Load development .44 mag lever rifle?

[micken]

When possible after this lockdown I'm getting a 1894 Marlin .44 magnum. I've already got the .44 reloading gear and currently load for .223, 6.5 and .308. I've primed up some cases and got some Viht n340 on hand, just waiting for some .430 and .432 240gr cast bullets that are on order.

I will be using the rifle indoors at 25m and outdoors at 100m, at a later point I hope to do some action shooting.

To the question.

Any pointers about load development for these two particular ranges? Background research suggests I'm looking at 5.2gr to 5.8gr for indoor use and then something higher for 100m. The Viht data does not have a load listed for 240gr cast but from the data given for jacketed I was going to try loads around 10.0 to 10.6gr and work from there.

For my other calibres I've carried out ladder tests to settle on various loads. Is this the way to go with .44 mag in an undercover, it's likely to be a 20" barrel.

Cheers, Mick

[DavidRees]

I shoot 240gr cast bullets through a Marlin 1894 Cowboy (with octagonal barrel), and N340 is one of my two preferred powders -- the other being N350.

For N340, I've used a light load of 5.1gr quite a bit -- fine for 25m. I'd recommend starting a little below that, and working up.

I have no data for 100m use; but you might not need to go too much further to get decent velocities and accuracy. With my N350 load (not detailed here) I get a velocity of 780fps using 240gt LSWC cast bullets when measured 10ft from the muzzle. If I place the chrono immediately in front of the target, I get the following velocities with the same load:
Rifle fired from 25m distance from chrono: 759 fps.
Rifle fired from 50m distance from chrono: 733 fps.

I find that accuracy is fine with these bullets even if their velocity 10ft from the muzzle is 650fps; groups expand below that velocity. I moved up to a 750fps load when I started shooting 50m comps.

For my purposes, precision shooting on PL7 targets at 25m and 50m, a muzzle velocity of 750fps with these LSWC bullets is more than ample. Other Gallery Rifle shooters prefer to go up to 850fps or so, considering it the "sweet spot", but in my rifle, I've found no benefit in turms of accuracy, quite the opposite, in fact.

[micken]

Thanks David,

That will be really useful when I get back to the range post-lockdown. I've seen quite a few references to good accuracy at 100m with light loads. When I'm up and running with this I'm intending to enter whatever free-standing comps I can find. I currently shoot 50m .22 carbine comps and find these a nice challenge.

Cheers,

Mick

[DaveB]

I used to load those with 23 gr of IMR 4227 and a 240gr semi-jacketed hollow point for 1600 fps (nominally, I did not own a chronograph in those days).

[bradaz11]

why are you going to try to stuff a .432 bullet down an unknown barrel that you haven't even purchased or slugged?

why don't you try shooting your accurate 25yrd load once it is found, and see how it groups at 100. think you will find it to still be good.

[micken]

1. why are you going to try to stuff a .432 bullet down an unknown barrel that you haven't even purchased or slugged?
2. Why don't you try shooting your accurate 25yrd load once it is found, and see how it groups at 100. think you will find it to still be good.

1. 4 to 6 weeks lead time on ordering and its a £10 punt on .432 bullets for a rifle that I've discussed with the seller. From all the reading I've done the Marlin 1894 barrels are not known to be tight. If it feels like it's being stuffed down there then I'll let you know. There's just an off chance that it might cut down the leading in the barrel.

2. Thanks, that was what I was wondering. I've got easy access to both ranges, just have to walk back and forth. The light loads will be nice to shoot but I'm also interested in heavier loads too.

Cheers,

Mick

[Scrumbag]

I am doing much the same thing so interested in peoples findings.

Have started out using 6.5gr of Unique with a 240gr RNFP and seems OK out to 50m.

I'm going to try and take the rifle out to 100 and 200yds.

One thing I am noticing is that to get that subsonic load out from 25 to 200, you need~25 MOA of come up. Not all sights will have that kind of elevation adjustment. For 25 to 200 yds with something like a jacketed bullet you seem to need somewhere between 7-10MOA (depending on how fast you launch it and bullet weight/bc etc).

Powder wise, I bought some Hodgdon H110 to try and get 1,700ftlbs out of it to be "large deer" legal in England.

I think you might have a more flexible time with Viht N110 and seems to have a more flexible set load data.

Be keen to hear what you find out.

Best wishes,

Scrummy

[micken]

@Scrumbag what rifle is it that you are loading for and what diameter are the 240gr RNFP bullets?

[Scrumbag]

20” barrelled Alaskan. I use the shell house bullets. I will mic the bullets and revert.

Scrumbag

[micken]

It's shell house I've ordered from, they do .430 and .432 in the 240gr RNFP. I intend to slug the barrel when I can and size the bullets to that.