Author Topic: replacing micro-groove barrel on a 1894 octagon (Read 817 times)

dgii · « **on:** April 08, 2005, 04:25:13 PM »

Has anyone replaced or know any place to get replacement barrel for the 1894's. Have 44Mag that throws lead bullets all over the place. Hope to replace micro-groove with Ballard style they now use in the 44Mags. Is this a dream or does Marlin have to do this conversion. Any ideas would help thanks

TennesseeNuc · « **Reply #1 on:** April 08, 2005, 08:58:31 PM »

dgii,
Before you go to the expense of swapping barrels, you might try some different bullets. Micro-groove barrels can shoot lead bullets very well with the right load combinations.
Groups usually improve with a bullet size a couple of thousands over the groove size of your barrel.
Besides, an octagon barreled 94 is awful purdy. :grin:
Best,
TnNuc

Mikey · « **Reply #2 on:** April 09, 2005, 03:42:13 AM »

dgii - TennesseeNuc is absolutely 'right on'. Before you get rid of that rifle do both it and yourself a service and either try other loads as the Nuc suggested or drop on down to Veral Smith's Forum for some insights on fire lapping your barrel. I have shot microgroove barrels that were awful until they were lapped and I won't give them up. That barrel just needs a bit of a 'smoothin' on the inside and that's what firelapping accomplishes.

In addition to Veral Smith, Beartooth Bullets (add a www. and a .com to get to their website) also offers firelapping materials, instructions and insights on how to successfully lap your rifle bore. Believe me, it is well worth the minor effort to lap the bore of your rifle for better accuracy. It works. HTH. Mikey.

dgii · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2005, 12:17:19 PM »

Thanks for the feedback. I think I will try to slug the barrel and get some beartooth bullets with gas checks of the right diameter. From what it looks like the 44 mag barrels from most companies are quite diverse.

GLC · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2005, 01:52:17 PM »

If you have an original 1894 Octogon model from 1973, I'd hesitate to alter it. There were only 2,957 of them made which makes it somewhat rare.

You could probably sell the rifle as is and get a new 1894 Cowboy, still octogon, with ballard rifling, for very little cash outlay, certainly less than it would cost to rebarrel and existing rifle. Some collector would probably love to have it. I have one, shoots jacketed bullets well.

Badnews Bob · « **Reply #5 on:** April 28, 2005, 03:39:12 PM »

Slug it and get the right bullets and it should shoot fine I have a couple micro groove barrels and they shoot cast just fine.