What do you consider a good group for a 41 mag Marlin rifle? So far, my best group is 4 inches at 75 yards with 5 shoots. I have tried factory loads and several different hand loads. It just will not group any better. The worse group was PMC 210 grain soft nose and a handload using a Remington 210 soft nose. The groups were 8 inches and looked like a shotgun pattern instead of groups.

Taylor How are you shooting? Freehand ? Off a rest? I have a 44 Mag That will put 3 shots in a 1 1/2 in group at fifity yards [ Lyman peep sight] off a rest. But the two peice stock takes a little care in shooting to group right.
First you have to put hand between the forearm and the sandbag this ads a little pressure to the barrel same as when shooting freehand. I can't explain much better other than it just dosen't behave as a one peice rifle stock will.
Maybe this will help

It greatly depends on your sights. Are you using the factory sights? If so, that is probably about as good as it gets. A receiver sight will improve things quite a bit, as a scope would even more.

I am shooting from a bench with a 1.5 to 5 scope. The trigger has been reworked and pulls 3.5 pounds.

I have ordered lapping compounds to fire lap the barrel. I have been unable to find pre-made lapping bullets, so I will make fire lapping bullets from 45 cal muzzle loader round balls. I made 375 lapping bullets from 40 cal muzzle loader round balls. I only recommend fire lapping as a last resort. And, I have ordered some 250 grain hard cast gas check bullets. I hope this works.

Hi Taylor,

Why don't you order your lapping bullets and lapping compound right from Beartooth. They are quick shipping on these things and the products are the best. bullet hardness is a big factor in whether the barrel is lapped or destroyed. You may want to get the Beartooth Tech manual. It is most valuable for anyone doing any firelapping.

As an aside. As I read your posts, I am just not so sure that firelapping is the solution to your problem. I am a big fan of firelapping as everybody knows. It's just that those big group sizes make me wonder if there is not something else messing up the works. I do not know. In any case, firelapping will not hurt and will most likely help.

Is there anything else you can think of that may be the source of your accuracy problem? I know it's dumb, but did you try shooting groups without the scope?

Bill

The barrel on my 1894FG was a sight to behold as it came from the factory, new. It was full of gunk and rust, and wouldn't shoot very well either. I'm still trying to resolve the issue with Marlin. The rifle has been a bit of a dissapointment, but hopefully it will be made right.

All the people I know who like the .41 and actually had a Marlin prior to this new run, tell me that only heavier bullets would group decently, and even then the selection was limited. Now I understand there are more choices, and I think Buffalo Bore makes a heavy .41 mag load. Their loads are generally more accurate that most handloaders can get to as well. I could be wrong, so don't quote me, but I'll check and post what I find.
Yep, here's the straight poop:
Item No.Heavy .41 Magnum 16A265 gr. LWN-GC1350 fps
1072 ft. lbs.Per Box of 50
$54.99
Order Now! (http://www.buffalobore.com/cart/itemAdd.asp?item_num=59) Per Box of 20
$26.99
Order Now (http://www.buffalobore.com/cart/itemAdd.asp?item_num=98)16B230 gr. SWC (Keith-type)
1450 fps
1074 ft. lbs.Per Box of 50
$54.99
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$26.99
Order Now (http://www.buffalobore.com/cart/itemAdd.asp?item_num=99)16C170 gr. JHP1650 fps
1028 ft. lbs.Per Box of 50
$54.99
Order Now! (http://www.buffalobore.com/cart/itemAdd.asp?item_num=61) Per Box of 20
$26.99
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My .41 Marlin is one of the 2nd run 1894S's of late '80s vintage. It shoots 3 shots into about 2" {sometimes better} at 100 yards with a handload featuring the Hornady 210 XTP and a strong dose of AA #9. My rifle wears a Leupold 2.5x Alaskan.

As a follow up to SFT's report, I never tried any of the lighter bullets in the rifle, so I can't speak to it's performance with those. The only loads I've tried in it involved 210gr XTP's and a LBT 250gr WLN-GC (weight is a little different in my alloy), and a handful of powders. These bullets have all shot into 4-5", off the bench at 100 yards, with their better loads. Some where a little better, but none where good. I suspect the performance has to do with the bore as it was delivered. This is in no way a condemnation of Marlin rifles, I believe I got a bad one and hope Marlin will make good on it's reputation.

As a side note, my Ruger Super Blackhawk Hunter in .41 Mag will outshoot it with most of the better loads. The revolver has a scope of equal magnification and a better trigger, but I'd expect more from a rifle. This revolver was a bit rough around the edges when I received it also, but it has been a stellar performer in the accuracy department, with both lead and cast bullets after the barrel was smoothed.

I've not tried to lap the barrel in the rifle because I was told, factually or otherwise, that it would negate my chances of having the factory new rusty tube replaced with one of an appropriate quality level that would befit an esteemed American firearms manufacturer.

I received the 250 grain hard cast bullets and went to the range today. The first group was 3/4 inch at 75 yards (bench and scope). This is a major improvement over 4 inch groups. I had intended to fire lap the gun, but with 3/4 inch groups, I no longer see the need. Things are beginning to come together.

Taylor,

Like SCGunNut, I've just found out my 1980's vintage also likes the Hornady 210 XTP with 19.0 gr of AA#9. Off the bench with irons at 50 yds got me around 2.5". Alot better then the 4-6" groups with 215 LSWCs. You can see the target under Ranch Dogs Postal Match .40 section.

http://www.shootersforum.com/attachment.htm?attachmentid=914

Guys,

why are these Marlin .41 mags so hard to shoot a nice group with? My .357 carbine (1980 microgroove) shoots jacketed bullets very nicely. At 25- 40 yds., I can almost always keep all my shots well inside the 2-inch bull, and that's shooting offhand with the iron sights and my thick glasses. A wide assortment of ammo, too.

I can't believe the .41mag is inherently any different in the accuracy dept.

Stone Fence,
The .41 is as accurate as any other cartirdge with a proper load for the rifle, so I wouldn't chalk it up to that. I'm not sure what the deal is, but another shooter in my area has had rather dissapointing accuracy with his 1894FG as well. Taylors groupings with a good load seem to point to a hit or miss type of situation.

You all know my experience with my 1894 in 44 mag. It has been a lot of ups and downs but all fun. I will get this thing to shoot lead eventually but it will shoot any and all jacketed rounds I have tried. Now to try and help Taylor.

Everyone that shoots the .41 and even the gun rags say that the .41 is an accurate round for what it is. You have to have a standard of coarse and you need to decide what that is so you won't get discouraged for no reason. Let me give you an example. When I got my 20" 44 mag. Marlin 1894 I had already settled on an accuracy of the gun itself, with perfect load and best rifle and a flawless shooter to be a 5 shot group at 100 yds to be not much better than 4 inches. In other words, the best that gun could shoot without the variables. As I said, I established this through gunwritters and loading manuals and one shooter that I watched at the range one day with a new deerfield he was working with. Now that is just my expectation for the rifle from my experience and I have no doubt that this can be bettered by many but my expectation from this for me and my gun will not be better than this.

All that being said, I have read in several places that the .41 is a more accurate round, due to it's particular characteristics, than the 44 mag. So if you shoot for something around 4 inches at 100 yds for a 5 shot group, in my opinion you should feel accomplished.

As a side, my rifle will shoot clover leaf 3 shot groups at 50 yds on a regular basis. The 44 mag really shines it that range in my opinion and with that accuracy from a rest it gives me great confidence at that range off hand and in shooting positions when hitting the object and not the group size is what matters.

Having seen what most all of my Marlins can do at 50yds., I would expect to be able to get to 2" groups with a levergun at 100 yds., with loads it likes. Worse than that, and I would be disappointed, although I wouldn't probably get rid of the rifle.