Hello guys,
I love the conversations about the Micro Grooved barrels not shooting lead bullets. The "They Brothers" will say they dont shoot with cast bullets, but my Marlins don't know they are not supposed to shoot cast bullets.
A few editions back the Lyman Manual 46 or 47 declared that the accuracy load for the 30-30 and a 173 grain cast bullet like the 311041 with 20 grains of Reloader 7. I cast a bullet similar to that in a Saeco mold and I buy the near same bullet from Laser Cast (Oregon Trail Bullet Company in Oregon). Try that load for 1600 fps out of a 22 " Marlin. I size all my 30 caliber bullets to .310".
I have a database with 844 records of groups fired on paper targets. I go to the list of all such groups and sort them by the smallest groups at the top. A 444 Marlin with micro-grooved barrel with a 1 in 38 twist takes the three top spots for accuracy with 0.2", .375" and .375". I have records from 25-05 varmiter, 223 varmiter and deadly 308 Sako that suck hind tit to the Marlin. I shot 3,374 rounds through that barrel and all were cast bullets. Marlin replaced the barrel for nearly nothing in January of 2004.
30-06 in a Springfield. Try Lyman's recommendation of 25 grains of Reloader 7 with the 173-grain bullet sized at .310. I shoot this load from a Remington model 742 Semi-auto rifle that is also, not supposed to even shoot jacketed bullets well according to the "they Brothers". I have used a Saeco #301 cast at 210 grains and the Saeco #315 at 173 grains with the same load of Reloader 7.
The 210-bullet velocity is 2015 fps chronographed. The 173 grainer with same load chronographs at 1811 fps with a maximum spread of 19 fps.
My shooting buddies have declared the Model 742 to be "The 742 Bench rest".
I cleaned it after 1400 lead rounds because the bolt froze closed from gunk and junk. A lot of Break free and a little time I got it open and apart. The gas port was not affected in any way. There is never any leading in the barrel.
The lube that I use is Javelina 50-50 Bees Wax and Alox and the bullets are rolled on a cloth containing Motor-Mica. I don't drop them in water or anything but use wheel weights and 2% tin or wheel weights 3 - with Linotype.
That reminds me about the little 25-06 bullet at 2245 fps. It is only wheel weights and 2% Tin. No leading.
I am a lead lover. If lead will fit it, I will shoot it.
The new Lyman Manual 48th Edition loves the XMP 5744 powder. It is great stuff, but I really like the Reloader 7 and IMR 4227. I use IMR 4227
in a 7.5 X 57mm French Mas rifle (Excuse the use of French stuff) and an Oregon Trail bullet with fantastic results. My 25-05 likes 4227 too. Both of these powders meter like fine sand and weights are near perfect.
I hope I haven't bored you guys to death, but this is one of my favorite subjects.
Harold Clark
haroldclark@citlink.net