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March 24, 2007, 05:21 PM | #1 |
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Can I use lead bullets in my Marlin 1895?
Hi gang.
I have a Marlin 1895 in .357magnum and would like to use lead bullets in it, but only if it's safe to do so. I'd be using Laser-Cast 158g LRN bullets if that factors in. Thanks a lot folks!
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March 24, 2007, 07:13 PM | #2 |
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Lead Bullets
OF COURSE YOU CAN!what made you think otherwise?
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March 24, 2007, 07:34 PM | #3 |
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Must be an 1894C. The 1895 is only in .45-70 and .450 Marlin, and .444 Marlin. In any event, both feature Ballard rifling which was developed shooting lead bullets, so, yes, they are just fine. The 1895 45/70 prefers cast bullets sized about 0.002" over groove diameter. I don't know if that will apply to the 1894C? You may discover firelapping helps keep lead bullets shooting a bit more cleanly in your gun. Gas checked bullets will make it more tolerant of load variety.
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March 24, 2007, 11:01 PM | #4 |
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I use lead bullets (almost) exclusively in my Marlin 1895, .45-70.
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March 24, 2007, 11:16 PM | #5 |
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I 'think' it depends on when it was made. The older ones have micro groove rifling, the newer ones have ballard rifling (suitable for lead boolits). A call to Marlin w/the serial number would net an answer.
My newer 1895 45/70 w/Ballard rifling luvs cast lead. |
March 25, 2007, 12:56 PM | #6 |
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You can certainly use lead bullets in the Marlin.
Pretty much any SAAMI load will do well and be safe.
There is a difference in bore and groove sizes between MicroGroove and other styles of rifling - that's the point of MicroGroove. Because the bore in MicroGroove rifling is slightly larger and the groove diameter is slightly smaller many common cast bullets for use in other firearms - such as most pistols - are not a good fit in the MicroGroove rifling and so may lead more and give inferior accuracy than bullets which do fit the Microgroove well. Bullets that fit the MicroGroove rifling may not fit other forms of rifling well and so the best bullets may not interchange across different firearms. Just the same the answer is to try it. |
March 25, 2007, 04:44 PM | #7 |
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There is a myth that's developed about micro-grooved rifling. They can accurately shoot cast bullets. The trick is to shoot bullets 0.001" over jacketed bullet size. Regardless, the question was is it safe. Assuming the rifle is Ballard cut it will shoot safely and well with nominal diameter cast bullets. If microgrooved, yes it's safe but accuracy may be disappointing unless you are shooting slighly larger diameter bullets.
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March 26, 2007, 01:11 AM | #8 |
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I shoot the older model .357. Use both 150 and 158 from lazer cast and others. Have found that before you quit shooting run 4-5 jacketed loads through the gun. I read this in a gun mag. several years ago. In anyevent I never have to scrub out the barrel doing this.
James |
March 27, 2007, 03:17 PM | #9 | |
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March 27, 2007, 03:26 PM | #10 | |
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