled, so it does not hang up. I can make it without a shoulder, of course, but I favor a slight shoulder myself.

[Heavy lead]

I have a newer Trails End .45 Colt that will feed anything, this last year I bought a used 1980ish top eject .44 and it would not feed the Lee either in the bottom crimp groove, only in the top. I modified the carrier and it feeds everything, it shoots the Lee boolit at the bottom groove, the 503 Mihec and anything else like butter now, even Blammers 434300 hollow point with the .470 nose, takes a little care, but works well. The .45 Trails End feeds SWC's all day too mainly the 270SAA and also much anything else I've tried with so far up to a .440 nose.
My Marlin .357 won't feed SWC's at all though.
So your rifle won't even feed the Lee at the upper groove?

[Tag]

no, it will not feed in either crimp

[Southern Son]

Tag,
Don't know if you know, but the Ranch Dog 432-265 was a group buy with NOE making the moulds and the mould was cut with normal lube grooves, not tumble lube (also offered with a gas check). NOE might have some left, but you can't have mine, it casts really good and the boolits go through my Marlin real quick and smooth.