New Marlin 44 MAG Slugged .432, Jacked Bullets

[Hartkopf]

Does anybody have a Marlin that slugged .432 (or so) that shoots .430 jacketed bullets fairly accurately?

Looking for 4 or 5 inch groups at 100 yards and couldn’t get close with .429 plated or .430 cast. (moderate velocities) That’s when I did some research here on THR and found most Marlins are way big. Sure enough it slugged .432.

I found some Hornady .430 jacketed bullets that I’ll try if anybody else has had luck with them.

 

[skeeterfogger]

I haven't slugged my barrel but shoot 240gn jsp. Darn accurate for a pistol round rifle.

 

[Lee Q. Loader]

Zero 240 gr Jacketed Soft Points are .431". If you can ever find those in stock that might be a good option for you. They are very accurate in my revolver.
http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=RZD&Category_Code=ZBJ-44MAG

 

[earlthegoat2]

My 1894SS slugged .432 and shot 300 gr Hornady XTP factory rounds in the 4-5" range at 100. It did not like the 240s though which disagrees with the conventional wisdom of the Marlin crowd. It really liked .432 sized lead bullets which can be gotten around the net sized that way if you dont cast. It shoots around 2" @100 with that bullet.

I really dont like Hornady XTPs either but I was in a pinch and that is what shot the best.

 

[Hartkopf]

My 1894SS slugged .432 and shot 300 gr Hornady XTP factory rounds in the 4-5" range at 100. It did not like the 240s though which disagrees with the conventional wisdom of the Marlin crowd. It really liked .432 sized lead bullets which can be gotten around the net sized that way if you dont cast. It shoots around 2" @100 with that bullet.

I really dont like Hornady XTPs either but I was in a pinch and that is what shot the best.

Thanks! Good to know. I cast but don’t have a .432 or .433 mold. I have some of the 300 grain XTPs that I might try. How hot did you load the XTPs?

EDIT: just noticed you said factory XTPs.

 

[WrongHanded]

This isn't what you asked but, Montana Bullet Works will likely have the option to cast lead for you in the diameter you want. At least in some of the molds they have available.

 

[Obturation]

44 mag rifles and pistols have different dimensions. Why? I don't know, I no longer dabble in 44 mag.
First is rifle dimension

 

[earlthegoat2]

View attachment 983577 View attachment 983578

44 mag rifles and pistols have different dimensions. Why? I don't know, I no longer dabble in 44 mag.
First is rifle dimension

I don't either and this is one of the bigger reasons. Differing SAAMI specs for each chamber. Marlin rifles being all over the place for actual bore diameter. Less availability of the bullets I like to use compared to 451-452. (personal preference based reason). Crappy twist rates for many of the 44 lever guns to include Marlin, H&R, and Rossi. (45 Colt rifles also suffer from this but at least they have consistent chambers from rifle to pistol) Henry and the few Ruger rifles out there have 1:20 so there are those options. I dont like how Henrys look and they dont make the Ruger bolt action 44 in lefty.

I used to think I really liked all things .44 (.43) caliber until I started looking at heavier hunting bullets and rifles. Even 444 Marlin started disappointing me with bullet availability. I was invested into 44 mag as a do all rifle around here in the south and up north in a straight wall area of MI but 450 Bushmaster started to make more and more sense for that dual role so I too got out of 44.

Part of me wants to rebarrel my 1894 to a SAAMI handgun spec chamber with 1:20 rifling. Maybe if I drop out of 450 BM.

 

[AJC1]

This is the primary reason why my pair of pistol and carbine is 357. I have no idea why the difference started but I think it's just the worst idea ever. Maybe if we make some noise ruger will fix it.

 

[mrawesome22-250]

My Remlin slugged .4315" and the only bullets that produced consistent accuracy were cast .432" bullets.

I just got rid of it. It was a headache I didn't want.

Perhaps now that Ruger is going to try their hand at making lever guns, they will use a .429" groove diameter? I've heard they did this in their 44/77 rifles.

 

[earlthegoat2]

My Remlin slugged .4315" and the only bullets that produced consistent accuracy were cast .432" bullets.

I just got rid of it. It was a headache I didn't want.

Same here. It was too much of a process to get mine to shoot decent. I didnt want to have to handload uber-specialized rounds exclusively for it just so I could hunt.

 

[Obturation]

This is the primary reason why my pair of pistol and carbine is 357. I have no idea why the difference started but I think it's just the worst idea ever. Maybe if we make some noise ruger will fix it.

I too do the 357 revolver paired with a 77/357. Good for general use, if I need big medicine I go for 45/70 and a 454 casull revolver. I really want a 454 carbine but options are limited and I'm not spending 3k on a big horn armory gun

 

[BigBlue 94]

Ive heard of guys using a sheet of paper between the halves of a mold to increase the 'diameter' of a cast bullet. Regular loose leaf notebook paper is about .003". Obviously, this will cause the bullet to be slightly out-of-round. No experience with it myself.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Perhaps now that Ruger is going to try their hand at making lever guns, they will use a .429" groove diameter? I've heard they did this in their 44/77 rifles.

I have a Ruger lever gun in 44 mag, the 96/44. Ive never slugged the barrel before though. Shoots pretty decent for what it is.

 

[Obturation]

Ive heard of guys using a sheet of paper between the halves of a mold to increase the 'diameter' of a cast bullet. Regular loose leaf notebook paper is about .003". Obviously, this will cause the bullet to be slightly out-of-round. No experience with it myself.

I've seen the piece of foil tape, there's a term for it that I can't remember at the moment. It will cast slightly out of round but just like most other cast bullets, it should be sized.

I'm not anything close to a casting expert, I'm not even experienced . done very little in fact . I do read more than my fair share though. I've seen where guys have cast a bullet from their mould (mold?) of choice then attach the cast bullet to a piece of rod and coat it with lapping compound, put the rod in a drill and spin it in the mould to increase diameter. In theory it should remain concentric but I'd imagine the lead wears down pretty quick and you'd have to stop every minute or two and cast a few to check things out. There's a chance of ruining a mould but that's the best I've got.

 

[Jim Watson]

Beagling.

 

[Obturation]

Beagling.

Right! I had badgering in my head but it sounded too wrong to include. Now you all know what I was going to say before I thought better.

 

[Hartkopf]

I might give this beagling a try. I usually have to tweak or fix everything I own anyway. I’ve got a Lee mold I wasn’t thrilled with and plenty of lapping compound. Just need more time for yet another project!

 

[Obturation]

I might give this beagling a try. I usually have to tweak or fix everything I own anyway. I’ve got a Lee mold I wasn’t thrilled with and plenty of lapping compound. Just need more time for yet another project!

"Beagling" is adding tape or material to increase diameter, the lapping thing may have a name but I've never heard it, never done it, don't know anyone who has . but I'm sure it can be done. Look into it before you attack your mould , I think they only do the bearing surface to avoid a wonky nose . I'd imagine an aluminum mould would cut pretty easy , a few thousandths isn't much and might go real dang fast. I don't know. Follow up with us if you try it, please

 

[earlthegoat2]

I suppose beagling could work decent enough used in conjunction with a sizing die.

 

[AJC1]

If your going to beagle then you should run a swaging type die like the lee. Depending on the type of lube groves you may cause some weird ballance/gyroscopic effects.

 

[Hartkopf]

I suppose beagling could work decent enough used in conjunction with a sizing die.

Now I’ll need to locate a .433 sizing die or hone out my .430. I’ve got a lot going on at the moment so not sure I can get anywhere on this for a while.

Follow up with us if you try it, please

I’ll post here if I don’t make a complete mess of things.

 

[Obturation]

Now I’ll need to locate a .433 sizing die or hone out my .430. I’ve got a lot going on at the moment so not sure I can get anywhere on this for a while.



I’ll post here if I don’t make a complete mess of things.

I want to see if you fail too, may help someone else from taking the wrong path.

You'll have a hard time increasing a sizing die, I'm sure it can be done though. The sizing bushings shown above go into a die body, the body is like $10-15 and the bushings are $8-15. But they're abundant and I'd say with decent certainty if you order any size they have listed , you'll get it. The die body goes into a breech lock type press or adaptor - hope I'm not too far in the weeds here... I use that stuff on an APP press which is the breech lock type press but it can be adapted to any press I believe . the bushings are cheap and don't take much space, the 457" one I have has seen brutal sizing without damage. I say sizing but I actually mean amature experimental swaging , no problem.

Ordering bullets of the right size is easiest but not always time effective now days.