NorthCoastBigBore
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Northwest BC (Rural) 103-I-##
I've had this for a while, took it in trade knowing it had a nasty bore but it is an uncommon configuration, so I took a chance. I did restock it myself from a blank & it's been drilled & tapped (before me & professionally) for a scope. So she's a shooter, regardless. I cannot for the life of me get a picture of the bore, so you'll have to take my word for it that she is "ugly". I used electrolysis on it and could actually see rifling after that, soooo I figured I'd finally try it out. Last week I'd taken it out to shoot some steel and was surprised, since it seemed like I couldn't miss; and decided to try 'er out on paper.
Bore slugged out at 429", common for Marlins. So I tried some hardcast "boolits" sized for .44 Mag. (this is a .44-40, which often have a ~.427" bore in Winnie's and others)
Here's the ole girl in her "natural habitat":
This isn't my first rodeo with a pitted bore. I have had good results before with cast, but this one was so pitted I had low expectations. I was hoping for some large but manageable groups at 25 yards (all I can see anymore with open sites). I was hoping not to see any tumbling/keyholing.
Well, the groups speak for themselves and surprised me, pleasantly. First three shots of a rest went into a cloverleaf; high and left is all my hold; a heavier boolit; and just generally load development:
Next, I tried 10 shots offhand (and I'm not that steady this morning); the missing 3 were entirely my fault:
Plenty good enough for me! Now I just have to work out the feeding since it has some of the typical Marlin "pickiness" when it comes to feeding. I've had my share of working out Marlin feeding issues so I'll get there (and on that note, I've got a late model pre"Remlin" with ALL the complaints folks attribute to Remington... I'm of the opinion Remington got the short end of the stick and that Marlin's quality was declining first. But anyway that's another topic...).
Anyway, thought folks might be interested. As others have stated before on this forum (and also in my own experience), a pitted bore does not necessarily mean an inaccurate or unshootable gun. Slug that bore and try different loads, including boolits.
NCBB
Bore slugged out at 429", common for Marlins. So I tried some hardcast "boolits" sized for .44 Mag. (this is a .44-40, which often have a ~.427" bore in Winnie's and others)
Here's the ole girl in her "natural habitat":
This isn't my first rodeo with a pitted bore. I have had good results before with cast, but this one was so pitted I had low expectations. I was hoping for some large but manageable groups at 25 yards (all I can see anymore with open sites). I was hoping not to see any tumbling/keyholing.
Well, the groups speak for themselves and surprised me, pleasantly. First three shots of a rest went into a cloverleaf; high and left is all my hold; a heavier boolit; and just generally load development:
Next, I tried 10 shots offhand (and I'm not that steady this morning); the missing 3 were entirely my fault:
Plenty good enough for me! Now I just have to work out the feeding since it has some of the typical Marlin "pickiness" when it comes to feeding. I've had my share of working out Marlin feeding issues so I'll get there (and on that note, I've got a late model pre"Remlin" with ALL the complaints folks attribute to Remington... I'm of the opinion Remington got the short end of the stick and that Marlin's quality was declining first. But anyway that's another topic...).
Anyway, thought folks might be interested. As others have stated before on this forum (and also in my own experience), a pitted bore does not necessarily mean an inaccurate or unshootable gun. Slug that bore and try different loads, including boolits.
NCBB
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I would like to hear more about the OP's positions on Marlins (being feeding finicky) and problems with Remingtons? I find myself taking a recent interest in lever guns (I have a Savage 1899 in .303 Savage, and a pre-64, 1894 in 30-30) and am looking to learn about Marlin and Henry guns and earlier Winchester models in pistol calibers. 
