Lee 452-200 RF Marlin 1894

[sghart3578]

I just traded for a Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt. It is one of the Big 5 models, made in 2007 I think. The barrel has a 1:38" twist and slugs at .451".

On my first trip to the range I tried the Lee 452-255-RF and the C452-300-RF. I have these two molds for my Vaquero and Blackhawk. Accuracy was okay with my standard revolver loads of 8.5 gr of Unique and 16 gr of 2400.

I was thinking of a lighter bullet for the slower twist rate. Do any on you guys have any experience with the Lee 452-200 RF bullet in a Marlin?

Any insight you have is welcome.

Thanks,


Steve in N CA

[Nueces]

I shoot a Magma version of the 200 RF in a Marlin 1894 Cowboy, for CAS matches. It feeds and shoots well.

[Griff]

I just traded for a Marlin 1894 in 45 Colt. It is one of the Big 5 models, made in 2007 I think. The barrel has a 1:38" twist and slugs at .451".
On my first trip to the range I tried the Lee 452-255-RF and the C452-300-RF. I have these two molds for my Vaquero and Blackhawk. Accuracy was okay with my standard revolver loads of 8.5 gr of Unique and 16 gr of 2400.
I was thinking of a lighter bullet for the slower twist rate. Do any on you guys have any experience with the Lee 452-200 RF bullet in a Marlin?
Any insight you have is welcome.
Thanks,
Steve in N CAThe only Marlin I own in .45 Colt is a rebarreled 1978 .44Mag rifle with a cut down Marlin Cowboy barrel to 17" with ballard rifling. The heaviest bullet I've shot in it is the 225 grain RCBS 45-225-CAV bullet. Sized at .452 lubed with Lyman Alox. Some accounting for the differences in velocity may be that not all boolits were straight wheelweights... there may have been some 6:1 (ww-lino) in there also. Here is a chart I made up of my testing:
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/sass93/45-225-CAV%20Rifles.jpg
and the targets (Marlin Cowboy @ middle right):
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d197/sass93/DSCN0650.jpg

It was the same batch of ammo I load up for some of CAS shooting... no special procedures to ensure accuracy or real consistency... just loads, cycles and goes bang. Shooting was @ 100 yards in my pasture... some loaded thru the mag, while the Marlin was loaded singly thru the ejection port. I was shooting for velocity differences only, not necessarily accuracy, and that loading singly may have influenced the group. (The Marlin has been modified to accept the .45ACP length Cowboy45Special brass, so 45 Colt length ammo won't feed thru the action). 2ndly, the 1873 Short Rifle was brand new, and may have gotten all 6:1 boolits, which are the only reasons I can think of for the higher velocities shown. (No, I still haven't slugged the barrel, but I should, huh?) 3rdly, the pic was taken from a low angle, the target is NOT higher than my backstop!

Edited to add: I generally shoot either a 200gr RFN, or a 160gr RFN in my .45 Colt rifles depending on whether I'm competing in Wild Bunch or cowboy action matches. I do not recall off-hand just what the various twist rates for all these rifles are. I do believe they are all faster twists than your 1:38. However, let me state that I did have a 1969 production mdl 94 in 44Mag that had the 1:38 and it shot 240gr loads just fine. Better, after I accurized the rifle. Relieving any pressure on the barrel at both barrel bands, forend and the magazine cap retaining screw.

[sghart3578]

Thank you guys, great information.


Steve

[1Papalote]

I'm shooting the lee 255 as cast at 453 out of my 24" cowboy, 9-20 hrs Unique. I get clay target accuracy at 100 yards. I have not tried lighter bullets.

1Papalote