I’ve got a M94 carbine and tried to shoot Barnes 225 gr XPB out of it and they tumbled. I contacted Barnes and they said that bullet was designed for revolvers, not rifles, but they didn’t suggest what might be a better choice. So I assume my barrel twist is too slow. Before anyone asks, I do not know what twist is. Does anyone know a copper bullet (CA) that might work better out of this lil rifle? Thanks.

I've not had any luck with any of the barnes bullets
ive tried. The XPB's in 357 and 44, and the ttsx
30 cal

Barnes also makes a 200grain copper .429 cal bullet, or used to. Look around for any lighter copper bullet; it should also be shorter than the 225.

Measure your twist and groove diameter, and determine your throat diameter too. A grossly oversize throat can forbid the bullet from entering the rifling straight. Could be a perfect storm of conditions stacking up against you which you can only solve by measuring that stuff.

It’s a factory rifle with no mods. I was hoping someone here had the same rifle and found a trend with bullet preference.

"Factory" does not guarantee that things are in spec.

That's true. The most fugged up new rifle I ever bought was a 2001 Win 94 Trapper in 45 Colt. It went back to Winchester 3 times. Feed issues, extraction issues, misfire issues...I finally washed my hands of it after the last time. It fed and worked, but it still wouldn't keep a 5 shot group on paper at 50 yards with any bullet/powder, or even factory ammo.

Had a Ruger 96/22 that went back to the factory several times, too before I gave up on it.

IIRC, those 94s have the same 1-38” twist as the old .44 WCFs. The Barnes needs a 1-20”.

Lehigh Defense makes lighter ones.

https://www.lehighdefense.com/429-c...hunting-and-defense-handgun-bullets.html

Not long ago, I picked up a really nice Browning 92, a bucket-list rifle for me. It turned out to be a big disappointment as a shooter. A collector-type bought it.

Those 200gr XPB shoot pretty well out of my old man's older 1-38 twist 444 Marlin.



I've not used them in 44, but I'm a big fan of the Lehigh 95 grain XD through my Henry 327 carbine. Chronoed 1730fps at the muzzle with Alliant 2400 they'll touch holes at 50, and they do some nasty work on water jugs and wet paper. Haven't shot any game with them yet, but I wouldn't hesitate to plug something up to deer size at short range with it.

Whenever I get a new rifle, I try what I intuitively think will work. If it does well, I say "my work here is done" and move on to more pressing issues. If it doesn't work, then I start sussing out the inside of the barrel. To do otherwise is to waste time, money, and other people's time by asking questions which I can answer myself.