Marlin 1894 & the 357x44 B&D with lead boolits

[Steve E]

I have a Marlin 1894 in 357x44 Bain & Davis with a Micro Groove barrel and was wondering what speed should I hold cast boolits down to, and would straight wheel weight be ok for the Micro Groove or should they be harder. I have several years at casting and reloading but this is my first go at the Micro Groove bores. Thanks for any info.

Steve E........

[Rrusse11]

I have a Marlin 1894 in 357x44 Bain & Davis with a Micro Groove barrel and was wondering what speed should I hold cast boolits down to, and would straight wheel weight be ok for the Micro Groove or should they be harder. I have several years at casting and reloading but this is my first go at the Micro Groove bores. Thanks for any info.

Steve E........

Steve,
Don't pay no never mind to all that BS about microgrooves don't/won't shoot cast. 'Specially with a GC, DO slug ur bore but. The bore spec is usually a lil oversize, cast 'em hard and size big and push 'em on up to 2200-2300fps.
Got a reamer for the B&D????????
Now if I could just find a cheap 1894 I'll be doin' the same myself one of these rountuits.......
Cheers,
R*2

[Ed Barrett]

I'll go along with Russel11 on that. I have a 336 in 35 Remington and it shoot cast both plain base and gas check very accurately. Slug your barrel and go .001" to 002" over that for sizing. WW should do OK as long as you don't try to set any speed records. Some of the NEF rifles with microgroove barrels shoot cast so well you can't believe they are 200 bucks new.

[felix]

Yes, you have to have the largest boolit in diameter that will fit into your case neck without drag anywhere when coming from the magazine and into the chamber. That can be tricky in that you have to have a large boolit to begin with, and several sizer dies, starting, of course, with the largest during trials. Ideally, also, you want the boolit length with its sized diameter to touch the lands, or as close to the lands as possible. We are talking a custom boolit here, more than likely. In addition, you must use a gas check design to shoot over 1600 with confidence. Last, but not least, you should formulate the lube to mate with the barrel. It is too easy to fill the grooves with lube, and that lube in excess must always exit enough not to cause a hydro plaining effect which would force a boolit to size down beyond reach of the lands. This happens most easily with the micro groove system because of the land height is so low. Yes, hard boolits tend to push excess lube better, especially if the is a mild scraper band up front. But then you have a possible problem of getting the boolit into the chamber from the magazine because the boolit might hang up where the scraper band is. Have patience, and go with determination and you will end up with a very hot and accurate 357. ... felix

[felix]

Steve, after you are done with this project, you need to do another. Neck down the 500 case or the 454 case to 410. Because, the 41 mag needs at least 50 percent more capacity to get the velocity up past 1800 with a 250 grainer in a 20" barrel. In fact, I don't think I can get 1800 even with a 220 grainer in the regular 41 mag case. ... felix

[Scrounger]

Steve, after you are done with this project, you need to do another. Neck down the 500 case or the 454 case to 410. Because, the 41 mag needs at least 50 percent more capacity to get the velocity up past 1800 with a 250 grainer in a 20" barrel. In fact, I don't think I can get 1800 even with a 220 grainer in the regular 41 mag case. ... felix

Felix, I think gary Reeder has already done that. You should look into his conversions: http://www.reedercustomguns.com/

[Rrusse11]

Gents,
Thought I'd managed to post a pic, could be my "Firefox" browser.
I'll try again.
http://www.marlinowners.com/gallery/albums/userpics/thumb_Felix%2041-454.jpg

hmmmmmmmmm, too dang smalllllllllll.
Back to the drawing board.
Cheers,
R*2

[Rrusse11]

http://www.marlinowners.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Felix41-500.jpg

Here's a necked down 500S&W,,,,,, the other is based on a 454 Casull.
This should hit 2000fps Felix, Though you'd have to open up the bolt face a tad for the rim.
The Casull version prolly wouldn't need any modification whatsoever, just ream and shoot.
Cheers,
R*2

[Scrounger]

Just why do you want to punish your shoulder, Felix?

[felix]

R2, thanks a bunch for the pic. It's a 30-30 in case capacity, right? So, we are talking a 41-30. But anyway you look at it, Scrounger is correct indeed. Imagine, 35 grains of 4227 in a lever gun! ... felix

[Rrusse11]

Felix,
Here is a better view of the Casull version. IMHO an easier conversion, and eminently usefull as a short action 41 SuperMag.
The two cartridges would indeed be in the realms of a 30-30 case in terms of capacity. I've been playing with the new Alliant 410 powder in the 44Mag in a Marlin 1894, and pushing close to a ton of ME. While it does recoil, I find it very manageable after the 444 and the 45/70.
Cheers,
R*2

http://www.marlinowners.com/gallery/albums/userpics/normal_Felix%2041-454.jpg