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Post by ridenshoot on Sept 30, 2024 17:39:52 GMT -5
A while back I was able to acquire a passel of Lee moulds to add into BulletMatch. I have all of Lee's bullets for 44 to try through the gun as a result. Should be interesting to do a bunch of testing. 429-200-RF 429-214-SWC C429-240-SWC 429-240-2R TL430-240SWC 430-310-RF  Yup, that qualifies as a passel! |
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 3, 2024 12:50:47 GMT -5
I finally got to casting some last night. It'd been a while, and I had to re-organize my casting area. I tested 2 of the above molds - the Lee 429-200-RF and C430-310-RF, as well as made some Lee C358-158-SWCs to test in my Marlin 1894 Cowboy.
The 429-200-RF casts at .429, I was hoping for .430. I do have another new 429-200-RF mould to try, and I am hoping it'll drop a tad large.
The C430-310-RF casts super easy and drops (the bullets drop out) .430 with my WW+Sn alloy. I only cast enough with each mould to get good samples for measurements. The big boy, I am not sure will cycle or chamber, so I made a handful so I could test for function.
I don't particularly have a need for such a large bullet right now. I don't live in bear country, nor do I hunt anything bigger than whitetail. It should be interesting to try though.
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 3, 2024 23:32:48 GMT -5
Cast some more tonight, testing more moulds. Tonight I tested the Lee TL358-158-SWC, 429-214-SWC, C429-240-SWC. The 35 caliber casts .358+ and the 44s both cast .430.
I'm happy with that. I don't necessarily love the look of those 44 bullets, but having 2 guns in the caliber, options are nice to have. And who knows, I might find that my rifle absolutely loves one of these bullets.
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 6, 2024 16:17:11 GMT -5
The stock front sight. This is a Marble Arms #41  The stock rear sight. This is a Marble Arms made sight I believe. It appears to be a lose copy of the Rocky Mountain Rear sight that Winchester used. If anyone can help identify this sight, I'd appreciate it.   |
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 12, 2024 18:24:45 GMT -5
I contacted Marble Arms and they confirmed that they do indeed make that rear sight for Winchester. They do not make the elevator though. The person who replied to my email didn't know the name of the sight it's modeled after.
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 13, 2024 15:28:39 GMT -5
I made up a few dummy cartridges to check function. The Lee C429-240-SWC (which has the same nose profile and length as the 429-214-SWC) feeds fine in magnum brass. I didn't make up a special yet, but I don't have any doubts there as it feeds my RCBS 44-240-SWC and 44-250-K in special brass.
The surprise was with the C430-310-RF, It feeds just fine, but the ogive jams into the rifling. It will chamber with force, probably jamming .010.
Guess I'll probably have the throat reamed a bit at some point. Should be rather easy since it's a takedown rifle. While I'm not dead set on using this particular bullet, I don't want to be hamstrung either on what bullets I can chamber, especially since the OAL that the gun will feed is already limited.
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 14, 2024 16:58:45 GMT -5
Here is the aforementioned C430-310-RF that jams into my rifling, with an accompanying dummy cartridge.  |
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 14, 2024 19:05:13 GMT -5
I got around to disassembling the 1892 yesterday and got some pictures of the internals. I could feel a little catch in the lever when working the action, and it turns out the right side locking bolt was just barely catching on the sharp edge of the bottom of the bolt. I did some very minor rounding of the bottom of the bolt and the sharp edges on the top of the locking bolt. I very lightly polished the radiuses on the bottom of the bolt where the top of the locking bolts rub. Did not touch the locking bolt recess that control headspace or the face/rear of the locking bolts.  Couple this with removing the factory oil which is pretty thick, and upon reassembly, it is much more slick and smooth. The firing pin retains the firing pin block to fill the hole, but it has been disabled and all the associated guts removed. The firing pin is welded solid as part of the removal of the tang safety and half cock notch conversion. It retains the rebounding firing pin spring however.   |
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Post by LeverGunner on Oct 23, 2024 14:05:28 GMT -5
I got the gun sighted in the other day at 75 yards, as expected, with the tang sight.
I have to plug the magazine to 10 rounds to be legal for big game here, so that's left to do, but will be easy enough.
I found that 1 of my special load using the RCBS 44-240-SWC over 5.5 grains of Unique hits very close to POA as the magnum load using the Ranch Dog 432-265-RF over 22.0 W296, but my special load using the RCBS 44-250-K over 4.8 Bullseye hits 5"-6" to the right at 75 yards.
Sorta surprised at that. It was getting dim though and it's possible that it's a sighting error, so I'll have to retest on another day.
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Post by LeverGunner on Nov 5, 2024 23:00:27 GMT -5
Been gearing up for hunting season. I guess opening day I'll pack the Winchester 92. Be interesting to see what develops.
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Post by leftysixgun on Nov 6, 2024 5:33:34 GMT -5
Been gearing up for hunting season. I guess opening day I'll pack the Winchester 92. Be interesting to see what develops. What bullet and load are you going take with the ‘92? |
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Post by LeverGunner on Nov 6, 2024 13:23:52 GMT -5
Been gearing up for hunting season. I guess opening day I'll pack the Winchester 92. Be interesting to see what develops. What bullet and load are you going take with the ‘92? It will be my Ranch Dog TLC432-265-RF over 22.0 W296 powder and a WLP. Bullets are first ran through a Lee push through sizer to seat gas checks, then ran through my lubesizer to add White Label 50/50 lube. Alloy is Wheel weights with tin added. I've never taken a deer with cast before, nor with a big bore gun, nor with a handload, so this will be several first for me. The previous deer I've taken have been with 30 caliber (30-30 and '06) and with factory jacketed. |
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Post by reflex264 on Nov 6, 2024 13:54:31 GMT -5
Gorgeous!!!!!!!!!
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Post by LeverGunner on Nov 6, 2024 15:11:06 GMT -5
Thank you. I am very blessed to own it. |
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Post by Big Bore on Nov 7, 2024 5:27:21 GMT -5
That is a stunning lever! Can’t wait to see pics of your first animal taken with it.
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