Author Topic: 1894 shoots off to the SIDE when using 38's instead of 357?? (Read 779 times)

Hankster · « **on:** March 11, 2006, 04:20:11 PM »

I would expect it to shoot lower/higher depending on which i'm using, given the same distance. BUT....when using a 38 special with a 158 swc....the group at 50 yds goes both to the LEFT by several inches.. AND opens up, a LOT! Switching to a 158 jacketed in .357....group centers up, and is about 3-4 inches high at 50, with a spread of only 1 1/2 inches or so...open sights.
Is it normal for the slower 38's to wander to the SIDE??? Anyone else have this happen??

darrell8937 · « **Reply #1 on:** March 12, 2006, 03:21:37 AM »

perhaps try a few diffrent brands. some guns are real picky.

Chuck White · « **Reply #2 on:** March 12, 2006, 04:55:27 AM »

Hankster

Welcome to GBO, there are some good people here!

Try shooting it sometime when you can take your time and really concentrate on your "trigger squeeze"!

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #3 on:** March 12, 2006, 03:18:14 PM »

I'm reasonably sure that your gun will shoot better than 3" to 4" at 50 yards, at least with 357's. Like Chuck said, I think you'll do better once you're used to the trigger on it.

As far as the 38's shifting to the side, yes, it definately happens with some 357 lever actions regardless of the maker. I was blessed with my current 1894C because it shows no noticable horizontal shift at all regardless of the loads from very mild 38 velocities to full house 357 magnum loads.

My last 1894C shifted about 4" to 5" to the left at 75 yards when I switched to 38 specials which is a pain when fooling with a drift sight set up. I've since seen a couple more Marlins, a couple Winchesters, and one Rossi that showed similar results, all chambered in 357 magnum.

I think maybe the actions are torquing differently at different pressure levels which causes this to happen. I'm guessing that some rifles aren't fitted just right, or maybe a little loose tolerances or something.

big medicine · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2006, 02:12:35 AM »

It is not uncommon for that to happen with different ammo. When I'm working up different loads with different powders and bullets you will notice how much the point of impact can change with out changing the hold on the target. Noting to worry about it does happen.

Hankster · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2006, 05:36:32 AM »

Thanks for the replies! Not trigger squeeze....think you misread my post some. At 50yds it will group .357's INTO 1 1/2 inches easy, printing about 3 to 4 inches HIGH of the bull. At 25yds same ammo eats the center out of the bull! NOW....at 50yds......38's print sideways AND a very OPEN pattern....not a grouping! Will experiment with some different loads and bullets. I read that swc don't work so well in these....may try round nose bullets next. Seeing I don't use the magnum stuff in my sixgun unless hunting etc. , i'd LIKE the rifle to shoot both....but if it turns out to only like .357's...so be it. Bummer but.....

Jerry Lester · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2006, 11:24:10 AM »

Sorry Hankster,

I did misread that part. Sounds like you're shooting the gun pretty daggone good! LOL!

I never did get very good accuracy using lead bullets of any type with 38 specials. Load up some jacketed 38 specials in any weight from 125g-158g, and I'm pretty sure you'll be impressed.

Hankster · « **Reply #7 on:** March 14, 2006, 04:47:44 PM »

Thanks for the tip!! I'm going to pick some up this weekend to try. If THAT works, i'll just load up all my .38's with jacketed. The barrel definately isn't a "microgroove"....so I assume it has to be a Ballard type? Or was there a third kind??? Says nothing on the barrel either way. I use a Lyman66a on both my Marlins.....what I learned on, and it always worked!! Scope seems kind of "sacreligious"!!!

doncisler · « **Reply #8 on:** March 14, 2006, 06:05:28 PM »

not at all unusual for different bullets to hit at different points horizontally. barrel harmonics operate laterally just as much as vertically.
if both loads exit at a node they will hit at the same point of aim (only gravity will vary bullet impact at different distances).
that would be very unusual.
a small difference in velocity or bullet weight (or jacketed vs cast) could put the .38's in the same vertical plane as your .357's

Ranger J · « **Reply #9 on:** March 17, 2006, 04:38:00 AM »

I load both my .357 and .38s with the same 158 g SP bullet and get very similar results with each at 50 yd., although the .357 is a little tighter. Different shape bullets will shoot to different places in my 1894, even with very similar loads.
RJ