Shooting My Marlin 1889

[stanws6]

I recently inherited a nice Marlin model 1889 in 38-40 cal. The gun is in excellent condition with perfect mechanics and a bore that's a little dark but still has strong rifling. I'd like to shoot it a little but I'm not sure which ammo to get. Since it was a first year gun I know they used black powder cartridges back then. Should I just get some black powder cowboy loads or would the smokeless powder loads be alright? Thanks

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I would recommend black powder (or black powder substitute) loads for the Marlin 1889 after you had it checked out by a competent gunsmith who understands blackpowder era firearms. It should be safe with those loads. Although there are some low pressure smokeless powder equivalent loads, that is a pretty advanced area for handloaders. For example, there have been numerous articles in Double Gun Journal about using carefully crafted smokeless handloads in damascus barrel shotguns and early rifles. However, it is safe to say that commercial loads with smokeless powder would not be included among them.

 

[delta-419]

I,too, have a Marlin 1889 in 38-40 that I handload. The Hodgdon Triple 7 powder which is a substitute for BP has worked for me using soft lead bullets. I love shooting all of my Marlin rifles and even have one in 32-40 marked "For Black Powder Only" a model 1893. Google G.A.D , they will load up BP cartridges for you using the right lead bullets and powder if you don't handload. Good shooting and enjoy those old guns. They were made to be shot.

 

[2152hq]

I'd stick to BP loads or their equivelent smokeless loads if you can verify such.
Lead bullet only. Jacketed bullets will wear the bore even more as the barrel material is mild steel.
The '89 was only made till '94, with some more rifles assembled from parts for a few years there after.

I use BP sub American Pioneer in 44-40 loads in one of my Winchester '73s. Great accuracy, no fouling, easy clean-up and no worry about stressing the action. Might be a consideration for the Marlin, though the '89 can probably take more than the weak actioned '73 can.

The action is strong. I've seen a couple converted to 357Mag though I question work, the rifles were functioning fine. The bores had been lined for the conversion and I don't know how hot a load had been put through the rifles.

I'd have a tendency to treat them as stronger than a '73 (same era, much different design) but consider their age and load accordingly.

The barrel material of all the Marlin rifles at that time was a 'mild steel' (their term). It wasn't till about 1915/16 that they introduced the 'Special Smokeless Steel' for barrel steel and that was during the Model '93 production.

You had a choice with the '93 when ordering it at that time as to which bbl material you wanted,,either the Special Smokeless Steel,,or the Black Powder Only (mild steel).
They used the mild steel for .22 bbls also.
The Special Smokeless Steel was also used on the '95 and I think the Model 27 pump (If that's the centerfire version).

Nice rifles,,very unappreciated I think.