I have a Marlin 1894 that I want to shoot Hardcast 300 grainers with for hunting. I have a straight grip modern Carbine with the 20" micro groove barrel and the 1/20 twist rate. I contacted Marlin and they will convert it to a Cowboy model with the 24" octagon with ballard rifeling and the 1/38 twist rate for $270. I had heard that the 1/20 might not be correct to stabelize a 300 grainer. Will the 1/38 twist be better or should I be thinking more like 1/12 ???? I prefer the shorter barrel but I also like the Octagon barrel without that darn barrel band. I am getting about 4" groups at 100 yards on the bench with a scope. I do have Marshalls book but the end of my barrel has horriffic chatter marks in the rifeling. I could really use some other opinions on this thought process.

Either twist rate should work fine.

A little fire-lapping will smooth the barrel right up, if you go that route.

Get some of Marshall's good Beartooth Bullets, and don't look back.

I'm planning on doing the fire lapping at this point. I also plan to get that barrel band off and hollow it out with a dremel moto tool. I Was hopeing not to need to reload for the 44 but it looks like that's the path I'm heading down.