Author Topic: Marlin micro groove 30wcf  (Read 1119 times)

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Offline admiral

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Marlin micro groove 30wcf
« on: October 25, 2008, 02:20:54 PM »
Veral,
 i have a Marlin 30wcf with the 12 groove micro groove rifling. barrel slugged at .307-.3075" after lapping with your product. i have tried a 170-LCFN gc at .309" w/ LBT Blue soft and have been having dismal results with several powder combos. i am trying for 1800-1900 fps but bullets are all over the place. the only sizer i have currently is .309" but am going to the shop to make a .310" or .311". there is alot of chatter about cast w/ micro groove but i need some straight dope. i have heard that bigger is better in these? any help would be appreciated. thanks, patrick

Offline Veral

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Re: Marlin micro groove 30wcf
« Reply #1 on: October 26, 2008, 07:15:18 PM »
  My preferred rifling form is Micro Groove which has been lapped.  The fine grooves deform the bullet very little, which leaves it in balance, while the large number of grooves leave a lot of gripping area for the rifling because there are so many edges.

  Probably a larger diameter will do the trick, as perhaps the most important factor in bullet fitting for rifles is to get the chamber neck full so the bullet can't tip on takeoff.

  You didn't mention anything about which powders you are using.  To get the power up, you need slow powders same as for heavy loads with jacketed, not the fast ones listed in most cast bullet manuals.  I've found W 748 and powders of close burning rate to produce the best results.

  There are a couple other important factors.
  To get speeds up to near full power, (and even exceed 30-30 jacketed levels) Bullet hardness must be around 12 to 14 bhn minimum, and at his hardness you can expect expansion on a par with the best jacketed bullets.

  Did you use push through slugs to determine when you were done lapping.  They will tell you whether you have the barrel straight and smooth.  Polishing after lapping with lead is also mandatory, to smooth the barrel sufficiently.  In other words, lapping cuts the barrel straight and true, and knocks off the rough edges that could cut up lead bullets.  Polishing puts a slicker finish on the surfaces.  This is all covered in detail in the lap instructions.
Veral Smith

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Re: Marlin micro groove 30wcf
« Reply #2 on: October 27, 2008, 01:03:48 PM »
Thanks Veral. sorry for the lack of pertinent info. i have made up a .310" sizer die on the lathe so that is the next test. if that dosen't do it i will turn the die into a .311". i followed the lap instructions and did the final polish on the bore. i have tried IMR 3031, H4895, and RL-15. water dropped WW metal as for hardness. i have your push through slugs and it seems very smooth. thanks and i will keep trying.     patrick

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Re: Marlin micro groove 30wcf
« Reply #3 on: November 03, 2008, 06:58:05 PM »
  I think you are going to solve the problem when you get bullet diameter up to proper size.

  If you have any more problems, contact me by email, as I answer them most every day, but only stop by this forum once a week, or so.  We'll get that gun to shooting in short order.  If we come up with any information which I didn't cover previously I'll post it hear for everyone, but don't expect that to happen. In all these years no one has had such a problem with a 30-30 with lapped bore, IF BULLETS WERE LARGE ENOUGH.
Veral Smith