Get A Load of This

[Homer]

Phoenix area range, hotter than hot afternoon last week, slight wind that stopped for these three shots, 100 yards, Barnes TSX FN 150 grain 30-30 bullet, Winchester 748 Powder, Winchester Standard Large Rifle primer, R-P Case, nothing special - routine reload, off bench with range provided bags - nothing special, Marlin 336 (1970's era I think), 20" barrel, made in Japan Tasco 3X9 Variable scope, and a frustrated shooter (sighting in was going bad with other bullets and I didn't want to use too many Barnes because of their price - but said "what the heck.")

This sub-half inch group was preceded by a two shots in one hole exercise at 50 yards which got me thinking I might be able to do something cool at 100 yards.

Anyway, this is simply to show what a right combination can do in an old Marlin that's been around the desert a time or two. Oh, and BTW, the previous load, using different bullets, shot 2.5 - 3.0 inch groups (but shoots well in my old Ted Williams 30-30) and made me think my scope was bum or loose or something. The TSX FN load's accuracy was stumbled upon and not a result of fine tuning or well planned thought or anything resembling good fancy reloading.

[1894c]

me likes that allot...good shooting with a great cartridge... :)

[AJMD429]

The TSX FN load's accuracy was stumbled upon and not a result of fine tuning or well planned thought or anything resembling good fancy reloading.

I think that is the way most of my accurate loads come about - not through any intellectual exercise on my part...

Kinda cool when it happens, though, huh...!!!

[ollogger]

HI & WELCOME

Great shooting!!!

When I do that I feel good, then the next time I try it I cant keep it in the Black


ollogger

[JerryB]

WELCOME!! great shooting and a great load.

[Borregos]

Welcome and WOW

[Grizz]

Good to see you about again. And good shooting of course, would not expect any less.

Coming thru in January, will you be around?

Grizz

[Don McDowell]

Homer are you back among us? Or are you a different Homer

[bdhold]

good shooting

[Rusty]

SWEET!

[Pop Watts]

"Outstanding shooting. Get you a case of beer for that one"

Pop

[Griff]

That's either great shooting, or time to buy those Lotto tickets!!! But, your instincts are spot on, Winch LR primers, Win 748, 150 grain bullets of good quality only need good reloading practices to have great results.

[Homer]

Good to see you about again. And good shooting of course, would not expect any less.

Coming thru in January, will you be around?

Grizz

Hi Grizz: I should be around in January. Give me a buzz and kill some time. Homer

[Homer]

Homer are you back among us? Or are you a different Homer

Hi Ranch: I'm back among you all - older, fatter, but just a quick. Homer

[Homer]

Thanks for the response guys.

I have this habit of buying what are considered "junk" or "inaccurate" rifles and trying to disprove the notion. Two weeks prior I was at the same range sighting in a Ted Williams 30/06. I topped it with a Japan made Tasco and shot old gray box (30 round "Hunters Value Pack" @ $9.95) Federal 150 grain Hi-Shok SP ammo. I managed to put 3 shots into less than an inch at 100 yards with it. And I just spent a couple days shooting doves, a lot of doves, with an old Revelation 12 gauge pump shotgun and not one dove could tell the difference between it and a Mossberg 500. I like these old store brand guns that most shops are glad (thankful in fact) to have you remove from their shops. Anyway, Micro-Groove barrels and barrel band Marlins sometimes get an undeserved bad reputation. I like it when an old woods legend is put to rest - as often happens by many members of this forum.

BTW, the load etched on the target is just a tad hot when using the Barnes TSX FN bullet in my gun. For regular cup and core bullets the load is full power but below maximum, but with the Barnes bullet it's should be considered maximum (again, at least in my rifle).

[Chuck 100 yd]

I thought red was a 'no shoot zone' . Deduct 30 points for that!!
Great shooting though. It looks like that load will do.

[Rifleman]

I have this habit of buying what are considered "junk" or "inaccurate" rifles and trying to disprove the notion.

I was about to comment on that very topic! Great shooting!

I was shooting my lever action well, long before I was told that they didn't shoot well.

[mikld]

Awwww, c'mon. Everybody knows 30-30s aren't that accurate.

[K1500]

Very nice. I managed to muster this group up when sighting in about a decade ago. 5 shots from the bench at 100 yards with a 1950's model Winchester 94 with stock iron sights. I would shoot and my buddy spotting for me would call "center, about an inch high" which is where I wanted them. Next shot same thing. After the third shot, he wouldn't tell me where I hit. He just got real serious and said "the group is good' shoot two more and take your time." I do remember it being cold as well.

I am not a bench rest kind of guy. About the only time i sit at a bench is to verify sight settings, and I never save targets. This one was a bit different. I now have some proof that a .30-30 with iron sights can do just fine. I have benched the gun a few times since then and have come close, but never matched that group. Still, I'll take it.

[Homer]

Very nice. I managed to muster this group up when sighting in about a decade ago. 5 shots from the bench at 100 yards with a 1950's model Winchester 94 with stock iron sights.

Now, that's great shooting. I can barely see my iron sights - let alone hit anything smaller than a pizza plate at a hundred yards with it.

[Merle]

Phoenix area range, hotter than hot afternoon last week, slight wind that stopped for these three shots, 100 yards, Barnes TSX FN 150 grain 30-30 bullet, Winchester 748 Powder, Winchester Standard Large Rifle primer, R-P Case, nothing special - routine reload, off bench with range provided bags - nothing special, Marlin 336 (1970's era I think), 20" barrel, made in Japan Tasco 3X9 Variable scope, and a frustrated shooter (sighting in was going bad with other bullets and I didn't want to use too many Barnes because of their price - but said "what the heck.")

This sub-half inch group was preceded by a two shots in one hole exercise at 50 yards which got me thinking I might be able to do something cool at 100 yards.

Anyway, this is simply to show what a right combination can do in an old Marlin that's been around the desert a time or two. Oh, and BTW, the previous load, using different bullets, shot 2.5 - 3.0 inch groups (but shoots well in my old Ted Williams 30-30) and made me think my scope was bum or loose or something. The TSX FN load's accuracy was stumbled upon and not a result of fine tuning or well planned thought or anything resembling good fancy reloading.

Must be a fake - after all "everybody" knows those lever guns aren't very accurate!!!
What year is this one? I have a M336 in 32 special that was made in 1952 & it shoots pretty much the same.

Groups like this sure embarres some bolt guns, eh?

[Merle]

Thanks for the response guys.

I have this habit of buying what are considered "junk" or "inaccurate" rifles and trying to disprove the notion. Two weeks prior I was at the same range sighting in a Ted Williams 30/06. I topped it with a Japan made Tasco and shot old gray box (30 round "Hunters Value Pack" @ $9.95) Federal 150 grain Hi-Shok SP ammo. I managed to put 3 shots into less than an inch at 100 yards with it. And I just spent a couple days shooting doves, a lot of doves, with an old Revelation 12 gauge pump shotgun and not one dove could tell the difference between it and a Mossberg 500. I like these old store brand guns that most shops are glad (thankful in fact) to have you remove from their shops. Anyway, Micro-Groove barrels and barrel band Marlins sometimes get an undeserved bad reputation. I like it when an old woods legend is put to rest - as often happens by many members of this forum.

BTW, the load etched on the target is just a tad hot when using the Barnes TSX FN bullet in my gun. For regular cup and core bullets the load is full power but below maximum, but with the Barnes bullet it's should be considered maximum (again, at least in my rifle).

Yep, and there are some very good bargains to be had that way....

[K1500]

Yes, they can shoot a lot better than most folks give them credit for. I had been working off the bench that day with a Mini 14 and 3x9 Weaver scope that would throw annoying fliers. The Winchester group was my last group of the day. After shooting it, I turned to my friend and asked why I'm messing around with this Mini when the Winchester can do that. He didn't have a very good answer!