1894P & Rd TLC432-300-RF

[Ranch Dog]

About a month ago, I bought a 1894P from a fellow on MarlinOwners but with all that has been happening with my wife and then getting caught up with ranch work I just haven't been able to get out and shoot it. The 1894P has a "Guide Gun" frame with a 16 1/2" ported barrel with the 1:38 rifling. Well, today was the day despite the heat.

There was no load work, I just used the ammo I've been using in my 336-44 which is my TLC432-300-RF bullet and 21.0-grains of H110. I put a Bushnell Banner 1.5-4.5X32 scope on the rifle, the same scope that is on all my Marlins, and headed to the range.

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1894P/1894P.gif

It took only a few shots to finalize my scope adjustments and then I shot this 50-yard target...

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1894P/210_H110_080804.gif

The rifle really surprised me! I've heard a lot of minuses about the 1894, the 1:38, and the short, ported barrel with heavy cast. I must be leading a charmed life as this is the best first shot group I've ever shot (1.17 MOA). The load Chronographed 1539 FPS vs. 1591 FPS out of my 336-44's 20" barrel. Here are my load records...

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1894P/PR_Load_01.gif http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1894P/Box Label Load 01.gif

[HCL]

Nice rifle, that is what i was looking for when i settled on the 1894ss, I have not had any issues with the 310gr, very accurate but i am pushing them pretty hard as well.
Mike

[Bass Ackward]

Congratulations. I take this post is a sign that your wife and your life are getting better.

For a lot of shooters in America, you just did the impossible to get accuracy.

1. Used LLA
2. Used a 300 grain in a 38 twist
3. Used a ported barrel
4. Used a Bushnell scope
5. Used a lever rifle
6. Used lead
7. Used a straight pistol case

That's enough stereotypes broken for today. Now stick it in the safe, and get back to work. :grin:

[Ranch Dog]

Bass Ackward... YOUR POST SAYS IT ALL (AND IT HAS ME LMAO!) :drinks:

Most importantly, thanks for your comments about Dianna. She is doing fine. The course of meds has got her messed up but at least she is still with me. We are going to Houston today to retrieve all our kids as they are going to spend the week here at the ranch. Then next Monday, we travel back to Houston as she will go through a couple of days of tests to see if the treatment did what it is supposed to do and what the next steps will be.

Yes, this little gun really surprised me but it should not have as all my Guide Gun barreled rifles do well; the 336D, 444P, and 1895G. This is a sweet little carbine and I'm glad I found it. It weighs in at 7# 5 oz. with the scope and 5 in the tube. Of course the 5 oz. is what the ammo weighs! The gun is a lot quieter than my 336-44 and I can't figure that out. On the range I'm wearing plugs and headgear but it sounded like a pop-gun going off. Even my wife commented that the gun didn't sound like my 336-44.

Here are some ballistics for the big bullet:

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1894P/PB Load 01 100 Yd Zero.gif
100-yard Zero

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1894P/PB Load 01 1PBR Zero.gif
PBR, 3" ALS, 126-yards

It's slow but so far the couple of hogs that I've shot with the 336-44 and this bullet have been spectacular. Quite a audible thump followed by an immediate, terminal response from the animal.

[6pt-sika]

Glad to hear of the improvement in your wife's condition !

And all the hope in the world that the trend continues and she has a full recovery !



Like what you've done with the 1894P !

I had somewhat similar results with my 336-44 !

My little 1894P is relegated to jacketed only at the moment ! But if I ever find a second 1894P at a reasonable price I may just have to go the one for cast and one for jacketed route I have with some of the others !

My 336D #2 has certainly taken a liking to the 359-190 bullet !

[6pt-sika]

Hmmm , after just checking my targets I just might step my loads up a notch [smilie=1:

I'm loading the 265 grainer with 21 grains H110 and the 300 grainer with 19 grains !

Might try both with a grain or two more !

[Lloyd Smale]

looks like im going to hav eto try that bullet. Ive got a p and its been about the most miserable marlin ive ever worked up loads for. ive got one load that shoots 2 inch at 50 yards and just about everything else sprays like a garden hose. I know others have struggled with these guns too. Maybe you came up with the majic bullet for them.

[Bass Ackward]

Ive got a p and its been about the most miserable marlin ive ever worked up loads for.


You and Jim are in the same boat. I know a rifle has a pistol grip, but the trick is to use both hands. Handgun men. :grin:

[Ranch Dog]

6-pt... I appreciate your concern for Dianna!

You are going to have to ditch those jacketed bullets dude! The pressures I recorded from my 336-44 are as follows:

23.0 grains H110 and the TLC432-265-RF was 39.4K PSI (22.0 was 34.6K PSI)
21.0 grains H110 and the TLC432-300-RF was 36.1K PSI

I only had three rounds of ammo left but I did shoot them at 100-yards...

http://www.ranchdogmolds.com/images/Firearms/1894P/Target_210_H110_080803.gif

The H110 calculated out at 1.09" (2.09 MOA). I shot this very quick as I was concerned on getting back to the house. I also slug a loads of H4227 and Lil' Gun. I don't recommend either powder as the minumum amount of H4227 is over pressure and the Max load of Lil' Gun's velocity is aweful. I just wanted to see if either of these would even hit the target at 100-yards.

[tom barthel]

Thanks for the load info. I have been shooting 19 grains. You have tested 21 grains of h-110 so, I will make my next bunch of ammo with 20.5 grains and see about bumping it up to 21 in my rifle. I'm VERY pleased to hear your wife is doing better. Every second is a blessing. I received the TLC311-165 mold and it looks great. The mold has been cleaned and smoked. I'll try to cast some bullets today.
Thanks

[6pt-sika]

23.0 grains H110 and the TLC432-265-RF was 39.4K PSI (22.0 was 34.6K PSI)
21.0 grains H110 and the TLC432-300-RF was 36.1K PSI



Well , I was wondering if you had used the same loads in the 336-44 and was going to ask before I did the same !
But you answered the question before I could ask !

[JDL]

Hi Ranchdog,
Glad to hear your wife is better and I'm praying for a full recovery.
Very impressive shooting! I read in another post how this load worked real well for you on a couple of hogs and I have no doubt, it hammers them.
JDL

[6pt-sika]

I pulled the Leupold 4.5-14 off my 336-44 the other night and replaced it with a nice old Weaver K2.5 !

Then went to the rifle range saturday and sighted her in with the stouter loads in both the 432-265 and 432-300 .

Well actually I sighted in with the 432-265 and got a reasonable group ! Although I did not shoot as well with the 2.5x as I had with 14x LOL's . Anyway after I was happy with the 265's I tried 3 pf the 300's holding the same point on the same target . Anyway after the 3 shots I had two nice 3 shot groups about an inch to an inch and a half apart !

So for my use I can shoot either load with this setting out to about 100 yards dead on !

[JesterGrin_1]

I pulled the Leupold 4.5-14 off my 336-44 the other night and replaced it with a nice old Weaver K2.5 !

Then went to the rifle range saturday and sighted her in with the stouter loads in both the 432-265 and 432-300 .

Well actually I sighted in with the 432-265 and got a reasonable group ! Although I did not shoot as well with the 2.5x as I had with 14x LOL's . Anyway after I was happy with the 265's I tried 3 pf the 300's holding the same point on the same target . Anyway after the 3 shots I had two nice 3 shot groups about an inch to an inch and a half apart !

So for my use I can shoot either load with this setting out to about 100 yards dead on !

And may I ask what your loads were? Thank You

[6pt-sika]

And may I ask what your loads were? Thank You


I had been using 21 grains of H110 with the RD 265 and had been using 19 grains H110 with the RD300 . But after reading RD's posts I bumped my loads up 2 grains each !

Now I am shooting 23 grains with the 265 and 21 grains with the 300 ! Incidently I have been using regular old CCI Large Pistol primers not magnums . Possibly the magnums would tighten the groups a bit , but I have plenty LP's on hand so I use them [smilie=1:

[JesterGrin_1]

I have yet to try the RD 265 that I have made. But I have been shooting the Lee 310 Gr with 18.5Gr of W296 and a standard CCI Large Pistol Primer with a good 2in or less groups at 100 yards.

I have tried both the standard LP and the Magnum Primers both by CCI and will say that the Mag Primer does not shoot as well as the standard primer. I have no idea why lol.

So I guess I will try 23Gr for my 265's and look for the barn hits lol. And I will add I am sure thinking of pickiing up the RD 300Gr mold as well. :)

But I also really need to work on my Marlin in 357Mag as I ran out of time to work up loads for cast in it. And waiting for the mold from RD to give a try. But with OMG Jacketed the Hornady 180 Gr XTP HP and 13Gr of W296 and CCI-550 Mag Primer I did get a nice 3/4 in group at 100 Yards. It did open to about an inch since I got a little too happy and just kept shooting lol. So I had 6 rounds in less than a 1 inch group at 100 yards. :)

On a side note the person next to me with his fancy 30-06 looked at my target and loaded up and left lol.

[JesterGrin_1]

Ranch Dog (Michael) I hope things get better for you and yours very soon. :)