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Special Interests - Groups & Societies => Marlin Lever Action Rifles => Topic started by: LonesomePigeon on March 05, 2021, 06:21:32 PM

Title: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: LonesomePigeon on March 05, 2021, 06:21:32 PM

Marlin did some relatively modern .32-20 and .44-40 rifles, I think they are called "Cowboy Limited". I believe most had micro groove rifling but I heard some did have Ballard rifling. Is that true? Would they be marked Ballard anywhere? I assume the micro groove would not be ideal for black powder, would the Ballard work well with bp?

Title: Re: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: Buckaroo Lou on March 05, 2021, 07:41:44 PM

According to the Blue book of gun values:

There was a Model 1894CL carbine in 32-20 full magazine tube with barrel band and with a button rifled barrel manufactured 2005-2007.

A model 1894CL with a 22" barrel and a 2/3rds magazine tube in 32-20 manufactured 1988-1994. Barrel rifling unspecified.

A model 1894 Cowboy and CowboyII in 44-40 manufactured 1997-1999. Barrel rifling unspecified.
 
There was a 1894 Cowboy Competition model in 38 spec. or 45 LC with the deep cut Ballard rifling, manufactured 2002-2005.

There was a 1894 Century Limited in 44-40 only, manufactured in 1994 only. Barrel rifling unspecified.

I use to own a Century Limited in 44-40 but never fired it. Beautiful rifle, but eventually sold it. I am certain it was not a micro groove barrel. I think maybe button rifled.

Title: Re: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: Silver Creek Slim on March 05, 2021, 08:08:33 PM

I used to shoot a 1894 Marlin in .45 Colt with micro-groove barrel with BP. I used the Big Lube bullet with lots of bullet lube. Accuracy was good.

Slim

Title: Re: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: Abilene on March 05, 2021, 08:23:13 PM

I don't recall calibers, but have heard others in the past mention micro-groove barrels working okay with BP. 

Title: Re: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: Drydock on March 06, 2021, 08:35:21 PM

I had an 1894s .45 Colt with Micro Groove rifling. (1989)  Shot BP just fine.  Any Marlin with "Cowboy" in its designation had the button rifled "Ballard" rifling.  Sometime in the 90s Marlin dropped the micro groove barrels.

Title: Re: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: LonesomePigeon on March 18, 2021, 03:56:51 PM

Great information, thank you.

Title: Re: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: greyhawk on March 18, 2021, 07:52:41 PM

I have always been curious why a microgroove barrel would not work with blackpowder??

Have never been a believer in the idea of deeper rifling being a benefit with BP - tis a hindrance I reckon - also reckon I have shot enough BP in shallower rifled ML barrels to back my stance on that.

So why microgroove supposedly no good?? 

Title: Re: Modern-ish Marlin 32-20 and 44-40 with bp?
Post by: LonesomePigeon on March 22, 2021, 01:13:14 PM

greyhawk, my assumption was that bp fouling would fill up shallow rifling faster thus requiring more frequent cleaning or swabbing of the bore. I was also thinking deeper rifling would be better at gripping soft lead bullets. But those are just my assumptions and not necessarily correct. I'm here to learn.