B92 cast bullets

[Range Rider]

I have a B92 Browning 92 .44 Mag.  These rifles have Micro-Groove barrels. I don't know why Browning went this route.  That being the case.  I can not get the rifle to shoot cast bullets with dependable accuracy.  I have tried hard and soft slugs. It will do better with .44 Spec and soft lead.  I really don't need a carbine that will not handle full house lead loads.  Anyone load cast slugs in Micro-Groove tubes?  Heavy loads hard cast?

RR

[clodbuster]

Got a microgroove 444 that shoots 275 gc hard cast quite well.  A deer won't stop it.  Anyone have a spare rhinocerus?   the load I use gets 2200 fps with much better groups than "minute of deer".  Hornady 265 gr jackets do no better in accuracy or velocity. 

[Mikey]

Range Rider:  microgroove rifling is not very 'cast friendly' without a bit of work - fun acutally.  You will need to firelap the barrel and use bullets sized to the bore (imo).  I have found this process to be very rewarding with microgroove barrels. 

Drop on down to Veral Smith's Forum down in the reloading section and read what he has to say about fire lapping or bore lapping; then get yourself on over to the Beartooth Bullet website and read what they have to say about the process.  If you do not cast out your own bullets then Beartooth is a excellent source.  I would also recommend, without hesitation, a gas checked bullet.  Have fun.

[Range Rider]

Mikey, thanks much for your input.  I have been casting for many years.  Yes I have all the toys for makeing the bullets.  In all those  years of casting I never knew about the problems with micro-groove barrels.  I did not know the B92 had a micro-groove barrel.  I bought the gun in a lot purchase.  I must say I was shocked when the little Browning threw the hard lead {linotype bullets} like a shot pattern.
Thx
RR

[jlchucker]

I've never had a problem with cast bullets in 30-30, 35 Remington, and 45-70 Marlins, all with microgroove barrels.  I've been casting for these rifles since long before I started reading gun magazines and websites saying there was supposed to be a problem using cast bullets in such rifles.  If your bullet fits the bore properly, and you are using a load that's correct for the rifle you're loading for, you should have no problem.  I don't know if I'd call these rifles "not very cast-friendly" like Mikey does, but he's right in saying that it may require a bit of work--actually that's true for ballard-type barrels and cast bullets also.  I've never firelapped a bore yet, but I have done some experimentation with bullet diameters, loads, and powders.  Sometimes a good load in one rifle won't group quite so well in another.  Unlike Clodbuster waiting for rhinos to shoot with his 275 grainers, I'm waiting for a Tyrannosaur to come out of the bushes to try my 420 grain RCBS flatnoses on when I'm carrying around my Marlin 45-70. Of course I may have to shoot twice since my boolits only chrony out at about 1875, not 2000.  And that's with my gunshop owner's chrony because I don't have one myself.  I just load for accuracy.  Mikey thinks you can get there, and I do too. First thing though--slug your bore or have a gunsmith do it, so you'll know what the right size bullet matches up with your gun. Then experiment with powders and loads, shooting off a bench at your range.  You'll get there.  Keep good notes about the loads you try though.  You'll want to keep the best one, and that one may not be best in another gun.

[Range Rider]

Thanks guys some real good advise.  I will let you know what becomes of all this.  I have an 86' 45-70 that shoots everything just fine. It is a very early Browning SRC, no safety on the tang.

RR

[Nobade]

The problem with these isn't the micro groove rifling, it is the improper dimensions. I had one of those rifles for a while, and the barrel slugged out at .427"/.433. Of course it's not going to shoot very well with normal cast bullets. I got a Ranch Dog 265 grain .434" mold for it, and lo and behold it shot great! But only at full power. The twist rate is very slow - 1:38" or so, and it wouldn't shoot well below 1500 fps. But a full load of H110 or Lil' Gun would put those bullets into tiny groups.

So, if you want it to shoot, just get a properly sized mold, make a bigger expander button for your flare die, and go to town. Ranch Dog is getting set up to sell molds on his web site starting 1 Nov, so you don't have to wait for a group buy to get one. BRP also has properly sized molds I believe, and of course LBT or Mountain Molds can make you whatever you want.

[jlchucker]

Noblade, I hadn't thought of that aspect.  My Marlins are all older ones with microgroove barrels.  Even the early lawyersafety versions were dated from the 1980's.  By chance, probably, the loads I started testing with were all around 1500-1600 or so--except for a 25-20 Classic that I had a few years ago.  They're all tack drivers.  At the time I began casting, I wasn't aware of the Ranchdog molds--either that or it was before he began offering them.  They are good ones.  But so are the RCBS mold for my 35 Remingtons and my 45-70. For the 45-70 I've got both the 300 gr and 405 gr gascheck molds. I've had good luck with the Lee 405 plainbase mold in my 45-70 as well. All of the brands of molds that you mention are good ones according to what I've read on the Castboolits website.  Some are a bit costly, but if you find a good mold that casts a good bullet for your rifle, you've got something that with care will still be casting for your heirs, after you're gone and there's no more jacketed bullets to be had.   

[Graycg]

You need to slug your barrel, I had one of these, beautiful rifles, but the bore was horribly oversized at .433, it would just barely shoot jacketed bullets and forget about cast.  You will likely never find commercial cast bullets that size, but could mould your own given your talents noted, unfortunately, I think Ranch dog is gone now.  

My B92 worked into a trade with an 1885 in 45-70 that made both me and a bud happy.  I hope your bore is not as big as mine was.

regards,
 Graycg

[tacklebury]

Might want to look at this post from Veral of LBT Molds.  He apparently will take your slugs and make a mold specifically for your rifle's needed dia.  Might be worth checking out. 

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,216732.0.html

[Mikey]

Range Rider:  tacklebury x 2.  Slug your bore first - you may find it is a .431 or .432 diameter and until you purchase a mold from Veral you can make do with store bought from Beartooth but once you slug your bore then get a bullet to fit and you will be happier. 

Graycq:  yep, that was certainly a oversized bore but even bullets that large are available and as tacklebury mentioned, Veral Smith will cut you a mold to your specific size needs. 

I think this is what makes shootin' fun.................

[Graycg]

Mikey,
 agree with your assessment on getting moulds cut, I have gotten oversize moulds from Veral and from Mountain moulds for oversized 45-70's before.   I ditched the B92 for the 1885 because I really wanted the 1885 at the time... wish I had both now.

regards,
 Graycg

[Mikey]

Ah ha!

[Range Rider]

I have an 1886 BLR Saddle Ring Pre-Saftey shoots cast slugs great.  I wanted the 92 to shoot the same loads that I shoot in my old S&W Mdl. 29.  Dosen't look like that is going to happen.  The little fellow may need a new home.

RR

[Mikey]

Range Rider:  I greee with you - I don't think you will be able to accurately shoot the same load from both firearms.  Your older M29 probably wears a .429 diameter barrel that might go to .430 at the largest - S&W revolvers are pretty close.  The Browning M92 however most likely wears a larger barrel; strange thing about the Marlin microgroove barrels is that they are oversize for revolver rounds. 

I know a few fellas with the Marlin M94s in 44 and 357 and their microgroove barrels are oversize; my brother in law owns a Marlin in 41 magnum and rather than the .410-.411 diameter barrel he expected to match his revolver barrel dimentions, his runs to .413.  I wonder if, since Marlin owns the microgroove concept, other rifle makers have their barrels cut by Marlin and they do the rest but that would still leave you with a oversized barrel. 

I own a Rossi made M92 in 357 and that takes the same .358 diameter cast bullets that my M28 shoots most accurately however, this rifle does not wear either a microgroove or Ballard (deep cut) barrel; mine wears 6 lands and grooves and shallow rifling. 

[Nobade]

I was just at Ranch Dog's new store site and he has those .433 265gr. bullet molds in stock. $60 for a 6 cavity one. Something to consider before you sell a neat little rifle.

[Range Rider]

Mikey and Nobade thanks much for your fine Info.  Yes the little 92' is a neat rifle.  The damn thing is worthless if I cannot get it to shoot my 29 loads.  Thanks again guys.

RR