Henry Rifle Forums

Randy and Tim have Marlin's chambered in .35 Rem. Do they have the Ballard style rifling? Which would be preferred for coated cast? Thanks guys. BTW, 180 and 200 gr rnfp.

Marlin uses Micro-groove rifeling in their 336 line of rifles 30-30 and 35rem.
There was also a 44mag at one point in the past.
All I believe w MG rifeling.
It is my understanding cast bullets for MG rifeling should be 2-3 thousands in diameter larger than the bore/caliber. Some insist the bore be slugged to find the size.

That being said I had good results using .359 cast gas checked bullets from Montana Bullet Works.

I was looking for a less expensive bullet than jacketed. I found a source for Speer bullets at a consistently reasonable price.

Thanks Tim. Appreciate the info.

I remember reading that Marlin' s 35rem's relatively slow twist is condusive to cast bullets.

I have not plumbed the depths of shooting cast lead in the 35rem as much as I have 30-30. Both originally were first produced in jacketed bullets.
For the 35rem, I like the idea of slower moving bullet with a large Metaplat. 35rem can do that.

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 11, 2019 10:54 am

Randy and Tim have Marlin's chambered in .35 Rem. Do they have the Ballard style rifling? Which would be preferred for coated cast? Thanks guys. BTW, 180 and 200 gr rnfp.

If they were built prior to 1956 they have the cut rifled Ballard style rifling. Most Ballard barrels were 6 groove but they also made 4 groove in 30 cal. and 32 cal. Five groove Ballard in 22 cal. and seven groove in 35 cal. Micro groove in 22 barrels is said to have started around July of 1953 but most claim it was 1954. Center fires I believe were mostly Micro- groove by 1956. 1956 specs were 22 cal 16 grooves. 30 cal 16 grooves. 32 cal 16 grooves 35 cal 16 grooves and changed to 12 grooves in 1968 but I think it was only the 35 that got the change to 12 grooves. Marlin also had a Model 322 bolt action 222 Remington that used a Sako action and a Marlin Micro-groove barrel that started out with a 12 groove Micro-groove barrel that later went to a 22 groove barrel. From what I have heard they had barrel issues with that model in 222. Marlin did a lot of changes with barrel production and number of grooves. Later model big bores are Ballard barrel and Cowboy models were mostly Ballard due to shooters wanting to shoot cast bullets in them. Cast shoots well in Micro- groove if cast a few thousandths bigger than bore size. On the 336's being discussed in this thread if it doesn't say Micro-groove on the barrel it is more than likely a Ballard cut barrel. Count the grooves and then there is no doubt.

Good information there bandit, thank you. Just a side note; my 39a is from 1957 and it is indeed MicroGoove rifling. Good little shooter tho.

Tom, looks like Bandit has pretty much summed this up.

I have two Marlin 35's one is a '60 Sears model and the other is a '75 that I had shortened to 16.5.
All I shoot in these are cast 200 grain powder coated bullets, .259, or .260, I haven't seen any difference.

The '60 just put the Slap down on a small buck a couple days ago, 130 yds. No tracking, just like I like it. Story in the Hunting success thread.
Imr 4198 and IMR 3031 are my two go to powders.

RP

The Micro-groove vs x Ballard debate.
I'm going to compare some 150g 30-30 Barry's plated in a Zane Grey, 22 inch, Micro-groove with 1-10 twist and an XLR, 24 inch, Ballard WITH A 1-12 twist.

Randy, who makes those cast bullets? .359 correct?
Tim, should be an interesting test you'll be doing. Thanks guys for the information.

Lol, I do, I have two molds.
One is the lee, the other is the Lyman 358315.
Then I powder coat them.
My buddy from Fla sent me some a couple years ago and I still have a few of those. Think he had the rcbs, or an accurate version of that.

RP

Gotcha. Thanks again.

Hey Tom, came y'all even legally still shoot lead over there on Comifornia?

RP

Hey Vaquero, I heard that they can only shoot Tofu Lead now !

Shoot lead all you want in California. Just not at animals of any sort.

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2019 10:02 pm

Hey Tom, came y'all even legally still shoot lead over there on Comifornia?

RP

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Thu Dec 12, 2019 10:02 pm

Hey Tom, came y'all even legally still shoot lead over there on Comifornia?

RP

Yeah, what Tim said. They aren't making it any easier on us shooters, but, so far, we're good other than any type of hunting.
Wacky Ca. laws do keep us on our toes.