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Old April 20, 2008, 10:45 AM   #1
Flying Groundhog
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Marlin 1894C Carbine (.357) Max Pressure

I have read of different max pressures for the .357 round and the Marlin 1894C (.357) in different reloading books and from experts. The variety of comments and opinions have left me with two key questions:

(1) Is the Marlin 1894C designed for more (Paco et al) than the ind. std. of 35 kpsi? The owner's manual is silent on this critical point.

(2) Why do reload manuals listing max loads in CUP generally show a higher max powder load than those in psi (i.e. Hodgdon 158gr H110 is 16.7 gr vs. 15.5 gr. from Speers?

References:
Speers Manual #14: Normal industry pressure for 357 rifles: 35,000 psi
Paco (a): Marlin...rifles will easily take 40 to 42,000 psi
Alliant Power (pistol loads 357): 33,600 psi
Hodgdon Manual 2008 (pistol loads 357): 43,200 CUP
Lyman Casting 3rd Ed (pistol loads 357): 42,000 CUP

(a) See http://www.leverguns.com/articles/pa...literature.htm
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Old April 20, 2008, 06:45 PM   #2
mattamuskeet
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Maximum average pressure for the .357 (SAAMI) is 45,000 cup and 35,000 psi. Since the 1894 is also offered in .44 and its pressure is only 36,000 psi, I would be scared to push it much over that. Interestingly that 36,000 psi in the .44 equates to only 40,000 cup. It must have something to do with the amount of surface area of the base of the bullet.

My speer #11 manual lists the max charge of H110 for a 158 gr bullet as 17.5 grains(rifle data; 17.8 gr in pistol section). No pressure given. But they list the velocity as 1866 fps.

I just got an 1894c and I chronographed Remington factory loads at 2127fps(125 gr) and 1762fps(158 gr). With velocities like that, I think I will be content to stay in the 35,000 psi range! My handload so far is 14.5 gr of 2400 and a 140 gr XTP for 1729 fps, plus i have a lead bullet load thats around 1,000 fps...I love it.
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Old April 20, 2008, 06:53 PM   #3
clayking
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Quote:
plus i have a lead bullet load thats around 1,000 fps...I love it.
Ok, give it up.

How far out are you shooting it, with accuracy?........................ck
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Old April 20, 2008, 07:10 PM   #4
mattamuskeet
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Its 4.4 grains of Unique in a magnum case. 158 gr lead cowboy bullet. 4.7 grains pushes the same bullet to 1100 fps. With the lighter load, its about the same report as a 22 mag rifle(or a little less).

I don't know as far as accuracy; it shoots to about the same point of impact as the other loads. Playing around, I could ring a steel 1' x 2' target at 75 yards, but not at 100...I haven't put it to paper; only had the rifle 2 weeks.
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Old April 21, 2008, 09:29 AM   #5
45Marlin carbine
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a shooting buddy has one of those in .357 and rolls his own - some of 'em quite hot. we whack 6" steel rounds at 100 yds w/it off a rest with boreing regularity using the factory irons. we joke about tradeing pistol-caliber carbines (I have a Marlin Camp .45acp) and I always tell him he won't give me enough boot on top of the trade! but I'd have one of those if I had a .357 all I have is .45acp's.
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Old April 21, 2008, 12:34 PM   #6
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Remember that the 44 mag 1894 has more bolt thrust because of the significantly larger case head compared to the 357.

From my experience and from what I have read, Marlin's develop extraction problems well before you get into loads that would damage the gun. (Especialy true with the 30-30.) So it has a built in warning that you are pushing things too much. Several people at the local range have quite hot 357 Marlin loads that their guns have digested for years without trouble.

Of course you do all of this at your own risk.
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