Marlin 1894 44 mag

[fiver]

I was thinking today was a nice day to go shooting then was informed I was going to pokey. it was about 15 with a light wind from the west.
it worked out though as I nabbed 50 pieces of 220 swift brass and some more stainless pins for the tumbler.

oh the rifle.
yeah I've seen the marlins go a couple of directions.
some shoot whatever you got at reasonable speeds.
however if nothing else works try water dropped 200gr boolits sized to .431. [if your mold won't make 431 try some ww's and 2% tin or some #2 alloy] oww stop throwing stuff.
yep a straight walled 44-40.
which is where that twist rate come from.
my rossi in 44-40 will shoot 240's if I bump them in the swage die to 430 and put a hollow point in them.
or you could do like I did with my model 94 and browning 92 and buy a one step swage set-up and make 240gr 44 mag bullets from 40 S&W brass.

 

[freebullet]

Proper shooting form can include shivering and loss of feeling in your fingers I guess. I layer/bundle up and go for it. Why do all my friends laugh when I go to the range or hunting when it's -5? Best times to go imo.

 

[fiver]

from the look of that 3 point I seen right before dark tonight I'd say your right.
I trust my equipment to work no matter the temperature [I have to or I don't get paid] or I work on it until it does.

 

[Brad]

My equipment works well at those temps but I don't!

 

[freebullet]

My wife will hunt with me down to 40°f after it gets colder she requires a heated blind.
I tell her we aren't in Alaska & pass her some hand warmers.

 

[Winelover]

It's been discussed on other forums, that bullets over 270 grains, don't do well in the accuracy department in the Marlin 44 Mag. Couple that with the fact that recoil goes up, as well as lead consumption and bullet drop......I tend to agree. Sight settings, also have to be changed and then readjusted if going back and forth from extreme bullet weights. After all, how many of us are a hunting dangerous game with a 44 Magnum?

 

[Brad]

Ever been charged by a pop can at the range? It is terrifying!

I don't own any moulds under 250 gr for 44 cal. I have a few around 270 and a few more around 300. Will try the 270 first.

There is a good chance that recoil will become the limiting factor. If I could find a good load around 1200-1300 fps with a 270 gr bullet I would be quite pleased. The rifle will see lots more range use than hunting use.

 

[Winelover]

Ever been charged by a pop can at the range? It is terrifying!

I don't own any moulds under 250 gr for 44 cal. I have a few around 270 and a few more around 300. Will try the 270 first.

The rifle will see lots more range use than hunting use.

All the more reason for lighter bullets.......targets can't tell the difference and it's more economical.

 

[Winelover]

My very first bullet mold for 44 Magnum was RCBS 240 SWC GC........hard to fathom that anyone into casting, would start over the most common bullet weight for any caliber. I still have the mold and the bullet feeds in my carbine....it's just wont cast, fat enough.

 

[Brad]

My first 44 mould is a Lyman 429421 with a round grease groove. Casts a really nice bullet. It is dead on at .429. Leads my SRH like a sumnabitch. It won't be shot in this rifle, I don't like scrubbing barrels.
That mould might spend some time on the lathe getting cut a bit larger in the bands. It is worthless to me as is so I don't see a downside.

 

[Rick]

I agree with Winelover, I see no advantage or need for heavy for caliber bullets in a rifle destined mostly for plinking & probably never past 100 yards at that.

With bullets in the 240 gr range your stated velocity goal of 1200-1300 fps is easily done in a revolver much less in your rifle.

 

[Winelover]

That's because that Lyman bullet is a PB....and not a gas checked design. IMO.... you can get away shooting undersized bullets, as far as leading is concerned, when they are checked. Have you ever studied RCBS's mold sheet...they recommend under sized bullets and or sizer dies for most calibers.

I have never slugged a barrel and don't ever intend to.....I have never experienced any of that dreaded leading, everyone complains about.

 

[Rick]

I have never slugged a barrel and don't ever intend to.....

Good thing you don't have my 30-30, it has a good bore from one end to the other. All .310" of it.

 

[Brad]

So I'm leaning towards my NOE 265 gr swc, their copy of the HG 503. Sized to .4315 and loaded over a charge of Unique. That seems like a reasonable start point. Good thing is I have a bunch cast up to feed the 624.

 

[Rick]

265 is still heavy for caliber, try something around 240 for plinking both in the rifle and the Smith.

 

[Brad]

Got a mould in mind? Even my Lyman 429521 goes closer to 250.

I don't know how well the light weights like the 200 gr bullets would do.

 

[RBHarter]

I had a x39 that would chamber .321 and groove slugged at .318 - .315 ,just a little over for a .311-312 SAAMI /CIP cartridge it actually shot pretty well with a .311 bullet. .......wrapped in paper to .318.

 

[Rick]

Best I can offer is to check Al's sight and see what he offers in around 240 gr. I wouldn't go as light as 200 if it were me, they lack bearing surface and Rick likes bearing surface. A lot!

 

[Brad]

Like this?

http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=37&products_id=625

In plain base, of course. Sadly, they are all out of stock. Looks like I need to see if we can get a production run going.

 

[Ian]

Brad, it looks like you're going to have to shoot some of the heavies and find out if they stabilize.

Funny, I have an older Lyman 429421 with a round grease groove and it drops .4325" with 16:1 alloy.