Number one, your rifle is most likely going to prefer the 500 grain Government bullet. The carbine used the 405 grain HB bullet with 55 grains of powder. So get some 500 grainers, and make dang sure they do not exceed 1:20 alloy. If that doesnt work then go to 1:40 alloy. Whatever your bore measures, your bullets have to be soft enough to bump up to fill it. Your rifle likely has 18" twist, mine does. It needs that big old long government bullet. your barrel should be a very shallow 3 groove. With the proper bullet and alloy, it should do fine for you. It isnt designed for little bitty short 385 grain bullets. If you want to shoot them, then get a Marlin. If your serial number is in the high 200,000's or 300,000 or above, it is a 500 grain eating barrel. Try that and see if you dont have success. Around 300K is where the 1884 rifles began. Those are definitely 500 gr barrels. The very early rifles below 100K tried the 405s for a while with poor success, and the 405 was then relegated to the carbine and the 500 became the issue round for the rifle. Soft,,,,the boolits have to be soft. If you ran hard bullets through it, check the barrel for leading, especially near the muzzle. That could be your problem. Clean it well then try the long soft bullets.
