38's in a 357 Marlin?

[mellonhead]

Any of you guys have any luck with 38 specials in your Marlin 94's. I just picked up a 357 mag Cowboy and have about 3k pcs. of 38 brass here. I'll probably try some loads tomorrow with some 150 grain SWC's. I just wanted to know if you guys had any recipies.

Toby

[Ben]

Recipes for an 1894 Marlin 357 mag shooting 38 spec. ? Well , yes and no.....My Marlin 1894 is a 38 Spec ( not 357 Mag ) CBC. Each Marlin 1894 seems to tolerate or not tolerate certain loads. My own 1894 will feed full 148 gr. W/C's seated flush with the end of the case mouth of 38 Spec cases from the magazine, 7 for 7, smooth as silk. I own many different 38/357 bullet molds, I've yet to find one that will not cycle smoothly in my rifle.

By the way, mine is a shooter ! !

[Firebricker]

My 94 is in .357 and it feeds .38spls fine with rnfp. I use Unique and 158gr boolits. FB

[TCFAN]

My 94C is also a 357. I use a lot of 38 specials in it. The main load for the 38 is the Lee RNFP 158gr boolit pushed by 4.2grs of Bullseye.This shoots good in my Marlin.

Ben.....That is a very nice Marlin you have there. First one I have ever seen in a 38..........Terry

[Guesser]

My 1894C 357 is about 30 years old and has always fed and fired 38 Specials. Doesn't matter what bullet profile, they all work in 38 and 357. I use 358156 in 357 and 358311 & 357446 in 38.

[Ben]

TCFAN

Someone told me that there were only about 400ea. 38 spec. Marlin 1894 CBC rifles that were made. That may be true or not true, I'm not certain. Maybe someone else can offer help on the quantity made ? ?

[xringdave]

i've had good luck in my marlin with 38 specials i use a 158 gr. round nose boolit.

[TCFAN]

TCFAN

Someone told me that there were only about 400ea. 38 spec. Marlin 1894 CBC rifles that were made. That may be true or not true, I'm not certain. Maybe someone else can offer help on the quantity made ? ?

Ben if they only made that many then you are very lucky to have one.Sure wish I could find one and have the money at the time to buy it.....Terry

[Ben]

TCFAN

I've been offered a " chunk of change " from a fellow in NH for this rifle, I turned the deal down. Claims he had been looking for a nice one for a long time with no success.

I forgot to mention, my rifle is Ballard rifled, not micro-groove.

Ben

[tall grass]

My 1894c jams with 38s with regular OAL. If the bullet can be set out so that the OAL is 0.150" or so (don't have my notes handy) it will feed them.

Jim

[maglvr]

Try Elmer's original 38-44 load, my 1894C LOVES them!!!

358429
----------
13.5gr 2400

To anyone else reading this post "DO NOT USE THIS LOAD IN ANY MED. OR SMALL FRAME .38 Spl." the pressure is in the 357 mag range!!

[btroj]

My 1894 feeds 38s fine. It just doesn't shoot them very well.

[izzyjoe]

i have an 1894c and it seem to like rnfp boolits in 38 cases, but when i loaded up some wc's, it locked the gun up. seems that the rim of the case got of the mag tube, and the lifter would'nt rise. not fun!

[GP100man]

Go here : http://www.biglube.com/BulletMolds.a...0-6d4ee38b0030

Me & Muddy Creek Sam loaded these in 38 cases with Holy Black , he`s shot em alot with 0 FTF problems ,or atleast I have`nt heard none .

I tried em in 357 mag in a revolver but there just a mite long if seated in the crimp groove & go too deep in a 357 case , but perfect in a 38spc.

& the loobe groove holds ample loobe for the longest of barrels !!!

[358 Win]

Try Elmer's original 38-44 load, my 1894C LOVES them!!!

358429
----------
13.5gr 2400

To anyone else reading this post "DO NOT USE THIS LOAD IN ANY MED. OR SMALL FRAME .38 Spl." the pressure is in the 357 mag range!!

My 1894CBL, ballard rifled, 24" barrel also loves the Lyman 358429 in .38 Special
cases. I use 11.5gr of 2400 powder for 1450fps. My 358429 bulllets weigh 178gr
with my alloy. It is a great walk about load and it'll smack dead anything that needs killing. Have the Lyman 66LA receiver sights on mine. Helps my tired old eyes get her on target.
358 Win

[mellonhead]

I tried 6.0 grains of HS6 under a NOE 360-145-SWC. Accuracy seemed ok. Didn't have as good of a rest as I would have liked, but it showed some promise.

Toby

[MikeG70]

Sometimes the 38 Special round will lock up a rifle designed to shoot 357. You may want to do what I did and buy yourself 357 Mag brass then load it down to 38 Special specs. My practice load is 4.0 gr of Trail Boss under a Meister 125 gr LRNFP bullet. This load also works well in 38 Special and is under 1000 fps in each. Just a suggestion.

[curiousgeorge]

I have a Marlin 1894 .357 that feeds the 358156 seated long in the second crimp groove from .38 special cases slick as can be. I am shooting 12.5 grs of 2400 under this gas checked boolilt and the rifle loves them. It also feeds the 358429 very well, but the 358156 seated out comes close to the same OAL as a standard .357 and really works slick.

***THIS LOAD SHOULD NOT BE USED IN .38 SPECIAL REVOLVERS - .357 MAGNUM RANGE PRESSURES ***

[1Shirt]

My 94 Win 357 (and wish I also had a Marlin) will shoot 38's ok, BUT-not as accurate as 357 brass. The excepting being 358429 seated out properly and crimped in the appropriate crimp groove. This shoots equal with 358's. Other blts that are shorter OAL when seated do not seem to seal as well
1Shirt!

[Four Fingers of Death]

I shoot 44/40in Cowboy comps myself, but most use Marlins with 38s, but with RNF boolits. They seem to be able to get em' percolating realll fast! Thinking of buying one for the wife to match her 38/357 SASS Rugers.