44 mag in various leverguns

[rjohns94]

Hey, look at me, posting an on topic thread!!!
I am completely inept with the search function on this forum. So I want to ask about something I know we have talked about but I can't locate:

The longer, heavier loads for .44mag in leverguns. I'm looking at loads like garrets heavy loads, 310 grainers. What lever guns do well with them, and which ones don't?

[C. Cash]

Mike....just FYI: in Taffin's "Book of the 44" there is a section on modern leverguns there, with a chart for the Wincester, Marlin and Rossi actions, listing which will feed those bullets. Hope you are well. Was thinking about camping down near Gettysburg this weekend and calling you, but it looks like another washout.

[Malamute]

Some have trouble "making it around the corner" to feed fat nosed bullets, the nose can hit the top edge of the chamber. One of the guys here modified the lifter a little to allow fatter nosed bullets to feed. I may do it to my Browning 92, it has trouble with a couple of heavies I've tried. It's a very simple modification, a slight groove in the top front edge of the lifter, allowing the nose to sit just a little lower, somewhat like a standard 94 Winchester lifter.

[AJMD429]

The Ruger 96/44's have a 1:20 twist rate, so should work better for heavier bullets, and can even use pointy bullets due to the rotary magazine, BUT I don't know the maximum overall length that feeds in them. Not alot of Rugers out there, and some folks just don't like their looks enough to consider them regardless of what they'd feed and shoot.

You might also pose the question on the Garrett website, and others that sell the heavyweight bullets or loads, to see what specific firearms have proven records with them.

[alnitak]

Mike....just FYI: in Taffin's "Book of the 44" there is a section on modern leverguns there, with a chart for the Wincester, Marlin and Rossi actions, listing which will feed those bullets.

Can you point me to the page? I just scanned the chapter and hte only charts I saw were tests of various ammo out of each gun, e.g., velocity, grouping, etc. But I didn't see a reference to the ability to feed based on differences in OAL, bullet weight, bullet shape, etc.

Thanks.

[C. Cash]

Mike....just FYI: in Taffin's "Book of the 44" there is a section on modern leverguns there, with a chart for the Wincester, Marlin and Rossi actions, listing which will feed those bullets.

Can you point me to the page? I just scanned the chapter and hte only charts I saw were tests of various ammo out of each gun, e.g., velocity, grouping, etc. But I didn't see a reference to the ability to feed based on differences in OAL, bullet weight, bullet shape, etc.

Thanks.

Hey Alnitak,

Sorry had the wrong chapter. The chart for factory heavies are on pg. 284, and reloaded heavies on pg. 260. For Taffin, only the Marlin 1894 would feed the Garrett 310 Gr. Hammerhead, but both the Winchester(I assume he means Win. 94) and Marlin 94 would feed Garrets 310 gr. Keith offering. The Browning and Rossi 92's were no go's on all accounts.

[Grizz]

Marlins top out around 290g for weight, and some of them won't stabilize that. You can modify the cartridge stop on the lifter for longer rounds, but the 1:38 twist is the crippling factor.

Our 1894 will feed Marshall's 355g bullet, but won't stabilize them. It won't stabilize my revolver load of 320g either. We just used whitebox 240 jsp and made tons of venison with it. It's as good a venison load in rainforest type environments as any I've used. But for the stupid twist rate..... it could be the handiest moose/elk/steer/bison carbine around.

Grizz

[mikld]

I have a Puma M92 in .44 Magnum. I don't have other lever .44s to compare it with but it is a lot of fun to shoot. I soon found it would not feed Lyman 429421 SWC; nose a bit too long. I also slugged the bore and got a big .431", so I took care of the feeding and over bore problems with a Ranchdog mold for a 265 gr. RNFP gas checked bullet. Bullets as cast at .432". Shoots great. I just installed a Williams FP sight on it, but haven't shot it yet (my shooting spot is 3 miles up a dirt road and it hasn't stopped raining in about 2 months). But I do know it will shoot through a 3/4" plywood wall, through alum siding, two closet doors, a solid interior door, three decorative screen leafs, two dry wall walls, a decorative 1/2" pine plaque and into a wall stud about 1 1/2"...

[AJMD429]

I do know it will shoot through a 3/4" plywood wall, through alum siding, two closet doors, a solid interior door, three decorative screen leafs, two dry wall walls, a decorative 1/2" pine plaque and into a wall stud about 1 1/2"...

< gulp >

Maybe wanna use a more frangible bullet if using for in-the-home protection...

[alnitak]

Hey Alnitak,

Sorry had the wrong chapter. The chart for factory heavies are on pg. 284, and reloaded heavies on pg. 260. For Taffin, only the Marlin 1894 would feed the Garrett 310 Gr. Hammerhead, but both the Winchester(I assume he means Win. 94) and Marlin 94 would feed Garrets 310 gr. Keith offering. The Browning and Rossi 92's were no go's on all accounts.

Thanks!

[awp101]

But I do know it will shoot through a 3/4" plywood wall, through alum siding, two closet doors, a solid interior door, three decorative screen leafs, two dry wall walls, a decorative 1/2" pine plaque and into a wall stud about 1 1/2"...

Methinks there's a story here...

[C. Cash]

Just in case you forgot about this Mike!

[rjohns94]

nope, I have not forgotten about it. I have been talking to NKJ and looking around for a pre safety trapper.

[2X22]

it could be the handiest moose/elk/steer/bison carbine around.

You aren't just a woofin'!

The .44 in a rifle may be one of the most underrated meat makin' caliber out there

2x22

[O.S.O.K.]

I load Lee 310 wfn gas check boolits and they shoot very well in my Rossi. My Marlin 94 had a bit of trouble with the feeding so I just gently radius'd the top of the chamber mouth and that did the trick. It shot them into 2-3" depending on how I was doing at 100 yards. The Rossi gets about the same accuracy.

This is a maximum load of 21 grains of H110 with mag primers - and the boolits are sized .431", which is key to accuracy - they need to be over the size of the bore.

I lube mine with Lee's liquid alox - two coats.

I sold the Marlin 94 - new owner reported that he was very happy with it.

I still have and intend to keep the Rossi - has a Marbles tang sight installed, the Steve's Gunz replacement bolt for the wing safety. I really like it.

As said - the long nosed Kieth boolits like the 44250 RCBS make the OACL too long for feeding in the carbines.

If you are looking for on-game performance, I suggest you go with something like the 310 Lee that I use. It's a hammer:




This is the Rossi before I replaced the wing safety:

[2X22]

As said - the long nosed Kieth boolits like the 44250 RCBS make the OACL too long for feeding in the carbines.

Yeah, but the 44-245 PB isn't too long and is a fantastically accurate bullet!

In fact, I am back in the house reading leverguns while taking a break from a long casting session of 44-245's!

2x22

[Grizz]

My project b-92 feeds Marshall's 355g loads like butter, as fast or slow as I operate the lever. Never shot them because the barrel is, uh, shot. And stuck, but that's another story.

I don't think the Browning has a fast enough twister to stabilize that bullet, but Marshall said he's not so sure it won't, so it's worth a try. But any way, that would be dynamite out of a carbine, eh?

Grizz

[soon 2 retire]

Here's a link to a Guns & Ammo article where the author shoots both Belt Mountain Punch bullets and Garrett 330 gr. Hammerheads in both a Ruger pistol and a custom modified takedown Marlin 1894 by David R Clay. A few years ago I could access the article dedicated to the rifle itself.

http://www.gunsandammo.com/content/make-mine-44



Bob in NE Indiana

[oldgerboy]

You could always do to a 44 what I did to my .357 Rossi. Several years ago someone on the forum here had modified a Rossi to handle the .357 Maximum with the 1.6" case. I used that info to get my Rossi to feed Beartooth 185 grain WFN's. Just grind off some of the lifter at the rim stop to allow the cartridge to sit a little farther away from the chamber. The relationship of the cartridge and chamber changed and it feeds those cylinder shaped bullets perfectly.

[Old Time Hunter]

But I do know it will shoot through a 3/4" plywood wall, through alum siding, two closet doors, a solid interior door, three decorative screen leafs, two dry wall walls, a decorative 1/2" pine plaque and into a wall stud about 1 1/2"...

Ya ain't supposed to hang the targets on the side of the house...the paper don't stop much.

[kimwcook]

But I do know it will shoot through a 3/4" plywood wall, through alum siding, two closet doors, a solid interior door, three decorative screen leafs, two dry wall walls, a decorative 1/2" pine plaque and into a wall stud about 1 1/2"...

Ya ain't supposed to hang the targets on the side of the house...the paper don't stop much.

Holy smokes!!!