Marlin 1894 Cowboy Competition cast bullet

[Hammer47]

What do you consider to be the most accurate cast bullet available for the Marlin 1894 Cowboy Competition rifle? This one is to be used for silhouette so it will be launched on the slow side. The rifling is Ballard style and looks to be rather slow. Also need this bullet to feed reliably from the tube mag.

Would not mind a place to start in regards to load data for the above.

Many thanx........... Gary

[Grapeshot]

The most accurate bullets out of my .45 Colt Lever gun has been the Lee .454-255 followed closely by the Lyman 452666 "Cowboy". Both are RNFP designs.

As to loads. eight (8) grains of Alliant's Unique has been great when shooting in CAS matches and does wonders to coyotes and ground hogs. But for longer ranges I've used 17.5 grains of Alliant's 2400 with some good results. Good Luck.

[Firebricker]

In the Marlin a RNFP is a good design to start and would suggest slugging your barrel. What caliber are we talking about here ? FB

[Hammer47]

Sorry........it's a 38 special, I ammended the opening thread.

[Ben]

Hammer47 :

May not be the only accurate bullet to be fired out of an 1894 Marlin , CBC , 38 Spec. , but I'm very pleased with this combination !
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By the way, does anyone know how many CBC's Marlin made in the 38 Spec. chambering ?

I'd really like to know .
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I took my Marlin 1894, CBC, 38 Spec. to the range. Fired 7 rounds at 50 yards into roughly a 3/4 " group ( + or - ) with the Lee 125 gr. RF bullet, sized .3575 ", using Wolf small pistol primers and a mild crimp. Powder charge was 5.5 grs. of Russian Unique ( Salute ).

I think this bullet is going to get a lot of use at my loading bench now !

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/880.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/01042011.jpg

Here they are sized .3575 ", lubed with Ben's Red and ready to load :

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v494/haysb/Lee%2038%20357%20%20125%20gr%20RF/PICT0007.jpg

[fecmech]

Here is the same bullet as Bens from a Rossi at 100 yds.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=31849&stc=1&thumb=1&d=1303860694

[W.R.Buchanan]

Those last two posts pretty much end this debate.

Just do that!

Nice shootin' guys.

Randy

[W.R.Buchanan]

Ben: I think they made about 1000 of them. They had everything done to them action wise that I do on a standard slick up, but they also had a Case Colored receiver and "better wood". They are nice guns!

I do know they sold everyone they made pretty quickly which only shows that people will pay more for a "custom shop gun" without hesitation. I wish they would do more of this type of thing. The market is there, they just have to develope the will to service it.

Those guns were $999 MSRP and sold mostly in the $859 range. The standard grade 1894 Cowboy guns sold for $500-600. And I paid $525 for my 1894 Cowboy .44 mag Rifle. Have looked for a octagon barreled Carbine for several years now with no luck.

Randy

[Firebricker]

I've only got to test fire a few boolits from the NOE 180gr RNFP out of my Marlin CB for now but it looks promising so far.
Ben, fecmech that's some excellent groups from the Lee 125gr if I can wind up with something anywhere close to those with my NOE I'll be happy. FB

[Harter66]

The Lee 358-158 RF shoots like that in mine too.