Great load for a .357 Magnum carbine

[Wally]

I have a Marlin 1894C that I like shooting a lot. I discovered an inexpensive and versitile load that I'd like to share. I use the Lyman 356402 TC bullet with 6.0 grains of Bullseye. I taper crimp it and I do try to use cases with the same case length. This load gets me a 1,460 muzzle velocity and is quite accurate out to 100 yards. Seems to shoot a bit flatter than a 158 SWC, probably because of the pointiy nose of the TC. I have also tried to roll crimp, but find that this bullet, without a crimping groove, does not do well with a roll crimp. This means a seperate step but I have found that the extra trouble is worth it. I do NOt load these throiugh the tubluar magazine, but single load as I find the cases get less scuffed up when doing so.

[zxcvbob]

What weight is that bullet? I have a Lee 120 grain TC mold for 9mm; I use them in .38 Special and roll crimp lightly into the grease groove. Haven't tried them in the Marlin yet.

Bullseye is an overlooked powder for magnum loads. It's not as peaky as most fast powders and it does a good job at high pressures (I use it a lot for hot 9mm loads)

I don't know if you know this, but you can taper crimp .38 Specials and .357 with a 9mm crimping/seating die.

[Wally]

It cast out at 125 grains from straight WW metal.

I think your 9mm crimp seating die has a taper crimp, not a roll crimp.

I had a lot of fun shooting this load in the Marlin at suspended steel plates...I was surprised how accurate that it was. I was hitting them at well past 100 yards and could do so to the limits of my vision...

[zxcvbob]

I think your 9mm crimp seating die has a taper crimp, not a roll crimp.
D'oh! That's what I meant to say. (it doesn't even make any sense the way I wrote it) [smilie=1:

I have a 158 grain long round-nosed mold that I want to try in the Marlin because it has a very good ballistic coefficient.

[Wally]

I have tried the Lyman 358311 & the Lee 158 RN-TL..both are ok, but do not offer the accuracy that the 356402 Lyman does.

[crabo]

I like the Lee 125 rnfp cowboy boolit in my Marlin. It feeds great throught the tube with no modifications.

[Wally]

I have used the Lee 125 RNF as well---it is a nice bullet, however I find the Lyman 120 CON-TC seems to shoot "flatter".

[fecmech]

I'm running the Lee 121 TC in my Rossi (Brastech) 92 over 5.3/231 which gives me 1265 fps.and it shoots into about 3"@100yds. I went that route just for kicks because of the rifle's 30" twist and was pleasantly surprised as I just picked the load out of the Lyman cast manual and it shot great! When I have more time this fall I plan to play around more with that bullet and rifle.

[jdgabbard]

Do you have any problems with leading with those undersized boolits?

[fecmech]

They are not undersized. My mold with ww+2% tin cast at .359 and I run them through a .359 sizer to lube them.

[1Shirt]

:coffeecomFor whatever it is worth, I am not fond of any of the lite weight blts in 357 in my M-94. I don't like anything under 150 gr in cast, and prefer upper levels, and my favorite for full power loads is the 180 Ranch Dog that I was lucky enough to get befor he went out of business. For lighter loads, I like the 158 Kieth over Trail Boss. Just my opinion!
1Shirt!:coffee:

[fecmech]

:coffeecomFor whatever it is worth, I am not fond of any of the lite weight blts in 357 in my M-94. I don't like anything under 150 gr in cast, and prefer upper levels, and my favorite for full power loads is the 180 Ranch Dog that I was lucky enough to get befor he went out of business. For lighter loads, I like the 158 Kieth over Trail Boss. Just my opinion!
1Shirt!:coffee:

I'm with you there but the accuracy is better with the light bullet in the Rossi 30" twist. My 94 has a 14" twist and handles the heavier bullets just fine. I'm not hunting with the Rossi 92 or anything, just plinking and 100 yd metallic silhouette occasionally.

[dualsport]

Well I did it again, put off getting ready for a postal match, now the deadline is creeping up on me. I'm looking for suggestions for a stock Marlin 1894C which I've shot very little so far. I assume .357 cases will give the best accuracy over .38SP cases. I'll be shooting at 100 yds. with a 6X scope from a bench. My plan is to just take maybe three loads, see which is best and then shoot for record. Bullets I have to choose from are; LEE 358-140-SWC, a plainbase oldie, a LEE .358 150 TL SWC, an old Lyman358477, 358429, and Ideal 359432 WC. I have a wide variety of powders from Bullseye to AA#9, including AA# 2 and #5, HS6, Red Dot, Unique, 2400, 4227, etc. I hope someone can suggest a recipe that has a good chance of working well from the start, I don't have time now for load developement. (I know, that's lame, what can I say?) Accuracy is my only consideration. Oh, most of the bullets I have stored up are straight ww. Thanks in advance for your help. Over on the CBA forum I go by 'tturner53'. Oh, I also have a good supply of 4756.

[felix]

13 aa#9 is a good average load for your boolits, except WC, at a hunnert. ... felix

[Wally]

I have a Marlin 1894C that I use often. The good news is that it is quite accurate with most cast bullet loads. Only with the heaviest bullest do I have an accuracy problem with it--such as the 170 grain Kieth & the 195 Lyman RN... I have had the great luck with the Lee 140 SWC bullet and 7.0 grains of HP-38 0r W-231..8.0 grains of Unique also works well. I size them to .359". This summer I tried the Lyman 120 TC made for the 9mm Luger--using 6.0 grains of Bullseye was one very accuarte load with the Avg vel of 1,460 FPS and a spectacular Std Deviation of 3.31....I will be using that load much more often.

[txbirdman]

Best one in my Marlin 94C is the 358156 over 14.5 gr. of 2400.

[GRid.1569]

.357 Mag case...
158 grn cast RNFP...
4.6grn Bullseye...

1050 fps or thereabouts... real neat @ 25 meters...

and would you believe I'm accused of "loadin' for bear" - Yeah really !

Typical gallery load here in the UK is 3.5 BE (.38 spec case) 158grn cast bullet...

No body armour required... just button up your cardigan... :lol:

[dualsport]

Thanks for the suggestions guys, I'll let you know how it goes, loading up today. tt

[beagle]

Some of the 356402s cast pretty big. I been casting all morning with one that drops them at .361" and it's a shooter. I size .358 for the Ruger convertible amd .3565" for the two HIgh Powers./beagle


Do you have any problems with leading with those undersized boolits?

[armyrat1970]

Well I did it again, put off getting ready for a postal match, now the deadline is creeping up on me. I'm looking for suggestions for a stock Marlin 1894C which I've shot very little so far. I assume .357 cases will give the best accuracy over .38SP cases. I'll be shooting at 100 yds. with a 6X scope from a bench. My plan is to just take maybe three loads, see which is best and then shoot for record. Bullets I have to choose from are; LEE 358-140-SWC, a plainbase oldie, a LEE .358 150 TL SWC, an old Lyman358477, 358429, and Ideal 359432 WC. I have a wide variety of powders from Bullseye to AA#9, including AA# 2 and #5, HS6, Red Dot, Unique, 2400, 4227, etc. I hope someone can suggest a recipe that has a good chance of working well from the start, I don't have time now for load developement. (I know, that's lame, what can I say?) Accuracy is my only consideration. Oh, most of the bullets I have stored up are straight ww. Thanks in advance for your help. Over on the CBA forum I go by 'tturner53'. Oh, I also have a good supply of 4756.

I'm a little funny about shooting 38's or any loaded 38 cases through my 1894. The shorter case leaves a powder residue that can build up in the chamber and If not cleaned properly can cause the longer 357 case not to chamber. I would use nothing but 357 cases for loading. And using a shorter case sets your boolit far off the lands. Can cause a lot of in-accuracy problems. If you use the 38 case you have to seat the bullet out further which can cause a lot of run out. You want your cast boolit right at the lands, or just under.

[dualsport]

Shot the Marlin for score. I ended up going with the Lee 358-140-SWC, as cast .361, with LLA over 11.8gr of AA#9. I loaded a little light as I'm out of magnum primers and used regular small pistol primers. The best group was 3.4" and the average was about 4.5", not too bad. That was at 100 yds. with a 6X scope. Thanks again for all the suggestions and help.