Cast bullet loads for Marlin 1894C

[stonecoldy]

I was able to find and purchase a new Marlin 1894C today (not easy to find in southwest Ohio), and have plenty of 158 grain cast lead semiwadcutters I'd like to use for .357 mag for low/mid range velocity loads (1000 fps and less). My preference is to avoid any lead build-up from shooting .38 Special in the front of the chamber, if possible.
If anyone has any recipes they have had good success with, would like to hear opinions on it.
If said loads would also give decent performance in a 6" barreled revolver, so much the better. Just planning on use for plinking/targets and small game.

 

[snuffy]

What cartridge, 357, 38 special, 35 remington? 1894C doesn't tell ME anything.

I guess I'm not up to speed on lever rifle designations,,,, are I?

 

[MMCSRET]

Mine likes full power 357s loaded with H110 and my cast Lyman 358156 gas checked SWCs. Very accurate and I've never found any leading even with the Micro groove rifling. My 1894C is 20 years old. I also use a lot of 38s in it.

 

[stonecoldy]

158 grain cast lead semiwadcutters I'd like to use for .357 mag for low/mid range velocity loads (1000 fps and less). My preference is to avoid any lead build-up from shooting .38 Special in the front of the chamber, if possible.

See post, Snuffy, please.

 

[ReloaderFred]

My wife and I both shoot Marlin 1894's in SASS. We've put thousands of lead bullets through them and have yet to have any leading. Of course, our loads for SASS are light loads, but I've also got a third 1894 that I've set up for only shooting full power .357 Magnum loads in, and I use a 180 cast gas checked bullet in that one, with full loads of Hodgdon's Lil'Gun. This brings the little carbine right up there with the 150 grain .30-30 in foot pounds of energy.

Stick with Round Nose Flat Point bullets and they'll feed better. You'll also want to keep your over all length to at least 1.480" for proper feeding.

If you're going to do a lot of shooting with it, you also might want to consider a leather wrap on the lever, where the back of your fingers contact it during levering the action. It makes it much more comfortable to shoot with a little padding there.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[stonecoldy]

Thanks for all of the input. I've got a bit of reloaded cast bullet loads in 38 Special I was considering trying first after shooting some factory 357 mag loads. I would be interested in what you use for your CAS loadings. Ive got plenty of sharper-shouldered semi-wadcutters, haven't been able to see how well they'll feed (hoping for the best there), have read that they may be problematical. We'll see. If not, they'll get run through a couple revolvers at the range eventually.
Also thanks for the tip on padding the lever. I was thinking about that after cycling the action a few times.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I sent you a PM with the information you requested.

Fred

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use HS-6 when loading .38 Special pressure loads in a .357 Magnum case for my 1894C.

For heavy loads I also use a 180gr GC bullet over Lil'Gun. Cast Performance bullets are a cut above the rest IMO. They are accurate and reliable. That is the same bullet used in Grizzly Ammo. (both owned by the same company)