I was just gifted about 500 good looking cast bullets. RNFP .309 diameter 165 grains. My brother used them in a 32/20 Contender. Any ideas on how or if they would work in a Marlin 1894.

I would hate to have to buy a 30-30 just to use them up.

I was just gifted about 500 good looking cast bullets. RNFP .309 diameter 165 grains. My brother used them in a 32/20 Contender. Any ideas on how or if they would work in a Marlin 1894.

I would hate to have to buy a 30-30 just to use them up.


Think you might. The Contender I remember had a 1:10 twist, so it would spin those long bullets. Don't know the curret twsit of the 32-20, but the tradtional one has been between 1:16 and 1:20.

I was just gifted about 500 good looking cast bullets. RNFP .309 diameter 165 grains. My brother used them in a 32/20 Contender. Any ideas on how or if they would work in a Marlin 1894.

I would hate to have to buy a 30-30 just to use them up.




On the down side your not going to have much room for powder/velocity when you seat them to 1.592 OVL to work in the marlin.
On the up side, leading shudn't b a pblm in the .312 bore of the 32/20.

If I can get comfortable with a powder charge I plan to send a few downrange. I don't have any high hopes so I won't be disapointed. I figure I will seat them out as far as I can or to the crimping groove, whichever comes first. Single shot is OK.

KenK the diameter is likely to be a problem in a Marlin. With that size the gas can go around them and I would be very surprised, unless they are very soft, if they don't lead the heck out of your barrel. If very soft they will bump up to fill the barrel, if not I suspect accuracy would be poor as well. Be far better to use in, any 308 diameter barrel.

I was fiddling around with a couple of these bullets and some sized cases. I would really need a new expander plug to get a decent bullet seat. Given the low chance of good results I don't think it's worth the trouble.

A new 30-30 wouldn't be all that bad, I don't guess ;)

Every one should have a 30-30 for history sake if nothing else, I have several different models from an 1893 Marlin 26" barrel to one of the new XLR's, Marlin again, that was just a perfect fit when I shouldered it. With that new leverevolution out of Hornady it is becoming a longer range rifle.