Marlin
- Thread starter meo1981
- Start date
- Location
- AB foothills
No, missing the rear sight will not weaken the barrel.
I just see that the rear sight has a inverted wedge design and while that would be a great idea to anchor the base of the sight itself I worry that it will weaken the barrel. I'll trust you as I'm only running factory through her at the moment but I wonder if it will be a problem as I word up a high powered hand load,
You certainly do not have to put your trust in any of us. Just trust the manufacturer's design and the fact that they have been cutting notches in barrels for over a hundred years.
Signs of pressure and maximum loading will be seen in other ways long before a sight notch in the barrel will show a thing.
Fill your boots. Load it up and have fun.
Thx RDHS, I was mostly concerned because the inverted wedge desing of the rear sight on most levers can be taken in either
A the wedge is down to lock the sight base in.
or
B its down wedged to strengthen the loss of steel in the barrel where it's notched for the sight fixture.
Not a call you want to make without some advice right?
Mike.
I called Marlin and got tied up last night. I'll try again today.
A the wedge is down to lock the sight base in.
or
B its down wedged to strengthen the loss of steel in the barrel where it's notched for the sight fixture.
Not a call you want to make without some advice right?
Mike.
I called Marlin and got tied up last night. I'll try again today.
The missing sight will not weaken the barrel. Just for looks, it is common to put just the blank wedge in the barrel, where the sight came out of.
However, a word of caution here. Unless they have changed, the factory loaded 44 magnums are loaded right up, probably to about 38,000 CUP. Rifle or revolver this is about as high as you want to go. This is not a cartridge where you want to start at the "full power," loads and go up!
The most widely publisized load for the 44 mag is the load Elmer Keith used when he developed the 44 mag. His load, 22 grains of Hercules 2400, with his cast bullet design, weighing about 250 grains.
This is a heavy load! Many of us who want a full power load, will drop the powder back a grain or two.
Many of us prefer the "other" max load, 24 or 25 grains of W296/H110, with the same bullet. This load will be almost identical to the 22 of 2400 load, but appears to be a bit less pressure.
