Marlin Micro-Groove Rifling for Cast Loads in 1894's?

[Got_Lead?]

Hello all:

I've got a couple of pre-Ballard 1894's with micro-groove rifling, and was wondering if it really makes any difference which rifling style you have with cast loads?

I am primarily a cast boolet shooter, both commercial hard cast, and home cast wheel weights.

I have both a .357 and .44 mag.

Would anyone care to share their knowledge?

 

[WyrTwister]

Hello all:

I've got a couple of pre-Ballard 1894's with micro-groove rifling, and was wondering if it really makes any difference which rifling style you have with cast loads?

I am primarily a cast boolet shooter, both commercial hard cast, and home cast wheel weights.

I have both a .357 and .44 mag.

Would anyone care to share their knowledge?

All else being equal , I would pick the Ballard rifling , but I would not make that a deal breaker . I can not remember which my Marlin .44 Mag is ?

I think bullet fit is more important .

I cast for .357 , .44 , .45 & .45-70 and sometimes 9mm .

I try to cast the biggest bullet I can . If as cast & loaded in the brass will chamber , I go with it ( tumble lube with Lee Liquid Alox ) .

Honestly , with handgun caliber lever guns , I do not get close to the accuracy I get with the bottle neck rifle calibers . So , it is relitive .

God bless
Wyr

 

[MarkDozier]

slug the barrel. That way you will know exacltly how to size the bullets

 

[RickMD]

I shoot cast bullets in a 1895 Marlin 45-70 with Ballard rifling. I previously had the same model with Micro-Groove rifling and it wasn't worth a hoot if I was loading hard cast bullets at over 1200 FPS. My personal experience has been that the M-G rifling just isn't deep enough to adequately grip the bullet at higher velocities.

Micro-Groove rifling is fine for jacketed slugs and .22 rimfires but not the best choice for cast bullets at higher velocities. Why do you think Marlin changed to conventional rifling?

 

[336A]

For a wealth og information on this subject read here.
http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin1894.htm

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellMarlin-MicroGroove.htm

 

[Sig88]

I had a micro-groove 1894 in 44mag. I was tempted to try out lead bullets but I kept hearing how inaccurate they would be. I succumbed to the rumors and never tried the lead. Have since sold the rifle but I'd definitely try it at least.

 

[MMCSRET]

My 1894C in 357 dates to about 1984 and has micro groove. I use a gas checked boollit, Lyman 358156 sized to .358 over heavy charges of H110 or A#9 and it performs at least as well as with a jacketed bullet and does it with lower pressures. I use Hornady or old style Lyman gas checks, doesn't seem to make a difference which, and I tried them against each other, the only difference is that the Hornady crimps on and the old Lyman doesn't. My 1894 44 Magnum works the same way as long as I use a gas check. Plain base work as long as I don't push them too hard. You just have to experiment, there is no other way to find out.