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View Full Version : 158 GR SWC from Palmetto Projectiles in Marlin 1894C .357 mag


joe4711
06-11-2016, 11:37 PM
Hi all
I have been loading the above with 13.8 thru 14.6 gr 2400 with some weird results. 5 boolits per test run.
# 1 and 2 in the X, #3, 6" high and 4" left, #4, 12" low directly under #3, #5 somewhere in the 9 ring and variations of this pattern. All at 50 yds.

Tightened all screws, swapped scopes, cleaned rifle but all to no avail.

My previous load was 14.3gr 2400 with 158 gr Star copper plated hollow points with a nice tight grouping.

Help Please.
TXGunNut
06-12-2016, 12:19 AM
What kind of velocity are you looking for? Are these PB boolits? Any leading? Boolit hardness and diameter?
joe4711
06-13-2016, 01:58 PM
About 1200 fps, PB, no, 18 Brn, sized to .357
ReloaderFred
06-13-2016, 02:27 PM
Size to .358" to .359", and I'll bet your results will improve. I use .358" in all my Marlin .357's, and they'll shoot to the same point of impact consistently.

Hope this helps.

Fred
joe4711
06-13-2016, 03:21 PM
About 1200 fps, PB, no, 18 Brn, sized to .357
Char-Gar
06-13-2016, 03:59 PM
1200 fps might be right for a handgun but add 300 fps or more out of a rifle. This is in gas check territory. .357 is likely too small for a Marlin MG barrel.
dragon813gt
06-13-2016, 04:36 PM
I can pretty much guarantee that .357 is to small. .358 is the minimum I would go. I size most of mine to .359. And I have one Microgroove barrel that needs .360 or it won't shoot worth a lick. In my experience you need a fairly fat bullet in a Marlin.
robg
06-16-2016, 03:32 PM
13.5gr behind 160grgcswc = 1530 in my trapper .you'd need a gas check at that speed and above.
Scharfschuetze
06-16-2016, 08:56 PM
Interesting. It sounds like these results are repeatable from your post, thus your rifle in probably not recoiling or its harmonics are not the same for each load or perhaps your crown is not square.

I only shoot cast boolits in my Marlin 1894 Cowboy rifle and I've never experienced such results, but I once did with a Model 19 Revolver in 357. I had similar POI changes with different velocity loads until I discovered that the crown was not centered. Recrowning corrected the variable POIs and brought all loads into the same vertical plane.

As an aside, I guess I'm lucky with my 1894 as I can go over 1,700 fps with Linotype hardness plain base boolits without any leading. It's the only rifle that I own where I can do that.