Jbar4Ranch
11-06-2012, 07:10 PM
I recently picked up a 107 year old Marlin 1894 with a slightly oversize bore - about .4045". My three .38-40 bullets drop at about .401-.402", of course, and they tumble immediately up on exiting the barrel, leading to groups of up to 2' at 25 yards. I sized a Lyman 410459 (.41 mag SWC) to .406", and it shoots beautifully... but it's too long to feed from the magazine. Crimped over the front shoulder, it works great too, and feeds well from the magazine, but I'm sure, sooner or later, it will telescope if using smokeless powder. Another one I tried is a design made for the .40-60 Winchester, Lyman 403168. Once again, sized to .406", it shoots wonderfully, but is also just a tiny bit too long to feed from the magazine. And, once again, crimped over the shoulder, it feeds fine, but will also likely telescope eventually with smokeless powder. Sized to .406", these bullets also expand the neck just enough where there is noticeable resistance when chambering. I can turn out a .404 or .405" lubrisizer die, that is not a problem; the problem is finding a suitable bullet with a short enough nose that when crimped in the crimp groove will feed through the magazine.
Any suggestions? Other than having a custom mold made? Anybody have a handful of Lee 410-195-SWC they could send me for experimentation?
Any suggestions? Other than having a custom mold made? Anybody have a handful of Lee 410-195-SWC they could send me for experimentation?