I would appreciate all the help I can get. I have a 1894 Marlin built in 1999. It doesn't have micro grove stamped on the barrel and am told it's uses Ballard rifling. I do not cast for it but buy cast bullets for it. The hardness of the bullets is said to be 20 to 22. The bullets are sized and lubed when I get them.
I have slugged the barrel and it comes out to be .430-.431. I have tried .430 and .431 240 grain bullets with no success accuracy wise. At fifty yards I probably wouldn't even hit a deer let along provide a humane shot. At 25 yards it shoots a pattern not a group. Now I did try some Berry's rnfp plated bullets that measured .429 and got one inch groups at fifty yards, peep site. I haven't even tried fifty yards with the cast.
When I started with the cast I was using light loads in the 900fps range. Both rifle and Redhawks leaded badly. I boosted the charge to 1250 or so and the leading went away but terrible accuracy. This is with both .430 and .431 bullets. I have been using 700x, 800x, auto comp, Hp 38. These may be a bit fast but it is all I have. The Redhawk seems to shoot with fine accuracy the Marlin, not so much. I have not worked on these loads at all. Just trying to get something that appears to warrant more work. Nothing so far shoots except the plated again sized at .429.
I have some 200gr. .433 cast on the way to try.
I'm sure the rifle will shoot well once I find what it wants. Any ideas. I have som 296 and could try it but really don't want to run max loads all the time. Ultimately I would like to be able to adjust my loads according to the need.
thanks for the help
Gary