Accuracy potential of .35 Rem Microgroove

[AJMD429]

Local shop has a used but not-too-beat-up .35 Rem Marlin, but it's the dreaded "microgroove" - anyone have any experience with them as to accuracy? I've always wanted a .357 Max levergun, but since that isn't going to happen without some serious dollar investment, I figure the .35 Rem is sort of a "tapered case" version of the .357 Max.

I'd be more interested in the XLR with the Ballard rifling, and the shiny stainless finish, and longer barrel, but the last two I can live with by not going out in the rain, and by handloading. What about the dreaded Ballard rifling though?

[1886]

Micro groove barrels shoot cast just fine. Somewhere, sometime , someone put out some bad info regarding microgroove barrels and cast bullet accuracy. Just follow the everyday cast bullet loading dictates and you will be fine. In my experience bullets with a longer bearing surface do tend to shoot just a bit better. Think about this, how many 39s do not shoot well? I do not know the mold number but the RCBS 200gr FNGC is a noted performer in the .35 Rem. Good Luck. 1886.

[Buffboy]

I've never shot any cast in the wife's 35 but I'm getting to where there's been more than a few jacketed bullets shot in it. The hunting load I've worked up with the 35 uses the 200gr Remington corlokt bullet launched at little less than 2100fps. It groups about 1.5"@ 100. This is with iron sights, the load may be better than that, but I'm not. It's a microgroove barreled 336 carbine.

[Old Savage]

With factory Remington 200s.

[Hobie]

Ballard or Microgroove, slug 'em, cast 'em .001-.002" over groove diameter, maybe play with the alloy and/or bullet design and have fun!

Remember, the .22 LR Microgroove barrels shoot very well with .22 LR soft lead bullets.

[C. Cash]

As I understand it, Harry Pope's barrels were akin to the modern "micro-groove" style of rifling, and his barrels were/are legendary in terms of accuracy. I don't think the rifling style lends to poor accuracy at all. My Marlin 39A is sure a tackdriver but have not fooled with micro groove center fire rifles. Button rifling doesn't seem to be an issue either, as Shiloh button rifles their barrels, with no further polishing of the bore, and they seem to shoot like wild fire. Personally, if I bought a center fire lever either Marlin or Winchester, I'd go with 100-200 rounds of Jacketed bullets and a good cleaning regimen, before I went to cast to smooth out the rough spots. Just me.

[TedH]

I had one for a while and it was a very good shooter. Accuracy was on par with most of my bolt guns. Wish I still had it.

[41_Marlin]

Second Most Accurate Marlin I have owned was a 336C in 35 Remington.
I put a Weaver K6 on it and clover-leafed groups at 50 yards week-in and
week-out. I never shot it with cast bullets.

Gave it to a widow lady and her sons for hunting deer. They haven't gone hungry.

I did shoot some regular 357 - 158 grain jacketed bullets as a 357 Mag on Steriods.
Lost some accuracy but it sure blew up some milk jugs.

Best handloads used a 200 grain round nose jacketed just under 2100 fps.

[El Chivo]

mine is laser-guided

[6pt-sika]

I have 4 Marlin's in 35 REM . The oldest is a 336SC that was made in 1952 and it handles cast great !
My other 35 that shoots cast is the second 336D (micro grooved) I acquired . This one just loves the NEW Ranch Dog 359-190GC bullet ! And it's micro grooved .

My other 336D (micro) likes the Remington Core Lokt 200 grain RN just fine .

And my other 35 is one of the comparatively new 336XLR's (also micro). I gotta admit the only thing I have shot in this one is the Hornady Leverevolution ammo and it seems to do just fine with that stuff !

I have killed deer with the XLR using the Hornady rubber tipped stuff ! I have killed deer with the first 336D shooting the 200 grain Core Lokt handloads and I have killed deer with the 336SC using the RCBS 35-200GC bullet !

And with any amount of luck I will kill a deer this year with the second 336D shooting the Ranch Dog 359-190GC bullet as well .


You know this micro groove cast thing is pretty much wasted argument !
I shoot cast in a number of rifles that are micro grooved and they do as well if not better then the ballard rifles ! I regulerly shoot cast in the following micro groove rifles 30-30 (2 of them), 356 WIN , 375 WIN , 35 REM , 44 MAG , 444 Marlin (4 of them) and 45-70 . And they all do quite well with cast bullet loads on paper !

[AJMD429]

Thanks for the info.

Sounds like more of the bullet-casting people need to re-set their sizing to larger bullets. I'm glad some of the Ranch Dog and others are doing that. I don't cast yet so I'll be buying bullets for any levergun I use cast bullets in, but at least I can slug and go from there.

[1886]

My .35 Rem 336 shot best with the RCBS FNGC sized .360". I bought them from Mt. Baldy but I am certain others cast this bullet as well. A case full of Varget provided superb accuracy with velocities running around 1950 FPS. Regards, 1886.

[AJMD429]

I think "this summer" (better hurry) I'll try to slug all my levergun bores, and maybe even engrave the number on the underside of the barrel so I can keep track. I've slugged a few, but forgot which was which!

Of course that project will come along with my other summer one which was to shoot each one of my guns for accuracy with factory ammunition, and figure out which ones deserve a 'tweak' with good handload development.

Summer is too short...

[Charles]

Mr Cash... IIRC, Marlin uses a broach and not a button to rifle their MG barrels. This is not a negative, as some very fine barrels have been broach rifled.

The real "bug-a-boo" is that Marlin also broach cuts the sight dovetails on their later barrels. Sometimes this can push metal into the bore that makes for a tight spot. This can play hob with accuracy, particularly if the cut is for the front sight. A tight spot an inch or two from the muzzle can be bad news.

To tell if a dovetail has been cut with a broach or a mill, take a look at the tool marks in the bottom of the dovetail. If the marks are circular, they were cut with a mill. If they are straight across, they were cut with a broach.

Please note that many rifles with broach cut dovetails produce fine accuracy, but if a particular rifle proves to be a problem child, accuracy wise, this is often the problem.

[Old Savage]

Charles - when did that practice begin?

[TNBigBore]

The most accurate rifle I currently own is a 1961 Marlin 336RC 35 with microgroove rifling. It will shoot the Remington and Hornady factory stuff inside of 1" at 100 yds every time. I am the limiting factor. I have not even developed any handloads for it yet.

[C. Cash]

Thanks for that bit of info Charles. Always thought they were buttoned rifled per the old Marlin ads, but "broached" seems to be the correct term as you noted. BTW....examined several NIB Marlin guide guns with "Ballard" rifling and the grooves appeared to be very shallow and the rifling not very pronounced at all. Think I would prefer the MG myself.