I guess I was typing my last post just as you were posting yours. Not only the 357's are sensitive to OAL....all of them are. If/when this happens though, you can usually solve the problem by gently 'teasing' the round that's stuck back into the mag tube with a small screwdriver or such. Done thru the loading gate. If they are all too short you'll be stuck doing that all day or just remove them thru the mag tube end...another tedious process.

Of course you are correct about wad cutters for the same reason. Yes on the rifling also...jacketed or lead in the Cowboy rifles.

Marlin has all but ceased production of micro-groove rifles. I think the only ones left are the 39A and the standard 336 in .30-30. All of the '94's, '95's, .444's, Guide Guns, XLR's, and stainless rifles use standard six groove rifling.

Micro-groove works great in a .22, or with jacketed bullets. Sometimes it works great in centerfires with cast bullets as well. Depends on the specific rifle; some won't shoot cast bullets at all, leading badly if you even try. Some are just fine, with no leading and wonderful accuracy. They seem to do best in the bigger calibers, with soft bullets sized at least .002" over bore diameter, and not driven too fast. Every micro-groove .45-70 I have ever seen has shot cast bullets just fine. It seems the .30-30 guys, trying to drive their linotype or monotype bullets at 2,000 fps ran into the most trouble. The squealed pretty loudly about how "bad" micro-groove was, and pretty well ruined it for Marlin.

Oh, and I just love that "Ballard rifling" little marketing ploy. Back in the day, Ballard rifles were the ones to have for most target games. Marlin bought Ballard back in the '70's (18, not 19...) and made a great rifle even better. I have an old Ballard Pacific of about 1880 manufacture (in .45-70) that has won several matches for me, and has taken my biggest mulie to date. Wonderful rifle. Black powder and lead bullets only (due to it's age and relatively delicate action), but hey - nothing wrong with that.

Jeff,

The current Ballard Rifle Company is not producing nearly the quality of rifle that they once did under Garbe's management. Once they left Cody, Wy. the quality seems to have gone in the dumper.

I have always wondered just how this new "Ballard" rifle company gets to use the name. As far as I know, Marlin retains the trademark. Is Ron Long still with "Ballard"? Who else is left over there?

There used to be a couple of brothers active in the BPCR game; one was a gunsmith in Montana, the other started this new "Ballard" rifle company in Cody. I sent an original "J. P. Lower" marked Borchardt action to the one in Montana about 15 years ago and never heard from him again. I tried getting it back for years. A buddy of mine had a deposit on one of the first generation Ballards when the guy in Cody closed shop. My buddy drove all the way to Cody, called the guy, and told him he was at the locked up shop and was going in after his rifle. When the proprietor arrived, my buddy was leaving with a nicely engraved action, some beautiful presentation grade wood, a brand new Badger half octagon barrel, and all of the small parts to finish it. Words were exchanged, threats were made, and my buddy drove home with all the stuff. He sent it all to John King (in Kila, MT) to build the rifle. It's a beautiful rifle... Anyway, this new "Ballard" has certainly had a checkered existance. I saw some of the first rifles built under Garbe's management while at the Quigley shoot one year. To die for... Too bad they have "lost it"; I've heard the same thing from a number of unhappy customers.

I really don't know the story on the Ballard name. Ron Long has been gone from that company for quite a while but he was the guy who built my 2001 Ballard High Wall. It was a wonderful rifle but the 45-90 began to whack me too hard to keep shooting it so I sold it a year or so ago...for quite a bit more than I paid, BTW. I shot Creedmoor matches with it a few times and it performed well at 1000 yards. I ended up shooting 38-70 which is more accurate and much easier on old shoulders.

Interesting story about your buddy....could have resulted in Law Enforcement action.

There's relatively new rifle mfg. shop in Cody now run by two guys who were working for Ballard when Garbe was there. I think they call it Wyoming Rifle Company. I sent my Marlin '93 action and other parts to them for color case last Fall. They did a gorgeous job. They seem to be very much in to quality control.

You boyz are a BAD influence...looky at what just followed me home :). Now I reckon I'll have to feed and exercise the little puppy. Hope her older brother doesn't get jealeous. While a quality rifle, my first impression is the action, finish, and stock aren't quite as good when compared to the one I've had for 30 years. No surprise really...just like a lot of things. http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1237570594.jpg

Doing some quick Jethro-Bodine ciphering, using 9mm and assuming you save all your brass,

Primers, ~$26/1000 (CCI, price from
Bullets, ~$52/1000 (bulk Ranier or Winchester jacketed, cast MUCH less)
Powder ~$15/lb (Bullseye, one pound is good for about 1500 rounds)

The math works out to about $88/1000 rounds.

And what kid wouldn't want to spend time with his dad making ammunition? :D

My comments here still stand:
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/461379-rcbs-reloader-any-good.html

Tom

Which one of those two is new to you? What are the cal?

One thing I don't care for on the present day Marlin '95's and 336's is the round bolt. Back in the day they all had flat bolts like the pistol cal 94's do. I think they stopped making the '93 early in the 20th century.. The '93 was small to medium sized rifle cal. at the time. Below is a pic of my '93 in 38-55. Vintage about 1902 I think.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1237572382.jpg

The top one was my deer rifle (30-30) back when I used to hunt a bit as a teen...now I hunt bass with a fishing rod and beer :). The .357 followed me home this morning after I stopped at a local gun shop after getting "the itch" from this thread. I was really into guns as a kid/teen (pistols mostly), but they've collected a bit of dust over the years...these threads have sort of rekindled the flame.

Keith...I'm right with you on the fishing. My rifles are competition only.

Nice rifle, Mark. Do you have a nice hat to go with it?

I got some spare hats if you need one

Oh...I have several ;)

Did you ever find the Marlin...I would be interested. I don't need a hat:cool:

I will try to remember to dig it out tonight.

I still have hats available.

Leopard skin pillbox hats?

you peeked

Thanks, Tim. No worries...I've been, um, "looking".:)