Hate it when you can't get a bullet to shoot accurately!

[ssyoumans]

After shooting for the past 2 years Hornady 240gr XTP's over either 2400 or 296, I decided to try something less expensive out of my Marlin 1894. This is the only 44 Mag that I own. I have a little 4x scope mounted on it.

I picked up 500 PowerBond 240gr Plated Hollow Points. Priced nice at $70/500 including shipping, that's about 1/2 of the XTPs. I sent an e-mail to PowerBond and they responded back that they are good to 1400 - 1500 fps due to the thicker plating. The bullets measure .429" and look very nice.

With the XTPs I can keep 5 shots inside 1.5" at 50 yards, with several touching (44's make nice big holes).

I loaded up some with 10.0gr of Unique, with a light roll crimp (seater) and a firmer taper crimp (Lee FCD). 10 shot avg 1207fps with ES of 105fps, SD 30.8. Not very consistent. Bullet grouped about 6+" at 40 yards! I thought I needed to push them harder, so I switched to blue dot with 13.5gr. These came out at 1424 fps, but again, ES of 92fps and 6" groups. Using CCI LP primers.

I have downloaded XTPs with both Unique and Blue Dot, and they shot lower, but maintained nice groups. Not sure where to go from here. I know the XTPs are .430" and the PowerBonds are .429", but I wouldn't have expected this kind of difference group wise. Velocity wise, the downloaded PowerBonds are about the same as the download XTPs, but just don't group at ALL.

Where to go from here???

 

[Bull Nutria]

try some .432 cast bullets with 2400. may just tightened your groups !! those ,429 are revolver bullets. also slug your barrel to see the true diameter.

Bull

 

[mdi]

I understand plated bullets preform much like cast lead bullets. As such, .429" is prolly .003" too small. Slug the barrel of your Marlin and size (or purchase) your bullets about .002" larger than groove diameter.

 

[Walkalong]

That is to prevent leading with lead bullets. It has nothing to do with plated bullets. They come whatever the maker sizes them too. Usually the same as jacketed, or .001 more.

Maybe they just don't like being downloaded. I hope they shoot well at full power, because I just bought some to try out, for the same reason, price.

Maybe you just need to tweak it, but who knows, maybe they just don't shoot well.

 

[longdayjake]

Well, may I suggest that you try the same powders you were using with the xtp's?

w296 or 2400. I no longer sell powerbonds but when I did, I had customers launching them all the way up to 1900-2000 fps with great results. Almost everyone that shot them said they shot best at near max velocities.

 

[TwoEyedJack]

Does your 1894 have microgroove rifling? I have an 1894 in .41 with microgroove rifling. I have about given up on getting a cast bullet to shoot as well as jacketed. In my .41 blackhawk, cast bullets shoot about as well as jacketed, not so with the Marlin. Some claim to get good accuracy with cast in a microgroove barrel, but I think most of them are using gas checks.

 

[243winxb]

I would guess the plating is softer & thinner than the Hornady 240gr XTP's. Plus being .429" may not be a help? My Marlin with microgroove rifling didnt like cast bullets.

 

[ssyoumans]

Mine is a 2009 so it does not have the microgroove rifling. It does shoot MBC 240gr Smashers over Unique very well when velocities are kept below 1250fps. I don't mind leading in my pistols but don't like getting it in my rifles. Much harder to clean out. When pushed to 1300-1400 fps I was getting some leading. I don't cast so I couldn't get ones for cheap that were .432, all MBCs are .430.

I am going to load some up with 17 - 19gr of 2400 and see how they perform. What happens when plated bullets are pushed to fast? Does it cause a dangerous condition or just poor accuracy?

 

[243winxb]

PowerBond-Our copper is thicker and tougher than other bullets...between 10 and 11-thousandths. Should not be from a thin jacket. How about copper fouling? Berry's said on there web site to keep velocity no faster than 1200 fps. There copper coat is .008" maximum thickness.

 

[kelbro]

I thought the XTPs were .430