Marlin 1894C and Lee 358-125-RF

[FergusonTO35]

Been shooting alot of Lee 358-125-RF out of my 1894C lately and I must say this is the most accurate boolit I've ever tried in it. Mine is a 1980 model with Micro Groove equipped with a Lyman 66 and 1/16" gold bead front, this carbine is the first gun I ever filled out the yellow form on at the age of 19. I cast the slugs from range scrap, air cool, and size to .360. The sizer doesn't really touch the boolit much, I'd say they drop around .3595 or so. My lube of choice is Randyrat's Tac-X, I fill both the lube groove and the crimp groove. I load these in .357 brass with 7 grains SR4756 and a standard Remington primer.

This load is more accurate than my meager abilities will allow. At 50 yards I can place them in the bullseye no problem using an overturned 5 gallon bucket for a rest. Recoil is a total non-issue. Haven't chrono'd it yet but I would suspect 1300-1400 fps. Kind of gives me the itch for a Henry .357 to go with it.8-)

[Taco Belly]

I shoot that bullet from my Marlin Cowboy 38 special by the bucket full...sized .358 with Bullseye or Unique, and I agree: It really is a very, very accurate bullet! I shoot it out to the 200 yard gong as well, and after trying many, many molds, that Lee 125 RNFP has become my standard in all 38 loads except for 2400 loads. Though I cannot for the life of me get it to shoot in my 9mm's...

[fecmech]

That bullet and 4.5/BE in mag cases is my standard load for both my Rossi 92's and GP100. Both rifles will average 3 moa@100 yds for 10 shot groups and the GP will run 2.5"@ 50 yds. My K38 will average 2"@ 50 yds with that bullet and 4.2/BE. The rifles are running 1220 fps and the pistols around 1000 fps. Another bullet that does as well is the Lee 120TC or RCBS 124CN.

[FergusonTO35]

One strength is that this boolit holds a lot of lubricant, even more so when you fill the crimp groove. It makes a nice lube star and surprisingly clean bore in my carbine.

[FredBuddy]

I powder coat mine - best this rifle has ever shot - it's now my favorite walk-about groundhog gun.

[shoot-n-lead]

Same for my Rossi 92...it will DRILL those 125RF's. and will shoot the 158RF almost as well. I don't shoot .38's in my Rossi...so they are loaded in the mag brass.

These bullets are the only bullets that I shoot in my 38/357's anymore, revolver or rifle...a lot of meplat on those bullets, they make a fine hunting round.

I no longer shoot SWC's...have a few molds left, but I don't even cast them, anymore.

[FergusonTO35]

Shot some more of these boolits out of the 1894 last weekend. 7.5 grains 4756 seems to be just the ticket. Another thing I found is that a 1/2" aperture disc is way more accurate with my eyes than 3/8", even if the aperture hole is the same size. Will be upgrading all my receiver sights with them.

[dverna]

Yep, the new .22. Accurate, cheap to shoot and loads of fun. I load mine in .38 Spl cases. Try 2.7 gr of Clays for the young kids. Nice light load for both pistols and rifles

[FergusonTO35]

Clays has been extinct here for years. Fortunately, mid-range .357's in a gun the size of the 1894 have very little kick. My loads cost less than decent .22 ammo, the most expensive part is the primer. Don't get me wrong, I love shooting my Single Six and Henry H001T but for nearly the same cost I would rather shoot centerfire. I don't bother with bulk .22 ammo anymore other than what I already have. It doesn't cost much less than the good stuff and too many duds.

[FergusonTO35]

I've settled on 7.7 grains for now as this is seems the most accurate. Finally got a chance to chronograph the load:

Marlin 1894C, 18" micro groove barrel
Distance to chronograph 10 feet, temperature 86 F
7.7 grains IMR SR4756
.360 126 grain lead flat point (Lee 358-125-RF)
R-P small pistol primer
Low: 1438
High: 1510
Average: 1477
Extreme Spread: 72.70
Standard Deviation: 26.19
Energy: 610.28
Shot String: 1510 1487 1471 1438 1478

[northmn]

My 92 Rossi cycles about everything but the 158 Lee RNF. Obviously yours cycle?

DP

[FergusonTO35]

Yep. My 1894C so far cycles everything I've tried in it. Haven't tried wadcutters yet though.

[rob55]

I know this is old, but going to start shooting my Rossi 92 again. Thanks all.

[FergusonTO35]

When my 4756 finally runs out, I'll probably try HP-38 first since that and Titegroup are the most common pistol powders available here. HS-6 looks promising too.

[Outer Rondacker]

I have this mould on order for my Rossi 92. The powders you guys talked about do not exist in my area. I do have loads of Titegroup. I guess when the mould gets here I will start by casting up a few hundred. Then go from there.

[smkummer]

I am shooting between 500-1000 per year in my 1894C as it’s my cowboy action gun. 2.8 grains bullseye in a 38 special case. Is a bit over the 1.4” OAL which Marlin recommends as minimum and I can fit 10 in the tube. 2 colt single actions digest it just fine as well. I load as cast, maybe .359 with lee tumble lube. My bore is squeaky clean. Until primers went to .07-.08 each, I was shooting this gun for cheaper than most 22LR ( when primers were .035 ea.).

[Sgt H]

I have been stockpiling components for quite some time and just finished priming a large batch of 357 and 38 special cases. Always try to use the oldest stock first and noticed the price tag on the 2 cartons of small pistol primers-$12.95. The price tag on the 8lb jug of powder I will use to load those rounds- $119.00. Including the cost of the bullet lube and the electricity for the casting pot those rounds will be under 4 cents each. Lead for the bullets is scrounged wheel weights that were free. That is cheaper than any current 22lr. I don't count my time now being retired. Oh and my 1894C I paid $120 for it off a used gun rack but that was a long time ago.

[Outer Rondacker]

I searched for years for a uberti or marlin lever in 357/38. Only 357/38 I saw I bought, and it was neither. I found a rossi 92 with a 16" barrel and large lever loop. It's nice but not what I wanted. (Very small) I am still on the search with 0 chances as I have not seen a used gun for sale in almost a year at the LGS in my area. I continue to keep the word out but with current prices who knows......
..
I am going to try some of these loads in my rossi once the weather brakes and the mould shows up.