Tite group in 1894 .357 magnum

[joe4711]

Anyone use Tite Group behind Lyman 358665 PB 158gr and/or Lee 358-158RF cast bullets.

I would like to use either/or in my 6" Ruger and Marlin 1894, per Hodgon load data, starting point for 158 g HDY XTP ( MJHP?) is 5.4gr for 1135 fps and starting for 158 LSWC is
4.5gr for1028 fps. Guess this is out of a 6" test barrel

I still have about 450 FMJHP 158gr on hand for the .357 and are presently using VV340 at 7.3gr shooting 1 1/2 groups at 100 yds

I am in the process of starting to cast and would prefer not to use GC but PB and hoping to get the same performance as I do now.

Also I'm running out of powder and it is time to buy something cheaper than VV.

Joe M.

[rond]

I like Titegroup in the .38 Special, not so much in the .357 magnum. I got up to 5.5 grain with 158 grain SWC and decided to change to Unique. Also Hodgon uses a lot of 10" barrels for their load data.

[bobthenailer]

I use 4.5 gr of TG loaded in 357 mag cases with 158 swc gr saeco & lbt 180 grfn in my 1894 marlin with excellent accuracy @ little over 1000 fps

[durant7]

Would someone care to comment on the pros and cons of using 38 special brass in the subject gun over the less commonly found 357 brass. Assume the desire is to find an accurate group out to 100m. Gun is the 1894CB version so ballard rifling is assumed vs. microgroove. Use is silhouette so light bullet would be preferred to a heavy "game getter" bullet.

Thanks!

[bobthenailer]

IMO If i was searching for the most accurate load @ 100 yards! i would use 357 mag brass from the same lot # , all cases sized first and then trimmed to trim to length and use a 180gr cast bullet with a good track record for 100 yard accuracy such as rcbs 180 sil, saeco # 353,354, 396, 399, or even better ! but you will have to single load the Rcbs 35-200 gr-fn this bullet will do a inch at 100 yards from a SS pistol.

[EDK]

I use 4.5 gr of TG loaded in 357 mag cases with 158 swc gr saeco & lbt 180 grfn in my 1894 marlin with excellent accuracy @ little over 1000 fps

I use this load mostly in my Original Size VAQUEROS in 357 brass with various 158and 180 grain boolits...works in the 1894 Cowboy rifles too. Read Glenn Fryxell's article on 1894 MARLINS at lasc.us. marlinowners.com has some info that you might be interested in. The guys over there are fans of 170 to 180 grain bullets and loaded hot. There's some dimensional quirks....360/.361 sizing diameter plus gas checks, hard alloy, higher velocity, etc. to know, but experimenting is a part of reloading. I mostly load generic for the group of guns in 357 (and 44) that I load for..got a bunch of kids and grand kids AND a DILLON 550B set up for each caliber, BUT you can load some RIFLE SPECIFIC and get a humongous increase in horse power in a 357 carbine or rifle.

PROMO is a RED DOT clone and runs around $90 per eight pounder in my area. I like HP38, TITEGROUP, PROMO, UNIQUE or HERCO in my various loads. If you shoot 48+ rounds daily, you go through some components. Less expensive lets you shoot a lot more.

[Jeff Michel]

Would someone care to comment on the pros and cons of using 38 special brass in the subject gun over the less commonly found 357 brass. Assume the desire is to find an accurate group out to 100m. Gun is the 1894CB version so ballard rifling is assumed vs. microgroove. Use is silhouette so light bullet would be preferred to a heavy "game getter" bullet.

Thanks!

I use .38 special exclusively, 105gr Lee on up to 150gr Lyman PB and 158gr Lee and RCBS SWC with 5 grains of Unique lubed with 50/50, 1.5 to 2" at 100 yards. Good Prairie dog/gopher getter. Never fired a .357 through it so I can't comment. I never had an accuracy or feeding problem and zero leading.

[geoff rodger]

My best load is 4 grains of titegroup behine the lyman 358665 cowboy the lee works just as well. Loads slick as. 1050fps , 5shot groups at 50 that touch, and a can of powder seems to last for ever, cheaper to shoot than a 22lr. I had the 358665 hollow pointed. makes for a great rabbit gun. also very easy to shoot, no to loud etc. oh this is all in my marlin 1894

[shotman]

the only problem you would have with the 38 brass is if you changed to 357 you will have a lead/powder ring that wont let a 357 case feed. If you use only 38s not a problem.
Note that the +p 38 brass is not the same. they are thicker so a wadcutter load may not feed

[fishbones]

the only problem you would have with the 38 brass is if you changed to 357 you will have a lead/powder ring that wont let a 357 case feed. If you use only 38s not a problem.
Note that the +p 38 brass is not the same. they are thicker so a wadcutter load may not feed

I clean my guns after every trip to the range and i have never had this issue. Do you think with shooting the 38 spl in a 357 mag chamber when firing the 357 and it sticking is a lack of good cleaning of the gun? I have heard about that issue but have never experienced it all.