Author Topic: 1894 marlin (Read 1115 times)

Lightning Ross · « **on:** February 18, 2003, 07:47:16 PM »

Have bought a marlin for cowboy mounted rifle shooting. would like to hear some thoughts on getting plain 45 long colt blanks to feed through it wont load very well and problems feeding have loaded blank with crimp to help with feeding still doesnt work well. reg rifle blanks 55$ per hundred a little pricey for practice can you taper inside chamber or slick up feed ramp any ideas out there.Dies to reload 5n1 blanks from rcbs $239 way out of my price range paid just a little over that for rifle or am i stuck with 55per hundred

John Traveler · « **Reply #1 on:** February 19, 2003, 05:22:05 AM »

Hi, Ross!

Yeah, I agree. $239 for RCBS dies to reload 5-in-1 blanks is a bit rich for my blood too!

Those old 5-in-1 blanks were intended for .38-40, .44-40, .45 Colt, and a couple of other pistol/carbine calibers I can't remember.

If you can get hold of some 5-in-1 blank cases, reloading them w/o the RCBS dies should be no problem. Use a regular (.45 Colt) sizing die, and a modified bullet seating punch to press in the card wads. Charge with a full case of FFFg and compress moderately with a couple of thick card wads.

The problem with making up your own .45 Colt blanks is finding a rimmed case that is long enough and with a .45 Colt size rim and base diameter. The base diameter doesn't have to be exact, but the rim needs to be the right diameter for reliable feeding and extraction.

If I was to make up some economical blanks, I'd look at the .444 Remington Magnum case. It's certainly long enough, and the rim/base diameter is the same as .44 Remington Magnum. Now the question is, will it feed and extract reliably enough for you?

I dunno. It's worth a try!

Black Jaque Janaviac · « **Reply #2 on:** February 19, 2003, 10:14:23 AM »

Could you partially re-size a .454 Casull case with a smaller caliber sizing and crimping die? Maybe even stage it. First push it about a 1/4" into a .44 die. Then down to a .40 even, then crimp it.

Even buying the two extra die sets would be cheaper than $239, and about the same as one box of factory blanks.

Just some thoughts.

Have you posted this question on the CAS forums or SASS wire?

John Traveler · « **Reply #3 on:** February 19, 2003, 11:00:15 AM »

That idea of necking down a .454 Casull case might work, but I dunno if it is long enough. It's worth a try!

I would use .45 Colt, and then .44 Mag/Spl carbide sigzing dies to do the neck reduction. Finish up with a .41 Mag sizing die.

Why can't you buy that first 100 box of blanks and reload the empties? Are they boxer-primed and reloadable?

BP blanks are easy to make, IF you have the cases!

Lightning Ross · « **Reply #4 on:** February 19, 2003, 05:16:39 PM »

I make my own for my pistols the problem with the rifle is you eject them during the course and you would lose alot of them I think what i am fighting is the overall length and the taper of the bullet going into the chamber will have to compare over all length in the various brasses