Marlin 1894 accuracy?
- Thread starter TrxR
- Start date
Had 2, super fun rifles. Never was able to get them more than pie plate accuracy at 100 yards, sometimes even 50 would be an adventure (factory ammo). A buddy has one as well; Same accuracy level. I'd think they could be more accurate with some ammo experimentation.
I got my 1980ish shooting reliably into 2-3 " at 100 yards but it took a lot of work to achieve. It wouldn't shoot cast worth a darn and was only marginally accurate with jacketed bullets.
I got the rifle in a trade from the original owner, he was not satisfied with the accuracy. I played with it on and off over the years, with poor results, until I finally got serious . Slugging the bore revealed a loose spot a few inches ahead of the chamber. With nothing to lose I lapped it out until the bore was uniform at .431 and I experimented with Hornady .430 jacketed bullets. That got me to the point where I was comfortable carrying it for deer.
I quit trying to make cast bullets work. I only have moulds for 214 PB and 255gr GC SWCs that I load for revolver. The profiles don't feed dependably in the Marlin and bumping bullet diameters up to .432/3 wasn't the ticket.
If it won't shoot cast bullets well it's too expensive at 65 cents per bullet to do much plinking with.
I got the rifle in a trade from the original owner, he was not satisfied with the accuracy. I played with it on and off over the years, with poor results, until I finally got serious . Slugging the bore revealed a loose spot a few inches ahead of the chamber. With nothing to lose I lapped it out until the bore was uniform at .431 and I experimented with Hornady .430 jacketed bullets. That got me to the point where I was comfortable carrying it for deer.
I quit trying to make cast bullets work. I only have moulds for 214 PB and 255gr GC SWCs that I load for revolver. The profiles don't feed dependably in the Marlin and bumping bullet diameters up to .432/3 wasn't the ticket.
If it won't shoot cast bullets well it's too expensive at 65 cents per bullet to do much plinking with.
I had one with the micro groove rifling. No matter what I tried, I could not get consistent accuracy at 100 yards. I had these great looking LBT 300 grain, cast, gas checked bullets that I could not hit a barn wall with. Probably due to the slow twist, and the micro groove riflng. Then again, I couldn't get any better accuracy with jacketed 240 and 265 bullets. As another poster put it, "fun to shoot", but not reliably accurate. I so wanted to connect on a deer with those cast 300 grain bullets, but it never happened. I ended up loading them in my 444, and dropped a number of deer with that. Mind you, the accuracy was not anything to write home about with the 444 either.
fingers284
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Alberta Cowboy Ranges
Both of my wife's 94's shoots to under 2" consistently with cast slugs but they are a different breed of cat than you are suggesting, they are both .38 "Ballard rifled" instead of the micro groove and if your going to shoot the lever gun silhouette that specifies cast slugs be used, a Ballard rifled barrel will probably be a better option for accuracy.
My 2008 Marlin made 1894 in .357 is very accurate with jacketed bullets like the XTP.
It will do about an inch and a half with them at 50yds. I only have a peep sight so at 100yds it’s difficult to keep tight groups.
It unfortunately doesn’t shoot any of the cast bullets I tried well.
Most plated bullets are also inaccurate but I did manage to find a reasonable load with Campro 158gr semi wadcutter that will do about 2” at 50yds. Acceptable and way cheaper then XTPs.
Factory 158gr Federal JSP are quite accurate in the rifle and would be my choice for hunting.
It’s a mystery to me why it doesn’t like lead or most plated.
It will do about an inch and a half with them at 50yds. I only have a peep sight so at 100yds it’s difficult to keep tight groups.
It unfortunately doesn’t shoot any of the cast bullets I tried well.
Most plated bullets are also inaccurate but I did manage to find a reasonable load with Campro 158gr semi wadcutter that will do about 2” at 50yds. Acceptable and way cheaper then XTPs.
Factory 158gr Federal JSP are quite accurate in the rifle and would be my choice for hunting.
It’s a mystery to me why it doesn’t like lead or most plated.
back40sniper
CGN Regular
- Location
- South east Sask.
My experience with mine in 41Magnum reflects what Mbogo said. Cast a few thousands over bore diameter and mine shoots quite well at 100. Trailboss for plinking and scoops of Win296 for hunting.
The SAAMI chamber spec’s for 44 magnum rifles is different than for pistols. In 2 Browning 92 repro’s I got the best accuracy with cast bullets at .434 dia. My .430 loads for my pistol’s would barely stay on a paper plate at 100 yards out of the Browning’s. My micro groove Marlin 1895 shoots best at .461 diameter, my 336 30-30 at .311. It is microgroove as well.
