Marlin 1894 44 mag

[Glen]

Mine shoots 300s just fine (5 shots into ~1.5 inches at 50 yards with the factory buckhorns sights). It will shoot the 320 SSK just fine as well, but it's too long to cycle from the magazine when crimped in the crimp groove. Details at: http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin1894.htm

 

[fiver]

just try what you have first.
I shoot a lot of cast in my lever guns and they don't need a lot of fancy stuff to work.
8.5 to 9.3 grs of unique works just fine in them believe it or not.
I know you got some red-dot there so give it a go with the 270's the worst that could happen is you gotta walk down there, get your lead back and try again.
I know i have a 200gr mold here cause I shoot it in my 44-40 I think it's designated to throw 428ish with 2/6/92 alloy but the design is flawless.
it's a magma engineering mold [set up for their casting machines] and would give you something to look at while looking for another 200 gr mold over at the accurate site.

 

[fiver]

http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=43-210L-D.png
or you could just get this.

if that nose was shortened about .0015 it would make a perfect design for the 41 mag in those marlins too.

 

[williamwaco]

I wouldn't buy the rifle to find put either. The rifle was a gift from Khornet so all I have to invest is some time, lead, and powder.

I don't know either. What I do know is that there seem to be two distinct groups. Some swear by these rifles, others swear at them. I need to see which group I will be in.

Wow that is nice.

Did you ask him what it will shoot?

 

[Ian]

Mine shoots 300s just fine (5 shots into ~1.5 inches at 50 yards with the factory buckhorns sights). It will shoot the 320 SSK just fine as well, but it's too long to cycle from the magazine when crimped in the crimp groove. Details at: http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin1894.htm

A great read, been a while since I went through all your articles. Thanks for the link.

 

[waco]

Brad. Just out of curiosity, what kind of rifling does the rifle have? Microgroove or ballard?

 

[oldatheart]

I have a lbt 280 pb that works well in my 77-44 if you want some I can send them your way I still have those 32's for you as well

 

[Brad]

I may just need to take a drive some day soon and stop by your new shop.

 

[Will]

Brad did you ever get to do any shooting with the 1894?

I ask because I have had a horrible time trying to find a load for my 1894 Ballard rifled 44 mag

 

[Will]

Here's a pound cast of my 1894. It mic's just a hair over .432" in the grooves. I size at .434 but still am not able to get accuracy. I'm gonna try harder bullets and more velocity this spring.

You can see how far you have to seat the bullet out to engrave. That's a mihec 429-640.

This rifle has about made me rip my hair out. Only reason I still have it is the wife bought it for me as an engagement present 9 years ago.

 

[9.3X62AL]

You gotta wonder where these off-the-wall twist rates originate. The 9mm Luger and its usual 1-10" or 4 turns/meter for those short little bullets, or the 1:38" in the Marlin Micro-Grooves. 1:38 is the pitch given in my 1873 Winchester carbine in 44-40 WCF, but that caliber's usual bullets weighed between 200 and 217 grains. I suspect this slow twist suits those short squatty 44s, and force of habit or lack of imagination preserves the 1:38" legacy.

My MirokuChester Model 92 in 44 Magnum has a 1:24" twist--or 1:26", I can't remember which it is. It runs 250 grain round FN/GC castings to 1900 FPS very well, and shoots just as nicely with plain-based 200 grainers at 1100-1300. I have no plans to run bullets much heavier than 265 grains in the rifle.......the 240s at 1900 push back hard enough as it is.

 

[Rally Hess]

Brad,
Here's my targets from today with a Marlin 336 in .44 mag. I have the 1894 and a Ruger 77/44 I'll be shooting in the next couple days also. The top target was the solid point and I moved the scope down 14 clicks after shooting the first two, which are the two highest. The second is five shots also. The fifth took out the center and looks like a good start. I.m sizing .430 and using 2.5 lbs Mono, 7 lbs PB, 7 lbs coww. My 20 lb Lee's only hold 16.5 lbs, or is what I'm comfortable putting in them. The left target is the HP version and I'm sure it will shoot better. I was getting cold after having a buddy come here and shoot awhile between the first two rounds with this gun. I'm crimping in the crimp groove and it leaves me .003 off the lands in this rifle.They chamber in the 1894 but I haven't measured yet to see how far out they are yet. Using Bens Red with some extra beeswax for lube. It was about 20 degrees when I shot the first two rounds and a bit warmer for the third round.

 

[Brad]

I have never used Blue Dot but that might change?
I need to get the rifle out and do some shooting. It has fallen behind some other projects. I will likely put a scope on it for 100 yard testing, iron sights just don't cut it for me anymore. I want to test the gun, not me.

 

[Rally Hess]

The load is 14.0 grs of Blue Dot not 10. I'm not sure why I wrote that on the target, perhaps a CRS moment. I made the correction on the target and deleted the first.
I'm also scoping most of my rifles, still prefer a pistol without. I like Blue Dot in .44 mag and 1 oz 20 guage for pheasant. This load listed above shot really clean in the 336 also. Three Marlins with three NOE dimple points all showing to be favorites so far. I'm also gearing up for a test of the NOE 360-180 in my 1894 .357. So many moulds and so little daylight.

 

[Brad]

https://www.levergun.com/tune-your-marlin-levergun/

Scroll down to the bottom and read what Mic says about twist rates for 44 mag rifles. This is a guy who has a reputation for knowing his stuff.

Kinda goes against conventional wisdom pushed by many.

 

[Brad]

Took it out for a test drive today. With the factory irons it shoots well enough for me at 50 yards. Now to get a scope on the rifle and see what it can really do.

 

[Will]

Just out of curiosity Brad what are you calling good enough?

 

[Brad]

2-3 inches off a rest at 50 yards. With the factory sights I can't do much better than that.
I will say that with full loads it is a lively little rifle. It won't be something I shoot 100 mag loads thru in a day. Now special loads, those are not an issue.

Scope is getting mounted today if I can find some rings that work. That will make groups mean much more.

 

[Brad]

I need to make a new Star die. .4315 is too small and I got some leading. Not much but a little in the grooves. This rifle has micro groove rifling so it will be happier with fatter bullets.
Any suggestions? I was going to start with a .433 sizer and go up to .434 if required.
I may just finger lube some unsized bullets at .434 and see how they shoot.

 

[Will]

The throat in mine is .4325" I shoot .434" bullets