44-40 Range Report

3 April, 2018

ACME sent me some 240gr Hi-Tek bullets. Here is the result of 20 consecutive shots @ 100 yards

44-40 Marlin, 1894CB with as cope (4" Circle)

So I loaded up 28gr of Reloder 7, (+P Loads) which is a case capacity load, and the bullet sits right on top of the powder with no compression. I have been having great results with Winchester's large pistol primers and Starline's brass cases so i decided to stick what what's been working. What most of you may be interested in is that these cases are once fired brass and used .429 bullets and I did NOT resize the brass for the Acme .430 bullets. I used a Lyman 310 handtool and a .429 expander plug to expand the brass. The bullets slipped in with a gentle push with my fingers. I crimped the case mouth with a Lyman "Cowboy" roll crimp. The bullets were snug with the roll crimp but could be "twisted" with a little force with the fingers. Curiosity of the accuracy of this load began to play in my mind so rather than resize the brass I loaded up 14 more cartridges and headed to the range.

Again I did not plan on posting about this but the results were too nice not to share. Not only were the first shots within reason....from 100 yards, I made a "one time" scope adjustment and placed six more shots near the bullseye. It was not until I got home and placed a 4" circle over each group, did I discover how disappointment turned into being rather impressed. 

When I placed both groups on one piece of paper, I was really impressed and my jaw did hit the floor!!! Although I feel Doc's shots grouped tighter, I feel I am getting closer to replicating Doc Pardee's 30 shot group @110 yards and I didn't even realize it!!