Anyone Have Trajectory Info for .38/.357 from a Marlin 1894

I'm trying to figure out if this is typical or if it's the combination of a Skinner winged sight and the factory dovetail front sight.

Picked up a 90's Marlin 1894 in .38/.357 (18.5" barrel). Was only able to take it to the range briefly as it was going to storm. From 25ish yards (maybe 30), the 158gr .357s I was shooting were about 2-3 inches high and the .38 +P LSWCHP were right there with them. At 100, the .357s opened up quite a bit, but I was still within a 10" target using peep sights, so I'd call that acceptable. I have some 140gr Hornady Leverevolution that I didn't get a chance to try.

Does anyone have trajectory data for this gun and .38/.357 loads? I've read that 158gr is best in either caliber, but is .38 only good out to about 50 yards for any kind of accuracy?

Also, can't speak highly enough for Ranger Point Precision parts. I had their lever and trigger installed. The trigger is the best out of the package rifle trigger I've ever shot - about 3#s and no take up, just a crisp break.

If you know your velocity and sight height, you can get pretty close trajectory info using the Nikon SpotOn app. I would not expect much trajectory difference between the 38 and 357 at 25 yards, but at 100 yards there is roughly 3 inches more drop for the .38. Even 357 rounds from a carbine drop like a rock after 100 yards. Zeroed at 50, the 357 158gr. is -3" at 100, -11" at 150.

The FTX from a carbine should be around -2" at 100 and -8.5" at 150 with a 50 yard zero.

I really like the 357 carbines, btw. I have a 16" Rossi 92 and an 18" Marlin 1894.

Andy

Trajectory info is simple, just need velocity, bullet weight and BC.

And no to the “..but is .38 only good out to about 50 yards for any kind of accuracy?”
75 yo 100 yds should be easily doable wit a long gun/rest and decent sights.

I run a 180 gr. WFNGC out of my .357 revolvers. I was getting <2” at 50 yds benched with a 6” m27 S&W. And it’s a thumper.
“C” zone hits at 100 were simple with a bench/prone or even barricade.

Like gaijin pointed out, it's hard to calculate on paper without the bullet weight, B.C. and velocity from your rifle.

This is an example of the measured trajectory of Winchester .38 Special +P 158g LHP load fired out of an 1892 EMF Hartford lever action rifle with 24" barrel. Published velocity is 890 fps with a 4" barrel. I saw an increase of 16 fps per inch of barrel over 4" in length. The cartridge chronographs at 1210 fps from my lever action. Muzzle velocity would likely be different from your Marlin due to barrel length. Velocity is also affected by the micro-groove barrel.

I fired the 1892 at each of the distances listed. POI @ 25 yards = + 1". POI @ 50 yards = Zero. POI @ 75 yards = - 2". POI @ 100 yards = - 8". POI @ 125 yards = - 16". POI @ 150 yards = - 26". Accuracy wasn't good enough for me to determine bullet drop at 175 yards.

I suggest measuring the change in POI @ 25 yards at each notch of the rear sight elevator with the load you are shooting. Multiply each value by 4 and it will give you a rough idea of the change in POI @ 100 yards.

A lever action rifle can be reasonably accurate. A reload I developed pushes a 158g SWC @ 1,000 fps. The load will consistently shoot 4" groups at 100 yards if I do my part.

If you shoot .357 ammunition, expect a significant increase in velocity. Remington .357 Magnum 125g JSP chronographs at 2125 fps when fired from my 1892. The cartridge was potent enough to kill a coyote at 90 yards.

^Great info.

A 10.5” AR9 of mine does around 4” @ 100 yds with an RMR, shooting 124 gr JHP @ 1250 FPS (wimp range/handload).
I dial in at 50 yds and it’s usable on IPSC targets to 100 without a lot of mental gymnastics- simple hold at neckline past 75 yds.

I find it amazing that the .357 from a carbine is nipping at the heels of a 30-30 out to about 150 yards. My wife won't shoot any of my 30-30s again, but will happily burn through boxes of .357s without even mentioning the recoil. Point blank range of the 30-30 using the ftx round is 220 yards vs 160 for the .357 FTX round, of course.

Andy

Thanks all. I'm using a Skinner winged rear peep and the factory brass bead front. Trying to sight in with just ammo, if possible. The windage on seems fine, just trying to sort elevation. Adjusting the elevation on it is not something I'm used to, coming from ARs.

You can do a mathematical calculation of how many thousandth of an inch you would have to raise or lower your peep sight to zero at a particular range. If you have a caliper, you can take a reference measurement from the top of the peep sight to the top of the receiver.

The formula is (Error x Sight Radius)/Distance to Target = Correction. All values are in inches. If your POI is 2" low at 50 yards and your sight radius is 20 inches the values would be (2" x 20")/1800" = 0.022" You would have to raise the rear sight 0.020" for POI to equal POA.

Here’s a link to one chart: http://gundata.org/cartridge/83/.357...-(rifle-data)/

While not specific to the 1894, it’s the calculation based on barrel length and ballistic coefficient. The are many variables beside the type of rifle: wear on the barrel (affects velocity); bullet type (Spitzer as in Leverevolution vs. flat nose or hollow); plus the usual altitude, temperature, and humidity, useful if you are the reincarnation of Carlos Hathcock.

Another site that can be useful is ballisticsbytheinch.com, lots of useful info. Shows the surprising increase in velocity of the .357 round in a longer barrel. It’s probably one of the most efficient calibers in terms of the gain.

REDinFL is right about the surprising velocity increase. The published velocity for Remington 125g JSP is 1450 fps (4" barrel). An increase of 20" barrel length nets a 675 fps increase in muzzle velocity. Launching a 125g JSP at 2125 fps exceeds standard M1 Carbine 110g FMJ velocities with a heavier projectile.