30-30 or 44mag???

I like my 1894 Marlin 44 mag.
However, something is wrong here. People are talking about heavy bullets in it, when in reality, with the barrel twist of 1 in 38", it will not really stablize 240 grain bullets.
I have shot thousands of 240 grain cast bullets in 44 mags, mostly in revolvers, both S&W and Ruger. I have two Lyman molds in that calibre. The Marlin I have had now for some twenty years is the second one I have owned. I was amazed to find I could make very little, if any, better groups with the aperature sighted Marlin, than I could with the revolvers, when using a good rest.
Lately, I put a scope on the 44 Marlin. My cast bullets, either flat based or gas check, were very consistent. They all made five shot groups of 4 to 5 inches at 100 metres.
I then purchased some 240 grain gas check bullets, which were said to shoot well in a Marlin. My groups from the scope sighted Marlin were exactly like my own cast bullets, 4 to 5 inches.
Tried some Speer 240 grain jacketed bullets. 4.5 inch group!
Had some 240 grain jacketed silhouette bullets we had been given at some match. Scope sighted Marlin made 4 inch group!
Noticed I had some Speer 240 grain jacketed hollow point bullets. Five shot group at 100 metres with the Marlin was under 1.25 inches!
It is obvious to me that the 38 inch rifling will just not stabalize the average 240 grain bullet.
 
I'm thinking due to the age of your Marlin you have the older style of rifling that didn't stablize cast very well can't remember what it was called for sure maybe ballard?

The newer style rifling shoots cast just as well as jacketed.
 
I've heard that microgroove barrels sometimes were larger than normal. My 16" Marlin .44 mag shoots 300gr. WFN's at 1500fps and is right around 2" at 100yds. They are .430 diameter.
 
Camp Cook said:
I'm thinking due to the age of your Marlin you have the older style of rifling that didn't stablize cast very well can't remember what it was called for sure maybe ballard?

The newer style rifling shoots cast just as well as jacketed.
Click to expand...

True, microgroove rifling requires intense velocity/pressure to stabilize the heavy bullets. My 444 shot heavy cast just fine with the 1/38 twist, but they were moving pretty fast.
As you mention, the newer guns (post 2000ish) have ballard style, broach cut rifling and the twist is 1/20" i believe... it is in the new 444 anyhow.
 
Back to the subject matter, I've shot both deer and black bear with the 44-40, and at least one at below Black powder velocities.
The 44 Magnum will do just fine for the conditions you describe.
My wife uses it in her rotary magazined Ruger 96. Deer she has shot died quickly, none have gone more than a few steps.
Me, I use both the 30-30 and the 44-40 for those same conditions. The 30-30 will be the one I carry if there are a few more open areas, but will easily cover the close up stuff as well.
Although most modern rifles feed just fine, it has to be said. The 30-30 feeds more reliably (in some rifles) than the 44 Mag. That blunt front end will hang up in some rifles now and then.

Of course you only need one shot right?

As to magazine capacity. My 92 Winchester 44-40 holds 13 rounds, my model 94 Winchester 30-30 seven (eight with one chambered). Either one has tons of ammo capacity. In fact 13 rounds in a tube mag is a bit of a PIA.
 
mikeystew said:
True, microgroove rifling requires intense velocity/pressure to stabilize the heavy bullets. My 444 shot heavy cast just fine with the 1/38 twist, but they were moving pretty fast.
As you mention, the newer guns (post 2000ish) have ballard style, broach cut rifling and the twist is 1/20" i believe... it is in the new 444 anyhow.
Click to expand...

Yes, mine is the micro groove with 1 in 38 inches.
I figured too, if I could get them going fast enough they would stablize, but couldn't get them going that fast in the 44.
It likely comes very close to stablizing them and the cast shoot just as well as the jacketed, each in 240 grain.
Except, as I stated, the 240 hollow point jacketed shot like a dream. Just the difference between the squarish and the hollow point, in the same weight, made the difference.
 
H4831 said:
I like my 1894 Marlin 44 mag.
Click to expand...

I like your Marlin too............:p
Fun rifle to shoot.
Fits well, action is slick and the bullet holes are big........:D
Liked the Marlin lever so much that I bought me one in
a 336, but in the turdy turdy.
Dang accurate as well.
Exspensive hanging around you H..........:eek: :popCorn: :wave: :D
 
I have been pondering this same question and have decided to go with the 44mag. Main reason is that I handload and prefer a straight walled pistol cartridge to a bottle neck cartridge for ease and speed of reloading plus I already got the setup to crank out 44's on my progressive press. I can reload 44 cheaper than 30-30 and where I hunt is thick bush mostly where 100 yards is a long shot. Now I just need to decide Marlin or Rossi puma(if I can find one1!)
 
I just picked up a Winchester 1892 Trapper Takedown in .44 Mag (and best of all it’s Made in Japan) :D
It’s got a 16" takedown barrel and holds 7+1. Can’t beat that IMO.

Winchester1892TrapperTakedown44Mag.jpg
 
I think both should work very well, though the .44 is likely a shorter range rifle. Mine has been consistantly a 4" grouper at 100, though all I have been shooting is 240's. Maybe I should try lighter bullets? 4" Is OK for hunting inside of 100 yds, but I was hoping for an inch and a half or so. I am sorely tempted to pick the model 92, it looks like a lovely rifle!
 
pazzo said:
I just picked up a Winchester 1892 Trapper Takedown in .44 Mag (and best of all it’s Made in Japan) :D
It’s got a 16" takedown barrel and holds 7+1. Can’t beat that IMO.

Winchester1892TrapperTakedown44Mag.jpg
Click to expand...

Those Miroku-made takedowns are pure ###, and that's coming from someone who's not even a fan of the 1892.
 
My ruger M77/44 has a 1:20" twist and will not shoot 240 grain bullets of any type!
The best I have got is around 3-3.5" at 100.
Not to my liking at alll!
Yet it will shoot the 200-210grain bullets into 1-2" all day long.
Those are not my idea of hunting bullets, but will do in a pinch.

It sure seems strange that the standard bullet weight for the 44mag will not typically shoot well in some rifles.
I sold my rifle because of it.
I have seen these problems "many" times!
The appropriate twist is seldom put into the rifle barrels of 44cal.

In my experience, I have had 4-5 rifles come my way with this problem.

I post this question ( out of curiosity, not judgement) to those who are are happy with the accuracy of thier 44mag rifle/240gr. Combo:

How many times have you repeated the small groups?

I ask this because I have had the occasional group thats acceptable, but 3 out of 4 groups are all over the map.
I have tried at least 20 different combinations(multiple times each).
It was very dissappointing!

The micro groove rifling had a tendency to strip off and lead a bore terribly quick when pushed too hard with lead cast bullets.
The ballard rifling for the most part, seemed to significantly reduce that.

Sorry for deviating from the post subject.
For shooting inside heavy bush inside 100 yards, 44mag is my prefferance.
Ifff... it is accurate enough, and with at least 240grain+bullets.

Have fun you gunnutz!
 
Classic Green .223 said:
A .44 mag is what I use for deer, but I do fear the day (it will happen) I walk into a clearing and a monster buck is 150yds away.
Click to expand...

For years, the 44 magnum revolver was used for shooting silhouette, at ranges up to 200 metres.
Our revolvers shot the 240 grain bullet at about 1,400 fps, if they were loaded full tilt, but many of us loaded them down a bit, into the 1,250, 1,300 fps range. On a Super Blackhawk it took only one, or two clicks, I forget which, on going from a pig at 100 metres to a turkey at 150 metres.
The Marlin shoots the 240 grain bullet in the 1,800 fps range, so if the big buck showed up at 150 yards, I would just hold on his spine and let fly.
Dead buck.
 
pazzo said:
I just picked up a Winchester 1892 Trapper Takedown in .44 Mag (and best of all it’s Made in Japan) :D
It’s got a 16" takedown barrel and holds 7+1. Can’t beat that IMO.

Winchester1892TrapperTakedown44Mag.jpg
Click to expand...

That is one ###y beast I don't even want to know what you payed cause its probably twice what I can afford right now...:(
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom