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- Feb 21, 2008
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My muzzleloader needs, being fully met in my current collection, I've dabbled in breechloaders.
I just added a Ruger Marlin 1894 Classic in .357 Magnum.
Gotta say, the quality of machining, fit and finish is superior to the original JMs I've seen and owned. Ruger REALLY got this right!
I put a Burris 1.5x Full Field on, in low mounts, and took her to the range with a box of Federal 158 grain soft points.
Now her trigger needs a bit of work. It's not terrible, but better is better!
Today was WINDY with snow squals and 37°. Curiosity got the better of me...
Feed, fire and extraction were 100%. Ejection was a bit lazy. Copper fouling and barrel heat were conspicuous by their absence. Took 4 patches to get 25 rounds worth of powder fouling out of the barrel, which is hammer forged b.t.w.
Recoil and muzzleblast were ridiculous. Barely a bump on the shoulder and the muzzleblast was LESS than the fella next to me shooting a suppressed. 308 with supersonic ammo! We were both shocked! His went CRACK. Mine was more of a blap.This is a carbine I could shoot all day!
The 1.5x Burris is a good match for this one. But an old Weaver 2.5 or a compact 4x wouldn't be out of place...
Flyers were all called. The day was not ideal...
So. 50 yard 3 round groups were around an inch.Give or take. On a calmer day I could probably do better. Consistency of point of impact is as important to me as accuracy and this Ruger Marlin did not disappoint! She also failed to string shot vertically or horizontally. A very nice trait in any rifle and especially in a barrel banded lever action.
The Federal 158 grain soft point seems a highly regarded carbine load. I haven't chrono'd them yet, but videos indicate the load giving around 1750 fps from a carbine. Not terribly expensive either, at $38 for 50.
Seems like a good 100 yard deer rifle.
More to come!
I just added a Ruger Marlin 1894 Classic in .357 Magnum.
Gotta say, the quality of machining, fit and finish is superior to the original JMs I've seen and owned. Ruger REALLY got this right!
I put a Burris 1.5x Full Field on, in low mounts, and took her to the range with a box of Federal 158 grain soft points.
Now her trigger needs a bit of work. It's not terrible, but better is better!
Today was WINDY with snow squals and 37°. Curiosity got the better of me...
Feed, fire and extraction were 100%. Ejection was a bit lazy. Copper fouling and barrel heat were conspicuous by their absence. Took 4 patches to get 25 rounds worth of powder fouling out of the barrel, which is hammer forged b.t.w.
Recoil and muzzleblast were ridiculous. Barely a bump on the shoulder and the muzzleblast was LESS than the fella next to me shooting a suppressed. 308 with supersonic ammo! We were both shocked! His went CRACK. Mine was more of a blap.This is a carbine I could shoot all day!
The 1.5x Burris is a good match for this one. But an old Weaver 2.5 or a compact 4x wouldn't be out of place...
Flyers were all called. The day was not ideal...
So. 50 yard 3 round groups were around an inch.Give or take. On a calmer day I could probably do better. Consistency of point of impact is as important to me as accuracy and this Ruger Marlin did not disappoint! She also failed to string shot vertically or horizontally. A very nice trait in any rifle and especially in a barrel banded lever action.
The Federal 158 grain soft point seems a highly regarded carbine load. I haven't chrono'd them yet, but videos indicate the load giving around 1750 fps from a carbine. Not terribly expensive either, at $38 for 50.
Seems like a good 100 yard deer rifle.
More to come!