Breaking my cherry here in this forum, but for what it's worth a fellow will get a lot of benefit from rollin' his own with leverguns, regardless of maker. Finding factory fodder that works is never a bad thing, but probability is that hand loads will get to the point quicker. Whole bunch of variables involved with lever guns that factory production ammo can't/won't address on a case by case basis.

Sometimes lead is your friend, sometimes not. Have 3 ratchet slammers, they all run well. One has exhibited worthy performance with factory ammo.

A Marlin 94 .25-20 Win, first day at the 50 yd line:

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Those particular bullets were a fairly soft alloy of 10 BHN hardness and based on load info somewhere in the range of 1300-1400 fps. The gun uses a Lyman tang sight.

If one is inclined, a little juggling with COAL is usually doable and the relationship between bullet form and chamber dims has a lot of play when shooting cast bullets.


I am..........disturbed.

Concerning the difference between man and the jackass: some observers hold that there isn't any. But this wrongs the jackass. -Twain