Guns, Bows, Shooting Sports, and Hunting Cold Blur???

[moparguy]

Well, seems I can't edit the title which should read "Cold Blue", that said, the tocal Sheriff Organization had an auction of confiscated guns from the past 7 years the other day. I was able to pick up three pieces, a Ruger Mark 11, Competition Target, a H&R 732 S&W 32Long in dang near new condition that's going to get a quick trigger job and a Marlin 336 35 Rem. The Marlin has terrible bluing that someone thought would be better painted green. I'm going to use lacquer thinner and steel wool to remove the green paint and the small amount of factory bluing, anyone have any advice on cold bluing, both brand as well as technique.

 

[DonFitzwater]

I would recommend paying someone to hot blue it unless you are just wanting to cold blue for practice. I used birch wood Casey years ago on a Stevens .410. The blue quality was terrible and I was very inexperienced. Turned out bad.

That .35 Remington is a good round. I've killed lots of moose and bears with mine

 

[moparguy]

DFitzwater, thanks for the reply. I agree on hot bluing being better, no doubt about that. However this is a pretty experienced piece (as in beat-up) and it's going to be a using gun, so no need for that new looking deep blue/black finish most folks want with a re-blue. Also gotta be careful or I'll have more in it than a good low mileage would cost. I just need something that'll stave-off flash rust once I get the paint and remaining blue off (very little bluing to remove).

The old 336 Marlins were built like tanks and this one spoke to me at the auction (save me, save me), at least that's what I remember anyway.

We're also in agreement on the 35 Remington, I've got a 35 barrel for my Thompson Contender that's taken one 6X6 bull and dozens of southern whitetail bucks.

 

[DonFitzwater]

Hell, why not prep it and get someone to Cerakote it? It hides a lot of imperfections and wears well. Much preferred to bluing in my eyes.

 

[BIGNASTY]

The old 336 Marlins were built like tanks and this one spoke to me at the auction (save me, save me), at least that's what I remember anyway.

I don't think you can go wrong with the Marlin if its the caliber that you want. I have by my side most every time I leave the house to work around the place a Model 1895SBL the 45/70 with the 540 hammer heads, it will put the hurts on anything that I KNOW OF!! I took the rail off the top and put on a synthetic stock because it also does duty in a saddle scabbard in the rain and cold. Ive never been to particular about my work guns looks, as long as they work without question and more than once.

BIG

 

[moparguy]

Big, I can't think of a better working gun for your part of the world. I always thought I wanted a 45-70 barrel for the Contender, however the 460 S&W fills my big short gun need these days. But up next to a 45-70 round it's a baby.

 

[BIGNASTY]

If your looking for a hand cannon try this, its not as bad as it seems IF ITS DONE RIGHT!!! Used mine one time on Elk went completely thru it broadside hitting one shoulder at 50 yards. SSK industries made the tube recoil isn't that bad, big guns shoot big bullets and kick big time!!
Quote
The .375 JDJ represents the pinnacle of handgun-hunting cartridges. With it, you are well equipped to hunt anything that walks, unless the beast lives in Jurassic Park. Still, I would like to try busting a velociraptor with the .375 JDJ. Perhaps the ending would have been different. :-laf

375 JDJ
http://www.gun-tests.com/performance/jan96big.html

 

[KBurgoyne]

how about a BFR in 450 marlin. its a modernized 45-70 with a wide magnum belt instead of a rim so they wont cross chamber. Max pressure is 44,000 psi vs 40,000 CUP (52,000 psi) for the 45-70, uses slightly less powder and produces 50% more energy. The bfr is a single action 5 shot revolver with a 3.060 chamber length so it can chamber the longer pointed bullets. It makes the 500 S&W look anemic. Only issue with the 450 marlin is that hornady is the only company that produces ammo and brass. I hate hornady brass.

 

[moparguy]

KBurgoyne, your post roused my curiosity resulting in the below. I apologize for the random looking info, cut & paste isn't always pretty. But the results are interesting. The 450 Marlin is a Hoss, but I was surprised at how well the 460 compared. Now that said, I've worked through a need for hand cannons, my Redhawk 44 and 35 Rem Thompson are plenty. I'm actually considering selling the 460. We'll see.

450 Marlin, 10-Inch Barrel from the Magnum Research site, https://www.magnumresearch.com/faq-BFR.asp

Hornady, 350 grain

muzzle average 1814 FPS

muzzle energy 2558 FT/LBS

My current hunting round of choice, Winchester Dual Bond 260 gr.; http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/57966

2000 fps at muzzle (from Win. site)
2309 ft/lbs. energy muzzle
1790 fps at 50 yards
1849 ft/lbs. at 50 yards
1596 fps at 100 yards
1470 ft/lbs. at 100 yards

 

[KBurgoyne]

KBurgoyne, your post roused my curiosity resulting in the below. I apologize for the random looking info, cut & paste isn't always pretty. But the results are interesting. The 450 Marlin is a Hoss, but I was surprised at how well the 460 compared. Now that said, I've worked through a need for hand cannons, my Redhawk 44 and 35 Rem Thompson are plenty. I'm actually considering selling the 460. We'll see.

450 Marlin, 10-Inch Barrel from the Magnum Research site, https://www.magnumresearch.com/faq-BFR.asp

Hornady, 350 grain

muzzle average 1814 FPS

muzzle energy 2558 FT/LBS

My current hunting round of choice, Winchester Dual Bond 260 gr.; http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/product/57966

2000 fps at muzzle (from Win. site)
2309 ft/lbs. energy muzzle
1790 fps at 50 yards
1849 ft/lbs. at 50 yards
1596 fps at 100 yards
1470 ft/lbs. at 100 yards

As of now, hornady is the only company that loads factory rounds for the 450 marlin. They were designed for the lever actions with longer barrels and use leverevolution powder which is a slow burning ball/flake powder mix. The 10in barrel is too short for all of the powder to burn, and there is a lot of wasted energy.
To get the full use out of the 450 in a pistol it needs faster burning stuff. It has much more energy potential than that, not that the 460 is tame, but it was designed as a pistol cartridge which the 450 was never intended to be. To do justice for the BFR it needs handloads. It would not be difficult to break the 3000ft/lb mark without exceeding max pressure with the right recipe.