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What cast bullets feed in a Marlin 1894 .44 Mag?

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16 March 2004, 16:46
Neal
What cast bullets feed in a Marlin 1894 .44 Mag?
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.

Thanks,
Neal
17 March 2004, 14:03
RiflemanZ
I shot some cast performance 300gr WFNGC bullets today with
W-296 20grs WLP W-W lee crimp.They shot great.Try them and this load.

17 March 2004, 15:21
Dutch4122
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:

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/tips/archive_Tips.htm/63

Hope this helps,
17 March 2004, 15:35
Dutch4122
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.
17 March 2004, 15:48
Neal
Quote:

I shot some cast performance 300gr WFNGC bullets today with

W-296 20grs WLP W-W lee crimp.They shot great.Try them and this load.







If my 280 gr WFNGC bullets won't feed, I don't think 300s will either, unless they have a shorter nose.
17 March 2004, 16:04
Neal
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.

Neal
17 March 2004, 16:19
Dutch4122
Glad you found it Neal. Let us know how it works out.
18 March 2004, 09:08
RiflemanZ
What is your C.O.L.?
18 March 2004, 12:41
Neal
Quote:

What is your C.O.L.?



With the LBT bullets it is 1.790".
18 March 2004, 13:35
RiflemanZ
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
18 March 2004, 15:20
Neal
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.

Thanks,
Neal
18 March 2004, 16:08
RiflemanZ
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.