1889 Marlin at the range, and reloading ??

Big Al1

I picked up an 1889 Marlin in .32-20 just before the SE Shoot, had it along but didn't have time to get ammo for it. I've since had the barrel re-lined, muzzle measured .328 and was oval and shots key holed, but I got it for cheap!! Ser# dates it at 1890 manufacture. This is the first model Marlin offered the side eject. At some time in the past it was poorly re-blued, most lettering was polished off and LOTS of ripples. Just got it back from the re-line so had to get to the range. I was able to find several boxes of ammo and scored a bunch of brass while in Wisconsin, God bless da Fleet Farm stores!!


Shots at top of diamond are .32-20



I also was shooting the .303 Savage. When I first got it the only bullets I could find were some 150 Gr FMJ's. So I decided to try and shoot some cast bullets in it. My Pet Loads said that .311 cast shoot best in the .303 so I picked up some 150 grainers. I tried several loads, 20 grains of 4227 and 22 grains of 2400. They shot so bad I could not hit paper at 20 yards, [email protected] It still shoots the FMJs great but what's the issue with the cast bullets?? I thought maybe the length of the bullet, the FMJ is longer. Twist is 1 in 12. I suppose slugging the barrel would be a good start!!??

Teach

Hmmmm- - - - -the bore contact on the cast bullet actually looks somewhat longer than the FMJ. I think a bore slug would be a good starting point. How hard is the lead on the cast bullets? I have a .311 gas check mold around the shop. Would you like me to cast a few icewater-quenched hard cast GC bullets once you figure out what diameter you want to try?
Jerry

tennmike

I like that Marlin, and :yousuck: That's a nice old rifle. Shoot it some more to get the relining job settled in, and just because! :up:

Regarding the .303 and lead bullets, I think your idea of slugging the barrel is spot on. The .303 Savage is supposed to be a .308 rifle, but..........the .311 bullets may be too fat for it and getting swaged down too much in the bore and giving you accuracy issues.

For cast bullets, I'd suggest some .309 bullets, preferably hard cast gas checked ones.

Since it shoots the longer FMJ just fine, it's a bullet issue, not a barrel twist issue.

Edit to add:
Just checked my 'stash'. I have some 165 grain round nose hard cast gas check bullets I cast if you want to try them. They are sized .309 but haven't been lubed yet. They have the gas checks installed, though.

Antonio

:worthy::worthy::worthy: LOVE those long-barreled classic lever guns. Re-line job seems to have worked perfectly.

Now you need a .32-20 SA revolver to match that beauty!

Jayhawker

Very nice.... Good rescue...

Right now there are quite a few old, some rare and nicely kept Marlins available around here. A cousin of mine has been collecting them for several decades and recently decided to convert the collection into cash...

Big Al1

Antonio wrote: »

:worthy::worthy::worthy: LOVE those long-barreled classic lever guns. Re-line job seems to have worked perfectly.

Now you need a .32-20 SA revolver to match that beauty!

I was VERY tempted by a S&W at a gun show this weekend, but it was out of state, couldn't by as a non-resident!!

tennmike

Hey, Big Al, Cimmaron makes a SA revolver in .32-20 in three barrel lengths. I ain't sayin', just enabling. :tooth:

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/cartridge-revolvers/model-p-sa/model-p-2.html

Big Al1

tennmike wrote: »

Hey, Big Al, Cimmaron makes a SA revolver in .32-20 in three barrel lengths. I ain't sayin', just enabling. :tooth:

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/cartridge-revolvers/model-p-sa/model-p-2.html

Nice try, but you know I like old, original stuff, like myself!!:tooth:

(don't open the link...don't open the link!! You'll hate yourself in the morning!!)

Antonio

Big Al1 wrote: »

Nice try, but you know I like old, original stuff, like myself!!:tooth:

(don't open the link...don't open the link!! You'll hate yourself in the morning!!)

I did opened it and now I hate myself TWICE, specially after reading the "Buy it now" sign....yeah, right; like it is as easy as that for me. :bang:

tennmike

Big Al1 wrote: »

Nice try, but you know I like old, original stuff, like myself!!:tooth:

(don't open the link...don't open the link!! You'll hate yourself in the morning!!)

Well, in that case, Gunbroker has some sweet, and I mean sweet, Colt Single Actions in .32-20 for sale. You need to look at them. Some of them are Gen. 1 series! :drool2::popcorn:

Ranch13

Those 89's are a neat rifle. I was given one in 38wcf here a while back, it took quite a bit of rehab, but the ol girl shoots great.
I need to find a 32wcf, as I still have all the fixins left over from when I had a 92 wincheter, and then to top that all off a neighbor was moving and called to say he had a bunch of powder and stuff in a box that he wasn't going to move and didn't know if he'ld ever get a chance to reload again... 100 rounds of brand new 32-20 primed brass, and 100 rounds of 44 special primed brass in nice flambeau boxes.

Elk creek

Sweet shooter!

zorba

I don't have anything to add to the technical discussion (other than to "listen" interestedly), but that is a SA-WEET looking rifle. There's something rewarding about reviving old machinery of all sorts. Congratulations!

jbohio

You suck. Beautiful rifle.

Big Al1

jbohio wrote: »

You suck. Beautiful rifle.

You started it with that darned 1881!!!

snake284

tennmike wrote: »

Hey, Big Al, Cimmaron makes a SA revolver in .32-20 in three barrel lengths. I ain't sayin', just enabling. :tooth:

http://www.cimarron-firearms.com/cartridge-revolvers/model-p-sa/model-p-2.html

"One enabler enabling another enabler." :tooth:

will-j

@ Big Al1; Have you checked your rifling? Doesn't take but a couple thousanth's for jacketed bullets but not enough for lead ones, although the gas checks might give enough "grip" on the rifling to help accuracy. Just askin'. Will

jbohio

Big Al1 wrote: »

You started it with that darned 1881!!!

Ha! Glad I could help. I've had an itch for another old one here lately. Tell me about the barrel relining deal. The bore in my 81 is awful, I can't hit a 4'x4' target at 100 yards.

Teach

jbohio wrote: »

Tell me about the barrel relining deal.

Brownell's has barrel liners for .25-20, .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 rifles. They also sell .22 rimfire liners. The shot-out barrel is drilled out with a piloted drill bit chucked into a lathe on a long extension with the barrel aligned with the chuck and moved by the carriage. Once the worn-out rifling is drilled out the liner is soft-soldered into the barrel and the chamber is recut. If it's done properly, the repair is invisible from the muzzle end of the barrel.
Jerry

Big Al1

will-j wrote: »

@ Big Al1; Have you checked your rifling? Doesn't take but a couple thousanth's for jacketed bullets but not enough for lead ones, although the gas checks might give enough "grip" on the rifling to help accuracy. Just askin'. Will

It's a take down so I took the barrel off to slug it. The rifling looks sharp but the grooves are rough. I'm in the process of scrubbing and soaking in Kroil.

Teach

Have you considered lapping the barrel? I like to use an undersized bronze brush like a .22 in a .30 caliber bore, pour a little melted lead around it, and use jeweler's rouge or some of the polishing compound for my buffing wheels and push the slug back and forth with a stainless steel cleaning rod. It's labor-intensive but it will slick up rough rifling pretty well.
Jerry

Big Al1

JB and Tennmike, PMs sent!

tennmike

Big Al1 wrote: »

JB and Tennmike, PMs sent!

Just sent one back at 'cha!