Marlin 1894 .357

[jcameron996]

I have a Marlin 1894 that I have had for five or six years. I bought it new and I haven't shot it a whole lot, but it has logged a lot of miles with me on the four wheeler(too handy to leave at home when checking cows). I am wanting to start casting for it so I can shoot it a lot more. I am just getting started in this casting business so I am looking for any pointers from the group so I don't have to reinvent the wheel. I don't think it has a micro-groove barrel, but I have read on here about some barrels being oversize. Any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

[ReloaderFred]

If you just want a plinking bullet, the 125 grain RNFP is hard to beat. That's what my wife and I shoot in our Marlins for Cowboy Action matches, so we put a lot of rounds downrange. The 125 grain weight makes your lead supply last longer.

If you want something for shooting coyotes, etc., then I'd go with a 158 grain RNFP bullet. I also load a 180 grain RNFP bullet for serious work with the Marlins, and it's deadly accurate with Lil'Gun powder. For the plinking loads, I just use Bullseye, since it's so accurate and you get an awful lot of rounds per pound with it.. For mid-weight bullets, I like Winchester 296 for full power loads.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[imashooter2]

My 2000 vintage 1894C much prefers heavy boolits. I get excellent results with the various group buy 360-180-WFN designs and also the SAECO #353 180 grain RNFP. I load most of them over Alliant 2400, but have also had good results using Lil' Gun with the gas checked design.

Here's a link to an older thread on the subject:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=40202

[crawfobj]

I've had great results with lee 158gr TL SWCs in .38 spl cases for a plinking load. Had an ammo can of them loaded up, so that's what I tried first. Haven't shot for groups, but it thumps the 6" 100 yard gong with authority and it is HARD on turtles. Recoil and muzzle blast like a .22 and just about as cheap to shoot over 3.5gr of bullseye. Lube is 45/45/10, and the bore stays nice and clean.

[Dorado]

I'd listen to Fred there. He made a good point. I have the same rifle, I use Lee 358-158 RNFP tumble lubed with Lee liquid alox. It is really reliable in my rifle, more accurate than I am, and isn't difficult to start with.

[358 Win]

I use the Lyman 358156 bullet in my 1894 Carbine from 1979. I'm getting superb accuracy with
AA#9 @ 1800fps. Shoots well under 2" at 50 yds off of sand bags. The 358156 bullet with lube and gas check applied weighs 164gr. The bullet is a SWC type but I experience NO feeding issues
with my rifle. In my 24" barreled 1894CBL I use the Ranch Dog 358-175 RFGC bullet @ 180gr. With the Lyman aperture site installed, it shoots right at 2" @ 50yds. I'm getting 1600fps with that bullet and Alliant 2400 powder. Either set up is quite capable of taking deer at moderate ranges.
358 Win

[Jeff82]

I shoot 158 grain RNFP rounds made with wheel weight and 2% tin adn water quenched. I load with 5.8 grains of Universal and a regular primer. It shoots 3" high at 50-yards when sighted point blank at 100-yards. Very accurate. I have ballard rifling. My barrel slugs out at 0.355 inches.

[crabo]

If you just want a plinking bullet, the 125 grain RNFP is hard to beat. That's what my wife and I shoot in our Marlins for Cowboy Action matches, so we put a lot of rounds downrange. The 125 grain weight makes your lead supply last longer. Fred

I am redoing all of my loads for my 357 Marlin. I had a friend set my barrel back and recut the chamber and recrown it. My gun would chamber a loaded .362 boolit.

Here is a group I shot tonight. It was interesting that the first shot when I changed from CRed to Tac-1 lube was 2" away from the rest of the group.

http://i1078.photobucket.com/albums/w482/Crabo308/Cast%20Groups/357%20Lever%20gun/5-8of231Lee125RNFP_436x600_zps1ac059aa.jpg

[gundownunder]

I threw my Lee 158gr rnfp in the trash can, partly because the mold didn't impress me but mainly because my rifle hates that bullet weight in cast bullets, it hates the commercial cast in that weight too. I found 5" at 50yds about as good as it could get.

I have found that my 357 cowboy does best with weights around 180gr, I bought a 360640 from a group buy and at 175gr it is a good bullet for my rifle and with a plain base gascheck on it, initial tests suggest it will be even more accurate (time will tell)

If your rifle turns out anything like mine it will shoot any jacketed factory ammo really well, irrespective of bullet weight but will do cast bullets best if the bullets are heavy, sized larger than the bore, and pushed hard.

The 125gr rnfp I tried was a commercial cast and it was stacks of fun but accuracy was only mediocre with 2" - 3" at 50yds about all it could muster.

[colonelhogan44]

I threw my Lee 158gr rnfp in the trash can, partly because the mold didn't impress me but mainly because my rifle hates that bullet weight in cast bullets

That's a huge shame. My Rossi LOVES that boolit. I would have paid the $5.35 in shipping to have another mould.