6pt-sika
08-02-2007, 01:36 AM
I've been at the lever silhouette thing with the big bore guns for a couple months now :drinks:
But a week or so ago I started wantibg to get a pistol caliber lever action ready for the pistol caliber class .
At first I was thinking 44-40 or 38-40 . Neither would have been a problem since I have a Marlin 1894CB in 44-40 , an 1894CCL in 44-40 and an original Marlin 1894 in 38-40 .
I watched the guys that shoot the 44 MAG and 45 Long Colt in the big bore event , as I have 1894CB's in 44 MAG and 45 LC . But they seemed to have an awful lot of recoil .
Then I thought of the 1894CB in 357 as I also happen to have one of those . But for some reason that one just doesn't get me overly excited .
So then I started looking at the 32-20 and 25-20 . And as always I had a few of these stuck back in the safe also .
So when I went to the range last week I took a Marlin 1894CL in 25-20 that is circa 1988 . Another Marlin 1894CL in 32-20 that is circa 1990 and last but not least a Marlin 1894CCL in 32-20 that was made in 2003 I believe .
For the 25-20 I loaded some Lyman 257420's which come out about 68 grains lubed and checked . And also some 257312's , they come out lubed and checked at about 89 grains . I loaded both of these with 5.5 grains of Unique .
For the 32-20 I loaded up some 311419's that lubed and checked weigh around 90 grains . And some 311316's that weigh in the 115 grain neighborhood when sized and checked . Again everything was loaded with 5.5 grains of Unique .
My biggest concern was seeing if these loads would knock over the half size "Hunter Pistol" ram at 100 meters .
So when I got to the range , after putting up my target stands I went in the silhouette bunker and got out three of these rams and set them at 100 meters .
Then I went back to the bench . The 25-20 had a 20x Leupold on it so I sighted it in dead on at 100 yards with the 88 grainers and saw where the 68 grainers would hit at 100 . The 32-20 CL was just iron sighted so I sighted it in on the 100 meter stationary pig silhouette . And I did the same with the 32-20 CCL that had a tang sight installed .
Then I took the 25-20 and loaded three of the 68 grain 257420's and started shooting . I hit all three and all three fell right over . Then I loaded three of the 88 grainers and again three good hits and three toppled rams . Although these three seemed to be hit with a good bit more authority .
Next I took the 32-20 CL and tried the 90 grainers . Again they were all three toppled well . After resetting the targets for the third time I shot with my 20" barreled 1894CCL 32-20 and all three of those rams were HAMMERED and knocked back before tumbling .
Now bear in mind all 12 shots were from the bench in bags . I wanted to remove the "ME" variable until I found out if the loads had enough energy to knock the rams over decisevely .
I think all four bullets will get the job done ! However I think I am probably better off with the 88 grainer in the 25-20 and the 115 grainer in the 32-20 .
Incidently there is NO recoil with any of the 4 loads mentioned .
I have a pair of Marlin 30-30's worked out for the "Big Bore" match and now a couple 32-20's and the 25-20 are well on the way for the "Pistol Cartridge" event .
Now the next thing on the agenda is working out the smallbore rifle . Only have a single choice for that . A Marlin 1897CB I bought used a couple months ago . Also have a Marlin 1897T but the trigger sucks in that one .
:drinks:
But a week or so ago I started wantibg to get a pistol caliber lever action ready for the pistol caliber class .
At first I was thinking 44-40 or 38-40 . Neither would have been a problem since I have a Marlin 1894CB in 44-40 , an 1894CCL in 44-40 and an original Marlin 1894 in 38-40 .
I watched the guys that shoot the 44 MAG and 45 Long Colt in the big bore event , as I have 1894CB's in 44 MAG and 45 LC . But they seemed to have an awful lot of recoil .
Then I thought of the 1894CB in 357 as I also happen to have one of those . But for some reason that one just doesn't get me overly excited .
So then I started looking at the 32-20 and 25-20 . And as always I had a few of these stuck back in the safe also .
So when I went to the range last week I took a Marlin 1894CL in 25-20 that is circa 1988 . Another Marlin 1894CL in 32-20 that is circa 1990 and last but not least a Marlin 1894CCL in 32-20 that was made in 2003 I believe .
For the 25-20 I loaded some Lyman 257420's which come out about 68 grains lubed and checked . And also some 257312's , they come out lubed and checked at about 89 grains . I loaded both of these with 5.5 grains of Unique .
For the 32-20 I loaded up some 311419's that lubed and checked weigh around 90 grains . And some 311316's that weigh in the 115 grain neighborhood when sized and checked . Again everything was loaded with 5.5 grains of Unique .
My biggest concern was seeing if these loads would knock over the half size "Hunter Pistol" ram at 100 meters .
So when I got to the range , after putting up my target stands I went in the silhouette bunker and got out three of these rams and set them at 100 meters .
Then I went back to the bench . The 25-20 had a 20x Leupold on it so I sighted it in dead on at 100 yards with the 88 grainers and saw where the 68 grainers would hit at 100 . The 32-20 CL was just iron sighted so I sighted it in on the 100 meter stationary pig silhouette . And I did the same with the 32-20 CCL that had a tang sight installed .
Then I took the 25-20 and loaded three of the 68 grain 257420's and started shooting . I hit all three and all three fell right over . Then I loaded three of the 88 grainers and again three good hits and three toppled rams . Although these three seemed to be hit with a good bit more authority .
Next I took the 32-20 CL and tried the 90 grainers . Again they were all three toppled well . After resetting the targets for the third time I shot with my 20" barreled 1894CCL 32-20 and all three of those rams were HAMMERED and knocked back before tumbling .
Now bear in mind all 12 shots were from the bench in bags . I wanted to remove the "ME" variable until I found out if the loads had enough energy to knock the rams over decisevely .
I think all four bullets will get the job done ! However I think I am probably better off with the 88 grainer in the 25-20 and the 115 grainer in the 32-20 .
Incidently there is NO recoil with any of the 4 loads mentioned .
I have a pair of Marlin 30-30's worked out for the "Big Bore" match and now a couple 32-20's and the 25-20 are well on the way for the "Pistol Cartridge" event .
Now the next thing on the agenda is working out the smallbore rifle . Only have a single choice for that . A Marlin 1897CB I bought used a couple months ago . Also have a Marlin 1897T but the trigger sucks in that one .
:drinks: