[fallout mike]

I'm wanting to cast bullets for .45-70 and .444 for use in handi-rifles. Someone told me that will shoot really poorly bc of the rifling. Can anyone confirm or deny this? My hunting buddies would be using these on hogs during deer season if they see one.

[Arkansas Paul]

Some of the Handis have micro-groove rifling. If they have that, it will be a bit more of a task to get it to shoot with the cast.

Click here http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php/board,126.0.html

They are nuts about Handi Rifles and can likely tell you by the serial number when it was made and which kind or riflings it has.

[Certaindeaf]

I think the issue with Micro-Grrove rifling is that the lead slug must be slightly larger than were it otherwise. No big deal perhaps. Slug the barrel and try/size them .001" over and if no joy, perhaps try them unsized. Do you cast?

[fallout mike]

Certaindeaf, I'm about to start. Arkansaspaul, is a relative and I've been waiting on him to get good at it so he can show me the ropes.

[Curator]

Actually micro-groove barrels shoot casr bullets just fine as long as they are the corrct size for the bore and have sufficient twist to stabelize them. My Handi-rifle .45-70 needs .462 diameter bullets to shoot well. The bore measures 450 land/460 groove. Twist rate in 1 in 20" so it will shoot event the 500 grain slugs accurately as long as I can stand the recoil. An issue with the .444Marlin in the early Handi's is the slow (1 in 36") twist made for bullets no longer than commercial 240 grain .44RemMag. These generally will not shoot the 300+ grain bullets accurately past about 75 yards.YMMV

[popper]

Don't beleive that hogwash about the micro-groove barrels. They will shoot fine, you just have to get the size and load right. Check http://castboolits.gunloads.com/index.php

[Elkins45]

I used to shoot the Lee 400 grain cast bullet in my micro groove Marlin and it was superbly accurate.