Micro groove rifling question

[blackwolfe]

I'm thinking of getting a 1894 in .32-20 caliber, to go with my single action.  I don't reload at this time, but plan to some time in the future as spare time and money permits.  What are the advantages and disadvantages of micro groove rifling as compared to the older style rifling?  Should I get one of the new rifles with micro groove rifling or should I look for an older one with traditional style rifling?  Thank you. 

[Mikey]

blackwolfe:  there are no disadvantages to the microgroove rifling.  I have a number of rifles with that rifling and they shoot cast slugs just as well if not better than jacketed slugs.  In fact, the only reason I shoot any jacketed slugs down those tubes is to use up the bullets.  I prefer hunting with cast slugs. 

That being said, you may wish to drop on down to Veral smiths forum, down the line here at Graybeards.  In addition, you may wish to visit the Beartooth Bullets website.  Veral speaks often to the process of 'firelapping the bore or borelapping' which simply imparts controlled wear to a barrel and allows it to maximize its accuracy potential.  Beartooth sells the materials and kits for this process.  I think Veral does as well.  Beartooth references Veral quite often in its literature.  I have firelapped a number of microgroove barrels using the materials Beartooth provides and will now only shoot cast slugs down my tubes.  If ya see me shootin' anything with jackets it is just to use them up.  HTH.  Mikey.

[Darrell Davis]

Hey there blackwolfe,

I had - sure wish I still had - a Marlin .44 mag with the micro grove barrel and shot the same 310gr. Gas check LBT bullets in it that I use in my handgun.

The only problem, if you can call it that, is because of the length of the 310gr. LBT bullet feeding from the magazine needed to be done slowly.

The bullet length cause it to hang up if the action was cycled rapidly.

Other then that, no problem with the barrel shooting the cast slugs. They shot great.

Keep em coming!

[Lloyd Smale]

I didnt think marlin made a micro groved 32

[blackwolfe]

We'll Lloyd now you got me wondering.  I checked Marlin's 2006 catalog.  In the 1894 centerfire rifle section all 1894 rifles show six grooves.  All except the 32-20 and the .32 magnium state deep-cut Ballard type rifling.  The he 32-20 and the .32 mag do not state what kind of rifling.  I have recently seen several offered for sale on Gunbroker that stated Micro-Groove rifling in the discription and one stated button rifling. There was a picture of the box end with the Marlin label and it stated Micro-Groove rifling.  On a post somewhere on one of the many forums the poster said he sent his 32-20 to Marlin and had the Micro-Groove barrel replaced with a Barrard rifled barrel.  I can't access Marlin's websight so I'm not sure right now what the websight says about the rifling.  I don't have my latest copy of Bluebook available, but I thought it said in the 1894CL listing that the ones made in the 1980's started out with Ballard rifling and then Marlin switched to Micro-Groove.  Now that I think about it, I would think that if it was Micro-Groove it would have more than 6 grooves.  I wonder if Marlin has been making them with both types of barrels.
I was able to find an older one that has the Ballard rifling and the side of the receiver drilled and tapped for a side mount receiver peep sight.  The top is also drilled and tapped for a scope mount, which I'll probably need sooner rather than later with these aging eyes of mine.

[dubber123]

I do think some of the older ones were Micro-Groove, but I think all of the recent ones are regular Ballard type.  My new 1894Cl is, and I am elated at the accuracy I am getting with cast bullets.  Then again, I can't say I've ever run into an inaccurate Marlin regardless of rifling type.