What is the largest medplat that will feed reliably in a marlin 357,44,444???

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
What is the largest medplat I can use that will feed reliably without causing jams in marlin lever actions???
I want to use them to hunt with.

[Hickory]

70-75% of diameter.

[BABore]

It's not strictly dependent on meplat size. You can feed a full wadcuttuer if you want. What will feed and function is determined by nose length, ogive radius, and meplat.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
Have been looking at the LBT, & GATES EXTREME MED PLAT DESIGNS. After reading some of the posts on them , they would be better DRT killers than my Kieth style SWC. At least I get that impression from what I have read recently:Fire::Fire:.

[6pt-sika]

I've been using the NEI 429-310GC which Ranch Dog told me one time "that it looked like a trash can" because it was so blunt . That one has to be in the high 70's if not low 80's . You however cannot seat it way out in the case either .

I also use the Lyman 429649 which has a kinda wide meplate and again I can't crimp it in the crimp groove if I want it to feed in my 444's .

[Doc Highwall]

You would do good with the Ranch Dog designs as the best balance for hunting when speed and reliability come into play. If you check his web site you can do the math.

[S.R.Custom]

It's not strictly dependent on meplat size. You can feed a full wadcuttuer if you want. What will feed and function is determined by nose length, ogive radius, and meplat.

And the fitment of the rifle itself. They can be slicked up to feed just about anything.

And I've learned that the definition of "reliably" varies quite a bit, too.

[thx997303]

I had done the math on the Ranxch Dog meplat once.

IIRC, IT'S 72%

[6pt-sika]

And I've learned that the definition of "reliably" varies quite a bit, too.

Reliability also has to do with the operator .

You get some hamm handed guy who's jerking and jamming what do you expect other then jam ups !

[dnepr]

the lee .310 flying trash cans feed reliably in my .444 and they hav a pretty big meplat

[izzyjoe]

i'll second the lee 310gr. it has wide flat nose and feeds well in my .44 marlin. :cbpour:

[gon2shoot]

This info has already been offered, but my experience is 73%

[mike in co]

i have shot the lbt wfn(?) 280 from both super red hawk and lever gun...in the lever it was oal that made it work or not work.


mike in co

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR THE GUIDANCE.
Does anyone have any experience with the bullets put out by Dixie slugs. the look a lot like the Gates designs.

[Ekalb2000]

+1 on the Lee 310.
The 158 by Lee is a good one for the 357.
They feed flawlessly in my guns.

[BOOM BOOM]

hi,
Have the 180gr. gc. Seaco sil. but wounder if the medplat is big enough to be a good fast DRT killer on deer. It would be plenty heavy & a good penetrator.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
The 300+gr. slugs in both pistol & rifle have a bit TOO much recoil for me. Also I don't think you need that much wt. for complete penetration:Fire::Fire:.

[PacMan]

Hey Boom wil the 357 saeco sil. 180 work in a 1894? And what dia. bulet does it cast.
Thanks
Dwight

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
I loaded up some in both 38 & 357 for my daughter, she has the marlin LA in 357.
Have to wait till I can get her away from the computer to go shooting to find out if they work.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
After about 20 rem. factory Loads w/ the 265gr. bullet in the 444, I really don't want to shoot marlin L.A. anymore. OWWIE!
I guess I could load it down (cring), I do OK with 225 gr. speer HP but thy are too expensive for plinking.
The 250 gr. gc. Lyman kieth is cheap enough to shoot, & with 44grs. of IMR 4198 IT IS A REAL DEER KILLER.DRT. But I have been thinking ELK/BEAR . So I woundered if a 265gr, with a bigger medplat would be more appropriate.:Fire::Fire:

[HangFireW8]

HI,
After about 20 rem. factory Loads w/ the 265gr. bullet in the 444, I really don't want to shoot marlin L.A. anymore. OWWIE!

I found that changing the toe angle, and putting a Pachmayr Decelerator on my Marlins, has done wonders for my recoil tolerance. Consider the change in Length of Pull when replacing the recoil pad, you may welcome the extra length, you may want to avoid it by cutting off a little wood.

Changing the toe angle keeps the bottom of the recoil pad from digging into my chest while shooting. I use Pachmayr's Shooting Clays pads on my Marlins, the smooth top makes shouldering faster in those critical woods hunting moments.

You can see in the pic how I cut the stock in a wedge shaped with the bottom part thicker. Length of pull is still longer, as you can see how much thicker the Pachmayr pad is then cut + old pad.

-HF

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
Despite the commonly held opinion, I have an older marlin, microgroved barreled, 444 rifle(not carbine). They were not held to shoot cast well by some folks.
The smallest cast group I have ever shot, I shot with that gun, 11 bullet holes touching each other. GOOD ENOUIGH FOR ME.
Also it is often stated that mag-na-porting is a no no with cast, well because of the recoil, this gun is mag-na-ported. It shoots cast just fine thank you.
It is a great deer gun.
I was thinking it would do well for bear, elk, & moose as well. But woundered if my old Lyman 250gr. gc. Kieth style would do.
Perhaps the 265gr. gc. Ranch Dog would do better????????