I've been shooting Hornady Leverevolution 160 gr 30-30 rounds in my 1969 '94. Twice now, I've had a problem.

At my range, the RO will give a one minute warning before the range goes cold. Twice now, using Leverevolution, the warning has come when I've been ready to load, so I just put one round into the magazine tube, then work the lever. The bullet doesn't move up to go into battery. Instead, the tip gets stuck between the follower and the magazine tube. I have to take out the spring and remove the follower to let the bullet slide forward and out of the tube. This doesn't happen when I fill the mag, only the two times when I've put in a single bullet. I think what is happening is that the point of the bullet slips between the rounded portion of the magazine and, without being pushed by another bullet, ends up stuck. The follower looks ok to me.

The Leverevolution rounds shoot very well for me, and I want to keep using it, so I've just started loading single rounds by starting them directly in the chamber. I never had a problem loading a single round of flat point into the magazine tube.

Any one else notice this problem?

I've heard some folks say that they sometimes have to change the follower on some Marlins. The new Marlins have a plastic follower that I believe has a "dimple" in the center to help keep that from happening.

I have my grandfather's 94 30-30 and a bunch of his old ammo. I bought a box of the Hornady cartridges and sometimes after loading the first round, the subsequent rounds seemed as though the rubbery tip caught and wouldn't slide in smoothly like the flat points did. I also had a few the wouldn't load into the chamber smoothly especially if I flipped the lever a little quick. I, too, started loading them one at a time, but found that if I slowed working the lever that they would enter the chamber just fine. Still not sure about them binding when loading the mag.

I've been shooting Hornady Leverevolution 160 gr 30-30 rounds in my 1969 '94. Twice now, I've had a problem.

At my range, the RO will give a one minute warning before the range goes cold. Twice now, using Leverevolution, the warning has come when I've been ready to load, so I just put one round into the magazine tube, then work the lever. The bullet doesn't move up to go into battery. Instead, the tip gets stuck between the follower and the magazine tube. I have to take out the spring and remove the follower to let the bullet slide forward and out of the tube. This doesn't happen when I fill the mag, only the two times when I've put in a single bullet. I think what is happening is that the point of the bullet slips between the rounded portion of the magazine and, without being pushed by another bullet, ends up stuck. The follower looks ok to me.



Never tried Leverevolution ammo . Id I shoot store bought ammo , it has been cheap Walley World 170 grain RNSP Federal .

Mostly , I shoot home cast bullets .

Try writing Hornady a letter ?

God bless
Wyr

The Leverevolution rounds shoot very well for me, and I want to keep using it, so I've just started loading single rounds by starting them directly in the chamber. I never had a problem loading a single round of flat point into the magazine tube.

Any one else notice this problem?[/quote]

As already mentioned, this is a problem that Marlin has addressed with a slightly redesigned magazine follower. It will happen with a full mag, too, not just when single-loaded. Another way to get around it is to always load a "regular" round first, then top off with Leverevolution ammo.

All good info.

Yes, NHLever and pisgah (Mt. Pisgah is one of the most beautiful spots on earth, by the way) I'm planning to get a new follower from Numrich to see if that helps.

WyrTwister, Good idea, I will write Hornady, but I don't think its' their fault, they've designed a bullet to do something it wasn't meat to do...shoot a pointed profile in guns designed around the flat point...so having a glitch here and there isn't unreasonable.

Shagagagunga, yes now that you mention it, I also feel a little extra drag when loading the mag.

I'm going to the range this morning, and I'll be bringing some handloaded flat points. I'll really put them through their paces and write back.

Thanks for the good thoughts and suggestions.

I was checking out some ammo the other day and this problem is actually noted on the back of the Leverolution packaging. They state that you may need a new follower right on the box, at least the boxes I saw.

Meanbite, doggone it! I've got six boxes of it here and that's printed on all of them. Don't tell my wife, I'm always getting on her about reading instructions.

Anyway, I've already sighted the 94 in for my reloads, using Hornady 170 gr FP's over some 3031. They cycle just fine. I'll shoot up the rest of the Leverevolution for brass and save the money on the new follower.

Thanks for finding that!

Ha! No problem at all. I think I read somewhere that Marlin actually came out with a new model made specifically to work with the Leverevolution ammunition. You can never have too many lever guns right?

Yeah, identical thing happened to me too. Too close to the deer season here in Michigan to mess with it so I'm using standard ammo, just like I've done for 50 years. Funny, never had one of those old styles do that. LOL, guess they were'nt broke after all, shouldn't have tried to fix it.

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Do you need a new follower on Win 94's or just on Marlins? I've got a mid50s 94 and just wondering?

Dawgvet,

My problem is with a 94. The bullet tip gets stuck between the follower and the wall of the mag tube. It doesn't happen with flat points.