I tried 2 different cast bullets this last weekend. A 280 gr. WFN LBT with a crimp to nose of about .380", and a 250 gr. Keith type from an RCBS mold. Neither one would feed. Have not shot this gun for many years, but I never had any feeding problems with JHP handloads. The only other mold I have in that caliber is a Lyman 429215, and I did not have any laying around to try, and it's a pretty light bullet for a rifle, IMHO. Surely some of you have run into this. I am going to assume that it needs a shorter nose to feed.
If your Marlin 1894 is one of the older ones, it is said that they can be picky about the cartidge OAL. Here is a fix for that problem I saw on Beartooth Bullets:
Okay, so the link didn't work quite like I hoped it would. Anyway, the link takes you to the main page, look at the left hand toolbar, click on the "Tips & Comments" section. Scroll down the page and you'll see a list of past articles. The article you're looking for is "Modifying Marlin 1894's Cartridge Stop" by Marshall Stanton. It's the 33rd article down so you'll have to go a little ways.
Like I said before, hope this helps.
Posts: 47 | Location: Mid-Michigan | Registered: 23 June 2002
Quote: Okay, so the link didn't work quite like I hoped it would. Anyway, the link takes you to the main page, look at the left hand toolbar, click on the "Tips & Comments" section. Scroll down the page and you'll see a list of past articles. The article you're looking for is "Modifying Marlin 1894's Cartridge Stop" by Marshall Stanton. It's the 33rd article down so you'll have to go a little ways.
Like I said before, hope this helps.
Thanks. I found the article and I'll try it. Have not had the gun apart since in the mid 70's. Yes, it's an older one. I bought it used about '72 or '73.
To feed properly in a 1894 i believe you can't be over
1.610" C.O.L. I seat my 300gr CP WFNGC to 1.610" and then crimp with a lee fac crimp die and have no problems.These loads are very accurate also.Federal also loads the CP 300gr WFNGC bullets for their castcore loading.They also seat to 1.610".
Quote: To feed properly in a 1894 i believe you can't be over 1.610" C.O.L. I seat my 300gr CP WFNGC to 1.610" and then crimp with a lee fac crimp die and have no problems.These loads are very accurate also.Federal also loads the CP 300gr WFNGC bullets for their castcore loading.They also seat to 1.610". http://www.castperformance.com/?uid=170&page=1658
This means you are seating your 300 gr bullets to a nose length of .325". That is a very short nose for a cast bullet in a .44 Mag cartridge. This weekend I'll try the modification detailed in the article listed above.
Neal, Federal loads the 300gr castcore load with CP 300gr WFNGC bullets seated to 1.610".If its good enough for them,its good enough for me.Their load(Castcore)is very accurate in my 1894.Thats why i bought their bullets.
Posts: 415 | Location: Milwaukee WI USA | Registered: 07 April 2002
