Author Topic: As Good As It Gets? (Read 958 times)

DDO · « **on:** March 29, 2004, 11:53:11 AM »

I recently bought a Marlin 1884 CL 357 Mag. Been doing load development. The best groups I've been able to develope are 1 1/4"- 1 1/2" at 50 meters. I'd like to shrink those to 3/4"-1".

I've used Unique, AA7, AA5, H110 powders. I can get those sort of groups from each of those powders. Generally at or near max load for each individual powder. CCi primers. I've been using 140 and 158 gr Remington bulk pistol bullets.

I'm thinking maybe Remington bullets might not be the best choice. Speer, Hornady, Sierra? Any preferences? I'm also considering cast bullets from LaserCast or Bear Creek. Any especially accurate cast bullet loads?

Or are the groups I'm getting now "As Good As It Gets?" without an accuracy job? The rifle is at the gunsmith's right now getting a trigger job.

The reason I'm asking is I have a Marlin 38-55 that shoots that well (1 1/4"- 1 1/4") at 100 meters.

Dewight

marlinman93 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 29, 2004, 03:57:21 PM »

If this is with iron sights, then I'd say it's about as good as it gets. If you are doing this with a scope, then you might shrink them a bit, depending on your shooting abilities.

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #2 on:** March 29, 2004, 05:26:58 PM »

MM93 might have hit on the problem. If not, here's my advice.

The Remington bulk bullets have been extremely accurate for me in several different rifles, and revolvers. That said though, all guns have their preferences, and maybe yours doesn't like'em. Before you give up on the Remingtons, try a little milder load, and then try full house maximum loads with them.

Are your groups nice, and round, or are the stringing more vertically? If they're going vertically, it may be your crimp. Make sure you trim each loading, and try a little firmer crimp.

Another thing is use magnum primers(especially with the Unique). I've found this to be more critical in rifles for some reason than in revolvers.

Give us some more details on your exact loads, as well as anything you can think of.

DDO · « **Reply #3 on:** March 29, 2004, 07:50:13 PM »

I've shot with both scope and iron sights. My best iron sight groups equal the scope groups. Just get more consistent groups with the scope.

Using brand new Starline Brass. CCI 500 primers because I had a lot of them and no magnum primers. Seating bullets to 1.590 OAL, longest my Marlin will feed. Tried shorter OAL. My best loads with each powder are:

5 Shot Groups
7.0 gr Unique-158gr. bullet
8.0 gr. Unique-158gr. bullet
12.2 grs AA7-158 gr. bullet
19.0 grs. H110-140gr. bullet

The Unique loads always seem to have one flyer, other than that they would equal the 12.2 grs. AA7. Unique also seems to have 2-3 shots touching. All groups are within 1/4" Horz. vs. Vert.
I noted that Sierra list their accuracy load as one with AA9.

I'd like to stay away from faster, low bulk powders like TiteGroup. Though it does shoot good in my 44-40. Besides the 357 doesn't seem finicky about powders. I do plan on trying Magnum primers. Only reason I questioned the Remington bullets is because they are inexpensive. Glad to hear others have found them to be accurate.

Truth be told. This level of accuracy is probably good enough for my use, Lever Action Silhouette. But "good enough" is never good enough for me.

Dewight

RIFLERANGER · « **Reply #4 on:** March 29, 2004, 08:54:11 PM »

Something else you may want to toy with.
I have found time and again that max to near max loads work just fine for hunting accuracy, but to truly develop a load that is most accurate in your rifle, you must either work up from minimum or down from maximum, either 1/3 or 1/2 grain at a time.
Make 10 rounds each, shoot 5 to sight in, and then a five shot group with each load setting for comparison purposes.
This must also be done with each of the powders available.
I know this is a pain in the a$$, but then again, there is nothing like finding the load that your firearm likes best.
I think that the bullet usually has little to do with it, though again, it all boils down to experimentation.
I would definitely suggest scoping, even if only temporarily to find that right load.
Then remove the scope and sight in for irons.
You should be able to pull 1" or LESS groups.
Ranger

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #5 on:** March 29, 2004, 11:12:04 PM »

I think this will definately help...

Trim your cases to the same length, and switch to CCI 550 primers.

I'll almost garantee that you'll see a vast improvement. My current 1894C, as well as my last one will shoot 3/4" or better at 50 yards with a wide variety of loads, and I'm sure your rifle will do the same.

big medicine · « **Reply #6 on:** March 31, 2004, 10:02:45 AM »

I have found that IMR 4227 with the Bulk 158 grain bullets shoots well out of my 1894 357 mag. I have used both CCI and WW primers with mixed brass and it really doesnt make much of a difference.

HAMMERHEAD · « **Reply #7 on:** April 01, 2004, 03:21:11 PM »

I am not a handloader yet, but I ALWAYS get better groups with 180gr bullets in my 1894CP. Your groups with the 158's are about what I get. The 180's are always 1" or better at 50 yards (bench/peep sights). I assume you're talking about a 1894? Mine is a newer model with ballard rifling. Rem 180's have always shot well for me.