1894c plinking
- Thread starter mboyda
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
ACP230
Member
Just about any 158 grain bullet driven at around 1,000 FPS, with whatever powder you like, should work.
I have loaded a lot of low-end .357 loads with lead SWCs and Unique.
I have loaded a lot of low-end .357 loads with lead SWCs and Unique.
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
What is a "Plinking" load in a rifle?
If you can put it in a 357Mag case and be shot in a handgun, you can shoot it in this rifle.
There are a bunch of loads in the "Cowboy Action" section of most data. Look for Trail Boss, Bullseye, Titegroup, HP-38/W231 and other fast burning powders for your loads.
Personally, I am on the other end of this spectrum. I want to run the hottest, best use of barrel length, 357Magnum loads in the wife's Marlin 1894 CS. The CS is a cowboy special with Ballard rifling and will shoot lead really well.
I do have a load that I think will work but is outside of currently published data. Suffice it to say that I use SR4756 with a 158gr LSWC that gives me 1580fps from the 20" tube. I also have a Lil' Gun load that pushed a 158gr XTP @ 2100fps!
So, like I said, other end of the spectrum!
If you can put it in a 357Mag case and be shot in a handgun, you can shoot it in this rifle.
There are a bunch of loads in the "Cowboy Action" section of most data. Look for Trail Boss, Bullseye, Titegroup, HP-38/W231 and other fast burning powders for your loads.
Personally, I am on the other end of this spectrum. I want to run the hottest, best use of barrel length, 357Magnum loads in the wife's Marlin 1894 CS. The CS is a cowboy special with Ballard rifling and will shoot lead really well.
I do have a load that I think will work but is outside of currently published data. Suffice it to say that I use SR4756 with a 158gr LSWC that gives me 1580fps from the 20" tube. I also have a Lil' Gun load that pushed a 158gr XTP @ 2100fps!
So, like I said, other end of the spectrum!
canoeguy
US Veteran
In my Marlin, I've had realy good luck with Missouri Bullet Company's "#1 Ranger" bullet, a 158 grain lead round nose flat point made specifically for lever action rifles, loaded with 5.7 grains Unique. It is accurate and is probably in the mid range for power, probably 1350 FPS or so.
I just ordered some more, they are $29.50 for 500. Here's a link to thier website, they give great customer service and always have product in stock.
Missouri Bullet Company
I just ordered some more, they are $29.50 for 500. Here's a link to thier website, they give great customer service and always have product in stock.
Missouri Bullet Company
aquagear
Member
I have a soft shooting accurate load, a 148 gr round nose flat point on top of 5gr of Unique.This load falls in between a 38 +p and low end 357, it is very pleasant to shoot in my marlin and quite accurate at 50 yards.
Snapping Twig
Member
Use that barrel son!
Look into something in the area of 15g of W296 to bring that bullet into the lower ranges of the .35 rem.
Lots of game can be taken with such a round.
Look into something in the area of 15g of W296 to bring that bullet into the lower ranges of the .35 rem.
Lots of game can be taken with such a round.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
A great .357 Magnum plinking load is a 158gr LSWC under 5.0gr W231/HP-38.
canoeguy
US Veteran
One bullet my Marlin doesn't like, accuracy wise, is a 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter. We're talking 6-8" groups at 50 yards, while 158 grain Lead Round Nose will do less than 1" at 50 yards, 2-3" at 100 yards. Also, I have noticed a difference in accuracy when using .38 Special cases, my rifle favors .357 cases for best accuracy....
VAdoublegunner
Member
Mine likes a lot of stuff. The microgroove barrel of the 1894C can shoot lead well if the pressure curve is right to match the bullet hardness. Too low on the pressure and accuracy will suffer as well as cause leading. Getting the right powder and load combo to do this is sometimes tricky.
For plinking loads I like a hardcast 158gr RNFP or LSWC from a local supplier (Proofmark Bullets in Burgess, VA). They are really hard and bevel based and I had some trouble getting them to shoot accurately. Finally, I hit on a load of 7.0gr WSF for a pleasant shooting load that is accurate (for comparison, 5.5gr of WSF with a 158gr LSWC is a 38 Special +P load). The RNFPs make a better plinking load in that they are more accurate in my gun; they are more flat based than beveled.
Another favorite bullet is the Lyman 358156CG. Driven by 15.0 gr of 2400 and a CCI 550, these are proving to be very accurate at 100yds and pleasant to shoot. I think this might be a good hunting load.
I also had good luck with the Rem 140JHP with a full load of WW296. The Rem 140 seems to get along well with the 1894C. Velocity is outside of the bullet's design envelope so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it on large game, but other designs of similar weight might be impressive.
Finally, the Rem 158JHP or a Hornady 160 JTC-SIL driven with a published max load of Lil'Gun was giving me around 1910fps and excellent accuracy. If you plink something with that load, it's PLUNK .
For plinking loads I like a hardcast 158gr RNFP or LSWC from a local supplier (Proofmark Bullets in Burgess, VA). They are really hard and bevel based and I had some trouble getting them to shoot accurately. Finally, I hit on a load of 7.0gr WSF for a pleasant shooting load that is accurate (for comparison, 5.5gr of WSF with a 158gr LSWC is a 38 Special +P load). The RNFPs make a better plinking load in that they are more accurate in my gun; they are more flat based than beveled.
Another favorite bullet is the Lyman 358156CG. Driven by 15.0 gr of 2400 and a CCI 550, these are proving to be very accurate at 100yds and pleasant to shoot. I think this might be a good hunting load.
I also had good luck with the Rem 140JHP with a full load of WW296. The Rem 140 seems to get along well with the 1894C. Velocity is outside of the bullet's design envelope so I wouldn't necessarily recommend it on large game, but other designs of similar weight might be impressive.
Finally, the Rem 158JHP or a Hornady 160 JTC-SIL driven with a published max load of Lil'Gun was giving me around 1910fps and excellent accuracy. If you plink something with that load, it's PLUNK .
I have an 1894 45 long colt. And I can get about 1450 with 255 grn lazar cast lead bullets. I haven't seen excessive leading. 21 Grains of H 110. You should get 18 -19 hundred feet per second in the .357. I'd look at tite group, universal and universal
VADoublegunner beat me to it ! I have a Rossi M92 with Ballard-style rifling, and a wheelweight 358156 w/GC over 15.0gr. 2400 will reliably take out soda cans at about 80 yds. Like the man said, "Use that barrel !"
Larry
Larry
