Trying not to re-invent the wheel

[Shuz]

Folks, I recently purchased a new 1894 marlin .44 mag rifle with Ballard rifling. Can anyone advise the correct range of cartridge OAL's and cast boolit nose profiles which will feed well thru this gun? So far it sure seems "finicky" to both profile and OAL.
Thanks,
Shuz

[EDK]

Go to lasc.us/articles. Glenn Fryxell has several excellent articles there, one specifically on 1894 MARLINS and preferred loads. HE IS THE MAN ON CAST BOOLITS!

I use the LYMAN 427666, 429667, 431244 regularly and am playing with other designs. Go to the RANCH DOG link at the bottom of the page....got one of his TLC 432 265s too....they're specifically designed for MARLINS. I'm not a target shooter with my assorted 44 Cowboy rifles; a Cowboy Action Shooting match or "minute of coyote/feral dog" has always worked for me.

:cbpour::redneck::Fire:

[Scrounger]

Trouble is, every wheel is a little different. What works in one won't necessarily work in another. Same thing for loading data which everyone asks for. Start at nominal length, 1.60", and work up and down from there. I cheat; I usually start out at 1.68" and work down until it fits. Only need one round that way.

[NVcurmudgeon]

Shuz, RCBS 240 GC functions like a champ in my 1999 Marlin Cowboy Limited. RCBS' 245 SWC has a longer nose and needs cases about .020" shorter than "trim to" to feed reliably.

[miestro_jerry]

I would use a Ranch Dog mold in 44 300 gr for it, it supposed to be good with Marlins, but I shoot this CB in the Contender Super 14 with great results.

Jerry

[Lloyd Smale]

the 240 swcgc rcbs is the best shooting bullet in my 44p too. that bullet shoots well in about every gun ive tried it in and probably my favorite 44 bullet.
Shuz, RCBS 240 GC functions like a champ in my 1999 Marlin Cowboy Limited. RCBS' 245 SWC has a longer nose and needs cases about .020" shorter than "trim to" to feed reliably.

[Ramslammer]

G'Day All
I use a 196NEI GC, Lyman 429215 (in both hollow and solid), Lyman429244, Lyman 429650, Lee c429240 Hollow point and Lyman 429640 in a hollow point. These are used in both my marlins with only the NEI sometimes being hard to feed. The 429640 is as long as I'd go.
Juddy

[Shuz]

Thanks for the replys. So far a Lee 200RNFP at 1.600 works, but 429667 at 1.644 doesn't, 429215 @ 1.650 doesn't, nor does the Ranch Dog 430-270 @1.542. Perhaps I needa be right around 1.600 +or - for this gun to feed properly. I've been trying to utilize each designs "normal" crimp groove and ain't met with much success. I sure like the way it shoots with the Ballard rifling as compared to my old, now gone, .44 mag Micro-Groove!

[Shuz]

Further testing has shown that a Lyman 427098HP at .431 and OAL of 1.600 feeds well from both my new Marlin and my Winnie Trapper.

[WyrTwister]

Folks, I recently purchased a new 1894 marlin .44 mag rifle with Ballard rifling. Can anyone advise the correct range of cartridge OAL's and cast boolit nose profiles which will feed well thru this gun? So far it sure seems "finicky" to both profile and OAL.
Thanks,
Shuz


I bought a Lee round nose mold . The bullets feed very well . The SWC's I have previously cast for my S&E M29 do not feed well .

Crimped on the crimp groove , I call it good .

God bless
Wyr