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View Full Version : New Marlin needs good loads


jaysouth
10-02-2013, 09:39 PM
Last weekend I picked up a pristine 1991 Marlin 336CS at a gunshow for $300. It appears unfired.

Now, every nice gun needs a pet load/loads. I spend an hour loading up some 'plinker' loads in Hornady new primed brass. I loaded up 150 Lee FP and 165 Ranch Dogs up in 5 round lots. Some of the bullets were sized 309 some at 311. All were tumble lubed in my mix of LLA, JPW and mineral spirits. I loaded all of them with 6-9 grs. of Green Dot. A very old lot of Green Dot probably 30 years old. The lead alloy was wheel weight ingots purchased with about half pure lead, with some solder added for the tin.

I took the loads to the range yesterday and put targets at 50 yards. For load development I mounted a V-3 Weaver. When my order comes in from Amazon, the gun will have a Lyman receiver sight mounted.

After shooting my 9 lots of 5 round samples, the results were groups from 1 to 6 inches. The best group of the day was this:

http://i97.photobucket.com/albums/l222/jwsoutherland/72grsGreendot_zpsa9252352.jpg (http://s97.photobucket.com/user/jwsoutherland/media/72grsGreendot_zpsa9252352.jpg.html)

To be conservative, I will call this approx. 2 MOA.

For yard pests and small game, I am where I want to be on a sub-1,000 fps load. Next step is to develop a load with the 165 ranch dog that will give me velocity of around 1,800 fps with acceptable accuracy. I would be very pleased to maintain the 2 MOA of this load.

I have 2400, IMR4895, IMR3031 and H-335 for my next round of testing. I want to stay with the 165 ranch dog bullet.

I will keep you posted, and thanks for all the advice that I have gleaned from this forum and those of you who are generous in sharing you knowledge.
taco650
10-02-2013, 09:41 PM
Did you use any filler over the powder to keep it near the primer? That load looks good.
jaysouth
10-02-2013, 10:22 PM
No fillers. I used Paco Kelly's published loads as a guide. My results do not match his exactly, but are a good starting point. I used Green Dot because I have a couple of pounds laying around and it was used in the most accurate load in Paco's test. On the attached link, go to the left and click on the 30-30 data. When that link comes up, scroll down to see the various powders and loads in his tests. A lot of good data here.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm
TXGunNut
10-02-2013, 11:37 PM
Try 14 gr 2400, not a max load but well above mousefart levels. 1600 fps or so. Kind of dirty, thinking about trying Universal.
jaysouth
10-03-2013, 01:50 AM
Try 14 gr 2400, not a max load but well above mousefart levels. 1600 fps or so. Kind of dirty, thinking about trying Universal.

I will play with that one, where I hunt deer, a loooong shot is 50 yards. I have a deal with my brother in law who owns the property, I shoot for the freezer, he shoots for the trophies. After being a chef for 30 years, I still do not have a good recipe for big horns. Nice young does and button bucks, that's a different matter.
btroj
10-03-2013, 06:41 AM
I use 16 gr of 2400 with the 165 RD in mine. Works very well.
Ed_Shot
10-03-2013, 08:17 AM
The Lee 309-150-F over 16 gr of 2400 is a fine shooter in every 30-30 I've tried.
taco650
10-03-2013, 10:21 AM
No fillers. I used Paco Kelly's published loads as a guide. My results do not match his exactly, but are a good starting point. I used Green Dot because I have a couple of pounds laying around and it was used in the most accurate load in Paco's test. On the attached link, go to the left and click on the 30-30 data. When that link comes up, scroll down to see the various powders and loads in his tests. A lot of good data here.

http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm

Thanks for the link.
Browningshooter
10-03-2013, 11:51 AM
My marlin likes a .310 or .311 sized boolit. It slugs .309 in the groove. Lee c309-170-f GC over 26.0 h335 shoots very well in my gun. 45/45/10 or NRA 50/50 works well. I like 50/50 soft/coww water quenched. No leading whatsoever..
TXGunNut
10-03-2013, 09:27 PM
I use 16 gr of 2400 with the 165 RD in mine. Works very well.

I think I know what I'm loading for this weekend. 14gr is a pretty respectable 1600 fps, 16gr could get me another 100fps or better. Thanks!
FergusonTO35
10-03-2013, 10:30 PM
IMR 4895 is what I use with cast boolits in .30 WCF. Right now I'm shooting 28 grains with the Lee C309-150-F.
YunGun
10-04-2013, 05:53 PM
Nice shooting/group.

~8gr Unique, ~16gr 2400, ~16gr IMR SR4759, ~17gr IMR 4277, ~18gr IMR 4198 all seem to work fairly well for me with the NOE version of the RD165gr boolit GC'd & sized .311 w/WLR primers. My current 'goto' load is 16.5gr IMR SR4759; nice tight groups @50, ~1-1.5"@100 if I do my part, & on steel@200 consistently with minimal holdover.

Keep in mind I'm looking for 'economic accuracy' when punching holes in paper, poppin jugs & ringin' steel, so they may not be ideal for critter-gettin'. As always, YMMV...
mainiac
10-04-2013, 06:55 PM
think your gonna like that h-335 powder,,,,,,,,