1894 micro groove accuracy - 44 mag

[mattellis2]

Just a quick and simple request. Have the chance to trade into what appears to be a very clean 1894 in 44 mag. Has the microgroove rifled barrel. What kind of accuracy do you guys get consistently with cast bullets out of your similar set ups?

Thanks,

-matt

[Doc Fillem]

It's a myth that cast bullets don't shoot well with Microgroove rifling. You may have to try several loads before you find one your gun likes. But generally you should get good accuracy.

[eaglesnest]

It's a myth that cast bullets don't shoot well with Microgroove rifling. You may have to try several loads before you find one your gun likes. But generally you should get good accuracy.

+1 It took me a while with my 45 Colt with Micro groove, but now have a good accurate light load for it. I get zero leading as well shooting cast. One thing about the 1894 in 44 mag is the twist rates is very slow, 1:38. It may not be that way with the Micro groove however, I am not sure. My 45 Colt barrel Micro Groove is about 1:20 whereas the Ballard rifling 45 Colt barrel is like the 44 mag, 1:38.

[load 746]

it'll shoot good. if you load work up the '94s favorite and have at it.........great rifle

[44-40 Willy]

Not a 44 Mag, but the 1894C in my signature is a microgroove and is very accurate with cast bullets.

[keyston44]

My 1894 in 44 mag's barrel slugs at .430 so I cast and size my bullets to .432. With the bullet sized to the barrel you shouldn't have accuracy or leading problems.

Key

[Rodfac]

Can't speak for the 1894, but my 336 in .44 Magnum with Micro-groove rifling does very well indeed. Lyman's 429215 Gc, cast from wheel weights and a pinch of tin to sweeten the mix, give me 1" 50 yd groups.. You might try them with Winchester 231 or HP38, 8.5 grs. with Win Lg Pistol primers. No velocity data with this load however...I size them to .432" (my groove diameter is .432+-). That load chrono's 1100 fps from my 6-1/2" blackhawk...so I'd estimate its about 1400 fps from the 20" 336 barrel. I could be off by 100 fps tho. My #2 son likes this load as well for his 1894, but has never reported on group size...I do know that he cleans me out of them every time he's home...

The key, I think, to using cast bullets with MG rifling is to size to groove dia. +.001" and use a gas check. Too, I don't push them too fast. I like Hornady's crimp on types, but the Lyman's work as well. I also size to .432 because I load the same bullet and charge for my Rugers in that caliber, which won't take .433" and still chamber.

Hope this helps, but remember, I load these for my own guns...it's a safe load in MINE...you should work up carefully for yours. Rod

[Mannlicher]

My only load is with a 270 grain Speer Gold Dot SP over H110 powder. My Marlin 1894 loves this load, and gives me 1620 FPS, and at 100 years, is very accurate. Less than 1 1/2 inches, and at 50 yards, the groups look like a clover leaf.

[44-40 Willy]

Forgot to add before that although I don't have any scientific basis for it, I tend to think that microgroove is more accurate than regular rifling.

[RIF]

Can't speak for the 1894, but my 336 in .44 Magnum with Micro-groove rifling does very well indeed. Lyman's 429215 Gc, cast from wheel weights and a pinch of tin to sweeten the mix, give me 1" 50 yd groups..

Rod gave some good advice for the 1894 too. The heavies are no bueno with that slow twist FYI.