anyone getting good accuracy from specials in lever actions?

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trekker73

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Fellas, just wondering if anyone out there loading 38 special in their 357 mag and 44 special in their 44mag manage to find accurate plinking loads? These are accurate handgun calibres to target ranges. But what about at 75 yards? I was thinking the velocity variations of such small powder charges in the big cases would start to effect groups at some point?

Reason I ask is I was thinking to try cowboy shooting, and would like to be able to teach the kids to hit targets past 75 yards with the guns as well. Those low powder loads would be easy on the ears and the neighbouring farms ears. However not if they shoot all over the place like like a 25 yard gallery gun.
 
I'll add to the question low powered loads in 45 colt, 38-40 lever actions etc.
 
I got decent groups with 125gr Berry’s FP over, I believe 6gr CFE Pistol in my 70’s model Marlin 1894. I had some loaded for my S&W Model 20 38/44 HD and thought I would try it out. But honestly, I prefer just shooting 357.

I’m not sure what kind of groups you’re wanting. Mine were about 2.5” at 75 yards. When I stepped up the same bullets in 357 Starline over 22gr H-110, my groups went to 1-1.25. It’s not hard on the shoulder. But it is a little loud. It’s really going to depend on the individual rifle.
 
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For my lever guns I generally down load the magnum cases instead of shooting the shorter cases. Revolvers are tough enough to clean the ring out of and I can swing them out into the open.

If that doesn’t bother you little 125 gn bullets with small charges of fast powders are soft, quiet and accurate enough to learn how to shoot. Trail boss is literally made for the job but I personally prefer other powders.

Whenever you make already less than great long range rounds even weaker, expect the trajectory to turn from throwing a loaf of bread to something that better resembles a rainbow.

I might go with a few different loads to cover the bases. Or assuming the 38/357 would be my SASS pick, if your going to add 44/44mag, 45 LC and 38-40 to the collection, I’d add .22lr and your soft, quiet, can hit targets beyond 100yds problem is solved.
 
I do most of my Marlin 1894 shooting with Remington 125 grain hollow point plus P .38 specials and find them as accurate as the magnums loads. They are, of course, much more pleasant to shoot and provide plenty of power for all my rural Midwest needs. .38 specials out of a rifle beat the same loads out of a handgun by around 350 fps, getting them close to handgun magnums power.

For really pleasant shooting, I use some of my really light .38 special handloads I generate for small revolvers.
 
I’m not sure why the OP thinks light charges in pistol cases lead to large velocity variations.
The most recent Marlin 1894 I had was most accurate with a 200gr cast bullet over a modest charge of a fast burning powder. Using Clays powder in .44spl cases and a .431” sizing. It gave velocity spreads of less than 20fps.
Accuracy however was relative. The barrel was the worst I’d ever seen. It had a pyschadelic shimmer due to all the reamer chattering. Efforts to lap it were futile.
I sold it for more than I paid for it to an action shooter who thought the accuracy was more than adequate.
It was a 2018 Remlin.... I bought an S&W M69. Far more accurate!
 
Not a lever but a single shot Henry. My standard target load is a standard pressure. 38 158 gr cast over Hodgedon book load of Hs-6. Recently I've been running them warmer over PP as I have some of that to use up as well as some very hard 158s. Both loads are minute of beer can to 50 yards and will topple bowling pins at 100 plus when you call the wind and holdover correctly and hold the rifle steady. Have only ever fired groups at 50 yards to zero, and both loads could be covered by a quarter. I'm pleased by this as the rifle only wears a 2x optic. My 125 gr cast handgun load is also accurate in this rifle. 4.5 grains H38 and Acme 125 tc. Limited experience with this load as I use mostly 158s in the rifle due to zero shift between weights and this shoots 158s for deer season.
 
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My 1894c seems to shoot about 4-5 MOA regardless of if I'm shooting .38's or .357. The longest shot I've ever taken at a deer is 40 yards so that's good enough for me.
 
The only experience I've had with levers & magnum/special loads is with my Browning B-92 in .44 magnum. With magnums it is very accurate. I've only run factory ammo through it, but with .44 spl it cycled fine but wasn't very accurate. Still acceptable, just not as great.

I more recently bought a Marlin 1894 Cowboy in .357 magnum, but have no experience with it with spl. Cartridges.
 
This is a job for Trail Boss. The fluffy little donuts fill the cases and 900 FPS loads that kick like a mouse are possible in even .45-70 so should not be a problem for the powder "preferred by sheriffs and outlaws" to tame a little bitty little feller like a .44 Magnum ;). The kids will love and you will too and the kick, well, your Daisy Red Ryder will be comparable.
 
My Henry X really loves .357 Mags and is one hell of an accurate rifle out to any distance with those. Not so much with .38 Spec. It seems to shoot about six inches lower and groups at least twice as wide for the same ranges.
 
My Rossi is good to 200 yds on steel with trailboss and 125gr cast lead in 38 special.
And a bunny popping machine in 357 mag.

The 45 colt 24" bbl Rossi is also fun. Just not as accurate.
 
While I regret selling both of them, my Winchester 94AEs both shot very well with whatever Wholesale Ammo sold as their own cheapest loadings.

Then, I ended up with some pretty good brass too.

In fact, those Winchesters were the usual recipients of most any left-over ammo I found at estate sales too. Zip-lock bags, coffee cans, rolling in drawers....

I don't recall a single disappointment in ammo regardless of cost or quality. The Winchesters seemed to *make* everything perform well for plinking.

Todd.
 
Once I got my bullet fit correct, my microgroove Marlin 357 shoots quite well. I was getting about 1" five shot groups off a rest at 50yds with a 2.5x scope.
My 44mag and I are still trying to find something that shoots well. However, I have not been able to find a fat cast bullet yet. Stupid shortages.
 
Fellas, just wondering if anyone out there loading 38 special in their 357 mag and 44 special in their 44mag manage to find accurate plinking loads? These are accurate handgun calibres to target ranges. But what about at 75 yards? I was thinking the velocity variations of such small powder charges in the big cases would start to effect groups at some point?

Reason I ask is I was thinking to try cowboy shooting, and would like to be able to teach the kids to hit targets past 75 yards with the guns as well. Those low powder loads would be easy on the ears and the neighbouring farms ears. However not if they shoot all over the place like like a 25 yard gallery gun.

From my observation cowboy targets are close and rather large. The philosophy that I read from a SASS writer is they are designed to allow 90% of shooters to hit them 90% of the time. Having shooters clean all the stages is not uncommon.
 
Which Pistol and Rifle will make a difference, not all will have the same barrel rifling .
Ballard or Microgroove are both common in lever rifles .
 
I never took the time to "find a load" for my 38/357 Marlin. I do know, however, that some loads I loaded up shoot like shotguns!

Sometimes we have to think outside the box. Just because it may be a pistol cartridge doesn't make it a pistol caliber!

It can be difficult to take a pistol powder cartridge and shoot for accuracy in a rifle that may need a mid-range rifle powder. Trail Boss is just fine for the "plinkers" and can even be accurate, but weak, out to 200 yards. IMR-4227 or 2400 powders were mid-range rifle powders long before the advent of the magnum cartridges. Sometimes for velocity and accuracy a slower burning powder is needed for rifle use.

Here is a video of me using trail boss to lob a 44-40 caliber bullet out to 25 yards and 265 yards from a rifle.

Here is a video of me using IMR-4227 (44-40) to annihilate a golfball at 265 yards from a Marlin rifle.


The difference between the two was mainly the type powder used and the extreme trajectory needed for the very slow velocity trail boss powered projectile. One for plinking and one for getting the job done.
 
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