2400, velocity, & plain-base boolits

[awaveritt]

Starting with what I have, I'm scratching my head over how hot I should load my 358-158gr. tumble lube SWC plain based boolits for my Marlin 1894c using Alliant 2400.

My load books suggest a range of 10.6 to 14.0 grains of 2400, but that is for the 358156 Gas Check design.

The Lee SWC's are 60/40 ww/stick-on alloy lubed with LLA. Sorry, I haven't got around to slugging my barrel but my boolits are dropping at .359 and weigh 160gr. with my alloy (air-cooled)

I want to load a ladder assortment to see which it likes best, but am wondering if I should approach the high end with plain based boolits or back off a bit to avoid leading.

[Bret4207]

IMO the boolit/gun/load combo will decide the matter for you. You may luck out and find your carbine has no issues with PB at +1200FPS, or it may not want to shoot them at all. Just part of the game. Shoot 'em and see. Water Quenching will add some options also.

[Bass Ackward]

Starting with what I have, I'm scratching my head over how hot I should load my 358-158gr. tumble lube SWC plain based boolits for my Marlin 1894c using Alliant 2400.

My load books suggest a range of 10.6 to 14.0 grains of 2400, but that is for the 358156 Gas Check design.

The Lee SWC's are 60/40 ww/stick-on alloy lubed with LLA. Sorry, I haven't got around to slugging my barrel but my boolits are dropping at .359 and weigh 160gr. with my alloy (air-cooled)

I want to load a ladder assortment to see which it likes best, but am wondering if I should approach the high end with plain based boolits or back off a bit to avoid leading.



Don't size your bullets and start at 8 grains. My guess is that you will begin to fail at about 9.5 grains for @ 1300 fps.

[Larry Gibson]

Concur with Bass on the loads and Bret on the rifle determining what it likes. I seriously doubt, based on experience, that a "ladder assortment" will tell you anything with that rifle and bullet. I'd suggest you start at the suggested 8 gr and work up in 1/2 gr increments shooting a test group of 5 shots with each increment which is only 20 shots if you load to 9.5 gr. I'd suggest maybe loading to 12 gr or until accuracy goes. Test at 100 yards. The groups sizes will tell you more about the load than any "ladder test".

Larry Gibson

Larry Gibson

[awaveritt]

The groups sizes will tell you more about the load than any "ladder test".


Thanks Bass and Larry for load suggestions. I may have my terms confused, though. I thought doing what Larry suggested is a ladder test. Is the "ladder test" concept something different?:confused:

[EDK]

I'm using 5.0 of TITEGROUP with LYMAN 358665 and now, NIGHT OWL ENTERPRISES360 180 WFN plain base, in 357 brass, AC WW, sized to .361 in an assortment of VAQUEROS and MARLIN Cowboy rifles. A faster...read cheaper! powder might also be a good idea. You get a lot of loads out of 231/HP-38, Unique, Titegroup, etc. compared to 2400, H-110 or 296.

Tumble lube with LLA (or LARS' XLOX) and try them un-sized. I'd get a LEE or one of Buckshot's press mounted sizers in .360 just to be consistent.

Go to lasc.us and read Glenn Fryxell's article on 1894 Marlins. Lots of good data.

:redneck::cbpour::Fire:

[truckmsl]

awaveritt - just saw this post. I'm shooting plain base boolits through my marlin 1894 using the same boolit sized .359 and 11 grains of 2400. No leading and good accuracy. Hope this helps!