lever gun, accuracy expectations?

[Plainsman]

I have two JM Marlins in .44 and .444 both with Microgroove 1-38” rifling. With moderate loads for each using Hornady 265gr bullets, I am able to regularly shoot cloverleaf groups at 50 yards supported, standing using Williams peep sights and factory gold bead fronts.

I know things open up at 100, but Ive never had to use them that far! LOL! (The last deer I shot with one was at 8 yards!)

[bamaranger]

Note that the OP is having not just an accuracy problem.....in post #20 he states his bullets are "yawing and tumbling" which I suspect indicates he is getting ovals and keyholes at 50 yds on paper.

The 1:20" barrel is certainly capable of stabilizing his projectiles, but is not. I would agree his bullets are not obturating at the pressure to which he is loading, not engaging the rifling consistently and thus are unstable in flight. I'd suggest this is a bullet problem, not a load problem. A 280/1000fps+ is not a powderpuff load, and is in the region of the velocity one might expect from a 4" revolver, and handguns stabilize the 280gr (reportedly, I don't load them) routinely. I'd suggest the OP is on the right track by reducing the amount of sizing and predicting that his carbine will shoot better (at the 1000 fps range) with bullets of a larger diameter.

I am not a bullet caster, but another issue here might be bullet hardness. I wonder if the bullets are not bumping up at his pressure/velocity because they are seriously hard, as in high Brinnel numbers?

[bamaranger]

I also wonder how factory ammo at his testing distance will print as a baseline.

[44 AMP]

I slugged my barrel and came up with .430, which is what we have been sizing out bullets to.

This might be the root of his problem...

Generally speaking, cast bullets perform better when sized .001-.002" OVER groove diameter.

He said he's ordered larger sizer dies, lets see what results he gets when he uses bullets sized a little larger....

[Shadow9mm]

Results were, multiple bullets were starting to yaw at 25yds. While shooting at 100yds bullets were tumbling so badly they were hitting the ground at 75-100yds and as much as 6ft to either side of the target. Jacketed and solid copper bullets would not shoot better than 4moa if i remember correctly.

Then i had issues with failures to fire, the hammer re-cocking itself, and the lever popping loose every round.

It went back to henry, who tightened up the lockup/actionand lever and said they could not replicate the other issues.

It was not fun anymore, and i couldn't bring myself to fight with it anymore. It got sold to a shop.

[44 AMP]

Since the gun has been sold, all issues are now someone else's worries, so this thread is done.

Thanks for playing...

closed.