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RANGE REPORT I took two different 44 Remington Magnum handloads out to the range today to test in my Marlin 1894. The 240gr Montana Gold Jacketed Soft Points and a 200g Hornaday hollow point. Sunny 78* day, light breeze at my back, 1976 vintage Marlin 1894 with 20" microgroove barrel, 44 Remington Magnum.
The Montana Gold 240g JSP bullet was impressive. 5 shot group at 50 yards was 1-5/8" with OPEN sights that my 40+ year old eyes hate. The shots hit point of aim at 50 yards with the rear sight set at on it's lowest notch.
I loaded the suggested 240 jsp load on Alliant's website for 2400 powder. Once fired R-P cases, CCI 350 primers, COL 1.600" estimated 1500 fps.
The Hornaday load was the 1800fps load from their manual (older edition) for 2400. I did get a three shot group that was 1-9/16" at 50 meters but only shot 3 shot groups with this load. The largest was 2". Not bad either. It shot 4" above my point of aim at the lowest sight setting.
All and all I am very pleased with the performance. For the price of the Montana Gold bullets, $8/100 I was extra satified. I'm going to load some more and see how it does tomorrow. I wonder if this bullet would be suitable to hunt with?
I also took my Marlin 1894C, 18" ballard groove barrel in 357. I used Fedral 180 gr HI-SHOK jacketed hollow points factory ammo. Best group was 2-1/4" but had a 4 shot 1-1/4" group... Point of aim at 50 yards with sights set on lowest notch. I'm going to load some 158 gr XTP and see how it does with handloads.
The Montana Gold 240g JSP bullet was impressive. 5 shot group at 50 yards was 1-5/8" with OPEN sights that my 40+ year old eyes hate. The shots hit point of aim at 50 yards with the rear sight set at on it's lowest notch.
I loaded the suggested 240 jsp load on Alliant's website for 2400 powder. Once fired R-P cases, CCI 350 primers, COL 1.600" estimated 1500 fps.
The Hornaday load was the 1800fps load from their manual (older edition) for 2400. I did get a three shot group that was 1-9/16" at 50 meters but only shot 3 shot groups with this load. The largest was 2". Not bad either. It shot 4" above my point of aim at the lowest sight setting.
All and all I am very pleased with the performance. For the price of the Montana Gold bullets, $8/100 I was extra satified. I'm going to load some more and see how it does tomorrow. I wonder if this bullet would be suitable to hunt with?
I also took my Marlin 1894C, 18" ballard groove barrel in 357. I used Fedral 180 gr HI-SHOK jacketed hollow points factory ammo. Best group was 2-1/4" but had a 4 shot 1-1/4" group... Point of aim at 50 yards with sights set on lowest notch. I'm going to load some 158 gr XTP and see how it does with handloads.