Case life in my Marlin

[rollmyown]

How many reloads can I expect out of my Starline brass fired in a sloppy chambered 1894 (45 Colt)?

I'm using 18 gn of 2400 and the Mihec 45-270 grainer.

All I'm after is an estimated range.

[runfiverun]

the pressure is up there a bit.
and the working it back and forth ain't good on it.
i'd call it 10 maybe 12 before it gets brittle.
you may or not get neck cracks but i bet you lose case tension.

[btroj]

If you use carbide dies and your chamber is huge like mine- 10 to 12 is good. Some cases will last longer.
I find that when they go you can easly tell- I get splits over 1/2 the length of the case. I can tell when they eject as they have a unique ring to them.
I could get a steel sizer and not work the brass so much but then I need to lube cases and I don't want to take the extra time.
500 cases will last me many years of shooting some don't sweat the brass life.

[rollmyown]

Thanks fellas, I've lost a couple of nickel cases to neck splits (I don't like nickel, but it was all I could buy at the time when I got the rifle) The Starline seems a bit more ductile. I'm getting quite a noticeable bulge above the rim. The bulge is still just as noticeable when loaded with 17 grains of 2400, which I don't think is an overly hot load, and therefore just a result of the Marlin sloppy chamber syndrome.
I bought 500 brass cases, sounds like that will probably do me.

[emrah]

A lot if you neck size only. Now, I KNOW you're not supposed to neck size in leverguns, but I can't even get two reloads in my sloppy M94 Ranger if I full length size. I get case separation in the body. Ridiculous. I now neck size only after initial firing. Yes, you have to squeeze the lever, but most of that comes from the fact that I size to .311 and the boolit engraves in the throat anyway.

Emrah

[btroj]

The bulge is due to the HUGE chamber Marlin seems to like. My cases do this also. I haven't tried it yet but I intend to begin sizing only enough case to hold the bullet securely. I am sure my cases will have an odd shape but who cares if it works.

[runfiverun]

i would just work the front too.
it went in and came out, why squeeze it, then you gotta trim.
if things get tight then size it again.

[emrah]

I should add that by neck sizing only, I am on the 5th reload on brass.

Emrah

[btroj]

A 30-30 is vastly different from a 45 Colt. The 45 Colt doesn't a have a shoulder to be pushed back. If you adjusted your dies to just touch the shoulder on the 30-30 it would give better case life.

[emrah]

A 30-30 is vastly different from a 45 Colt. The 45 Colt doesn't a have a shoulder to be pushed back. If you adjusted your dies to just touch the shoulder on the 30-30 it would give better case life.

Oops! I read "Marlin" in the original post and didn't even see tha .45 colt caliber mentioned. Assumed .30-30.

Emrah

[EDK]

HANDLOADER magazine has taken quite an interest in 45 Long Colt dimensions lately...multiple articles and responses in Brian Pearce's column. One of the major reloading die manufacturers formerly would customize a STEEL sizer die for you if you sent them several cases fired in your chamber for measuring. Another option was to just neck size the upper portion of the casings.

45 Colt rifles, and suitably strong pistols! have a lot going for them, BUT the issues with dimensions have kept me away from them.

As always, go to lasc.us and read Glenn Fryxell's article on 1895 MARLINS and become enlightened...plus saving a lot of wasted time, effort and components. Read the rest of the articles as time permits.

:redneck::cbpour::guntootsmiley:

[handyman25]

I have a Rossi 92 in 45lc and it too has a big chamber. I do cowboy action shooting and if I only neck size then the rounds will not chamber in my ruger revolvers. First trim the brass for length. I bought starline and it was not uniform in length. You can anneal the brass after every third time and get more reloads but that its a lot of work. My loads are "hot" to other cowboy action shooters but mild to regular pistol shooters. I have that mold and today shot it with 18 grains of 2400 to see how well it would shoot. A warm load to be sure. Not something I would recommend to someone.

[Rrusse11]

Oops! I read "Marlin" in the original post and didn't even see tha .45 colt caliber mentioned. Assumed .30-30.

Emrah

Marlin does a lot more than just 30-30!
I got at least one of @
219 Bee; 25-20; 25-36 Marlin; 256WinMag; 30-30; 32 HPS; 32-20; 35 Rem;356 Win; 38-55; 44-40; 44Mag; 444 Marlin;45 Colt; 45-70.
Lol, and then if you want to get into the older stufff,,,,,,,,,,,, :-)
A 338Marlin Express is on the way, and I'm waiting for the right
450Marlin to come along,,,,,,, And one of these days a 307Win by rechambering a 30-30 with a 308 Reamer.
All the best!
R*2