Another horrible day with the 1894 44 mag.

[Will]

Brad sent me some 240gr bullets to try. I assume they are from the same mould. I think he mentioned it was an Ace mould.
I appreciate the offer. I may hit you up if it ends up being what the rifle likes the best.

I loaded up 40 rounds in new brass to try but it is gonna be a little while before I get a chance to shoot. Weather here has turned bad and my shoulder is a little swore from shooting over 100 full house 44's out of the 1894 in 2 days. That thing kicks a little more than you think it would.

 

[Brad]

This is the same mould.

I did what Rick suggested a while back for my SRH. 100 new cases in a 100 round box. All are prepped at the same time, none get anything done to them until all are fired.

 

[freebullet]

Geez...100 new cases & a spiffy box for them would seem like cheating for me.

 

[Brad]

I have another 400 new Starline 44 mag cases waiting to be used. Another 100 may get called into active duty. Hate to see them sit idle on a shelf.

 

[freebullet]

Even my newest cases come once fired. Been thinking about picking up some new 454 though.

 

[KHornet]

The vast majority of my brass comes once fired. In the past year or two, most
of it has come from "Ken's Brass", and it is most excellent.

Paul

 

[Brad]

Once fired isn't bad for many circumstances but for best results in some situations knowing the pedigree matters.
I bought 500 new Starline 44 mag cases and they will last me for decades. Well worth the expense for me.

 

[KHornet]

Can't argue with Brad on that. Have some Starline brass that I bought new, and
have shot a number of times with no regret. And it sure is pretty when ya first
open the package.
Paul

 

[9.3X62AL]

Al, that's my silhouette load. I should have included the standard disclaimer about Freedom Arms load ONLY. The 357 is inadequate for the 200 meter rams with most revolvers. The Model 83 is built on the same frame and cylinder as the FA 454. With the smaller caliber there is even more meat around the chambers and the FA handles these loads easily.
.

Roger that. The Ruger is fairly stalwart as well, but not in FA's league by any stretch. I used to infest Inland F&GA's range site, and listened closely to the Production-class rollerpistol guys and gals. They called 357s Ringer Specials. 200m was definitely the 44 Magnum's toll-free dialing area back in the day.

 

[Brad]

I tried some Hornady 240 XTP in my Marlin today over 24 gr of H110. Will get photos of targets posted later but it wasn't an impressive outing.

At 50 yards I needed all 11 inches of the 8.5x11 target! Holy vertical Batman! The second 10 were a little better as I held the rifle quite firmly but it still shot 3 distinct groups.

The rifle needs to be torn down so I can try and figure out what is binding and causing the vertical.

 

[Ian]

While you have it town down, turn an extended chamber insert so you can put the barreled action between centers on your lathe and install a dog to grab the receiver....then grab the muzzle end with a pipe wrench, engage your back gears, and wind the barrel up to about a 1-turn in 20 twist.

 

[Winelover]

Brad......abandon the H-110 and try 2400.....I know you have it.

 

[Brad]

I will give 2400 a go. I have LOTS of it.

Ian, I don't know that my lathe has that kind of power? It is tempting....

 

[Ian]

19.6 grains of 2400 and those little zombie k

Brad......abandon the H-110 and try 2400.....I know you have it.

THIS.

 

[Rick]

There is a reason why 23.5 gr H-110 with a 240 gr bullet in Master Class National Championship competition is known as the "House Load". Dunno what the effect of the longer barrel would be but in a 10 inch revolver pretty tough for any load to match it at 200 meters.

 

[Will]

I had pretty much the same luck with 240gr XTP's. I did shoot some pretty good groups out of mine using 200gr XTP's.

 

[Chickenthief]

I have an oddball 94.
It is 1972 vintage and carries a micro groove barrel, and now comes the odd part, it slugs .4295".
I have a RD/Lee 240gr 6-banger and cast my slugs 97%lead + 3%tin.
I add a gascheck and spank them past 1750fps, thats a BHN 9 or below bullet.
So far it has past 4,8k shots and see a boresnake but 2 times a year!

Tuning a rifle with a magazine hanging at the bottom with two attachment points can be a challenge, there's umpteen vibration harmonics.
Most often it has to do with speed not bullet weight, and that 1:38" will go up to 270-280gr'ish before stability becomes a problem. If you keep the speed up you can go 10+ grains heavier. Several reloaders states they can approach 300gr lead slugs and keep them together.

 

[300BLK]

One of the 1894s that I had didn't shoot well with 24gr 296 under 240gr Hornady or Speer (back around 1980) but would shoot 50 yard cloverleafs with 22gr.

 

[Brad]

I decided to appease Ian and Winelover and try their load ideas.

Ian's zombie coated HP over 19.6 gr of 2400. The RD over 16 gr of 2400. The other is the NOE version of the HG 503 over 16 gr of 2400.

Tomorrow we see what they do. Weather permitting.

 

[300BLK]

Green tips!