Old Ideal 308241 154gr For A Marlin Microgroove

[Landy88]

I've never loaded for a Marlin and, thus, nor a Microgroove barrel, but now need to load some inexpensive plain-based and pistol powder small game and low recoil training / plinking ammo for one. The only plain-based .30 bullets and molds in easy and immediate reach are these 308241s.

How are they at getting through the Marlin quirks?

[Outpost75]

Which version of #308241 do you have the 125-grain or 154-grain?

Try poking the nose of a bullet into the muzzle and see if the forepart contacts the rifling and is lightly marked, or if it falls of its own weight all the way to the front driving band without any contact.

If the forepart is too small to receive any guidance from the lands, you must keep loads mild and velocities subsonic, otherwise the bullet will become misaligned in the bore during initial shot-start as it "slumps" non-uniformly.

Try some cast of soft alloy, such as 50-50 COWW-pure lead and lightly lubricated with Lee Liquid Alox, loaded as-cast and unsized with 3.5 to 5 grains of Bullseye or TiteGroup. No filler!

[Landy88]

Which version of #308241 do you have the 125-grain or 154-grain?

Both are the 154gr versions, although one was advertised as the short-range 125gr. I wanted one of each, but the seller didn't know what he was selling and the pics were poor. The price and condition were / are great, though.

Thanks for the tips. Your suggested mild softer alloy loads will be easy and are ideal. My preferred BLL should work as well as LLA. These are for a non loader friend, since second grade, caught by the ammo shortage as he needs to train a daughter and nephew on some mild centerfire loads. With these, each kid can have their own similar rifle this 30-30 for one and his .357 for the other.