A question about Marlin Lever guns

[dovehunter]

I don't know if this is relevant or not, however my .357 Handi-Rifle barrel will not shoot the 158 gr. Keith-style SWC bullets worth a hoot. I would get groups such as you described. It shoots good groups with every jacketed bullet I have tried. In desperation, I tried some of the cowboy action style 158 gr. LRN bullets and, low and behold, they shot as well as the jacketeds. Who can figure? I've always been given to believe that the hard-cast SWCs are usually the most accurate. They sure have been in my .45 Colt Blackhawk.

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Marlin rifles with "microgroove" rifling won't shoot cast bullets worth a tinker's damn.....or so the story goes. That's generally the accepted standard, but if that's the case then why do their .22 rimfire rifles with microgroove rifling shoot most manner of .22s (which are all lead bullets, or plated) without much of a hitch?
Just out of curiosity, have you tried any cast bullets with a gas check in your Marlin? That might make a difference, even though they probably aren't needed to prevent leading.
I have been kicking around the idea of playing with cast bullets in my Marlin 336 chambered in .35 Remington, but the idea of investing $$$ in molds, powders, new dies, ect, & time have left me sitting on the fence, esp. with what I've heard about Marlins and cast bullets.

As for the Ballard rifling....I've never heard of it. I would assume that if it shoots accurately with cast bullets, that you ought to be able to get some accurate cast bullet loads with it, but as each gun is an individual, all I can say is there is only one way to find out for sure.....buy it and try it!