Marlin 1894P - First time at range

P

PaulTX

New member
I took my new 1894P to the range for the first time this morning. It is a great shooter. A 240 gr. FMJ-FP hits a berm 100 yards away with authority! I'm very pleased with this purchase.

I did some shots through the chrono but didn't document it this time. I wasn't disappointed with any of the numbers though.

According the Alliant manual, the max load for a 240 gr. FMJ using 2400 is 18.7 grains. The pioneer .44 mag guys used a standard 22 grains for this bullet weight? The two loads I tested today were 16.9 and 17.9 grains of 2400 under a 240 FMJ-FP Berry's bullet. My next loads will get into the 18 grain range plus I'm going to work with light loads (something in the .44 special range).

Thanks to all who have given me excellent information on the .44 mag carbine the past few months!
 
Paul, you are right when you say that the old load of 2400 for the .44 Magnum was 22.5 grains. But Elmer Keith, who was the chief proponent of that load, also specified his .429 Keith cast lead bullet, Lyman #429421, seated with the front band out and crimped in the crimping groove. He also specified regular primers. Use of that much of a newer formulation of Alliant 2400, with a full jacketed bullet, and magnum primers, will probably elevate pressures well beyond Keith's loads, which may very well have been excessive even then, since all he had to go on was primers and extraction to gauge pressure. I'd heed the Alliant handbook, if I were you.
Keith's original .44 Special heavy loads were the same bullet in Special cases, standard primer and 18.5 gr. of the old 2400.
Beware of all loads in old magazines, books or from hearsay. The powder and bullet makers use different components today, and they know what's safe. And although I can't prove it, my feeling is that the Marlin carbine is less able to handle 'hot' loads than the pistols now commonly used for the cartridge. I suggest the Hornady or Sierra 240 gr. HP and IMR4227 or H4227 in your Marlin. That shoots best in my .44's. Take care.

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If they take our guns, I intend to let my hair grow long and acquire the jawbone of an ass.
 
Slabsides, thanks for your information!

Do you know if the Hornady .44 mag XTP bullets have a wide enough mouth for the Marlin magazine?
 
According to Paco Kelly, the Marlin 1894 action can handle pressures in the 40-45K range. That's not too shabby.

I wonder why the Alliant manual stops at 18.7 grs of 2400 under a 240 gr FMJ and the pressure is only about 35K? It looks like to me there is room to go up at least a little more and not be overpressure.
 
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