Rossi .357 Mag it is! What bullets are using for plinking and hunting?

[huntersdog]

I think I'm going to go with the Rossi .357 Mag lever gun as my first pistol cartridge rifle. Still kicking around on what to get the 16" or 20" barrel. What bullets and loads you are using for plinking and hunting? I'll be punching paper and hunting small game and deer hunting with it. I will have to get a mold or two for the .357 Rossi. I'll get the 45 Colt later down the road.

Thank you

[Texas by God]

I use 150 Lee swc for most uses. The Rossi is accurate and it will tell you quick what it likes function wise. Best, Thomas.

[knifemaker]

When you get a mold, try to stay with a round nose flat point boolit as they feed best in lever action rifles. I use a RNFP mold from Accurate molds that drops at 160 grains .360 dia. gascheck design. Since I load that boolit up to 1700 fps in my 20" barrel Rossi, I wanted it with a gas check. You do not need a gas check for plinking loads and if you use a good alloy and lube you can get by without a gas check for boolits in the 1500 fps range or maybe higher.

[shoot-n-lead]

I use 135,160,180 WFN, in mine...feed and shoot, lights out!

[Greg S]

Plinking - 130 rnfp and a Lyman 158665 and a 180 wfngc. My 20" Winnie starts shooting good with 158s or heavier.

[Artful]

I was using Lee 105 SWC and 150-SWC but have changed to 160-180 Flat Pointed RN because my max speed is going to be limited to 1050 fps

[ReloaderFred]

For plinking, target practice to 50 yards and SASS matches, I use a Magma 125 gr. Flat Point bullet over a mid-range load of Bullseye. Very accurate and I get more bullets per pound of alloy.

For serious work, I use a 180 gr. RNFP-GC bullet, over a large dose of Lil'gun, for 1,710 fps average velocity.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[marlin39a]

I run the Lee 358-158-RF with great results. Feeds perfectly and is jackrabbit accurate.

[Speedo66]

For hunting, I think it would be tough to beat Buffalo Bore's 180g. hard cast, very fast heavy load in a carbine length barrel.

[fecmech]

The Lee 125 RF and Bullseye or 231 is a very very accurate plinker and small game bullet. Buy it in the 6 cav cause you'll go through a bunch of them! Any of the 158gr and up RF designs will be more than adequate for deer.

[Good Cheer]

huntersdog,
My favorite hunting load with the Rossi '92 was the 162 grain RCBS SWC GC and only just enough fast burning powder to eliminate vertical dispersion.
Lyman #358156 worked also but the RCBS worked better for mine.

[MT Gianni]

Noe 358156 both in 38 and 357 cases.

[outdoorfan]

The GB 180 gr flat nose, such as the NOE 360180 or MP 358-180-rf works wonders for a serious hunting boolit. For reduced loads (or full-bore loads), I like the MP 360-640 150 gr HP. The 360-640 works well in my 16" Rossi (357 brass) in front on 6.3 grs Unique for 1300 fps. 50/50 ww/soft at 9 bhn. It is accurate to at least 200 yards (5 shots into 8" or less with peep sights).

I like the 180 gr (actually 190 grain with 50/50 ww/soft) with 16 grs Lilgun.

[Groo]

Groo here
The rossi has a 1/30 twist barrel.
I would think that unless near max loads were used anything much over 180 would not group so well at distance.
For plinking , a 125gr rnfp or TC would be just fine ,for hunting it depends on What.
A 145 hp [ aka 45 2.o's 640 type ] will be fine for smaller stuff and a solid flat nose for all else.

[Taylor810]

Lee 358-158-RF

[Baja_Traveler]

Until this week I've been using the 158 gr Snakebite Biglube bullet (I shot nothing but holy black for the first two years I owned the rifle). They shot very accurate with a midrange load of W231. Last week I received this Miha mold in the mail with the full compliment of pins. I think it will become my Go-To mold for the Rossi from now on...

[farmerjim]

Lee 358-125-rf for plinking. Lee C358-200-RF loaded in a 38 sp brass for hunting. I keep thousands of the 358-125-RF cast and PCed or Hi-Teked. I can then size them for 9mm or .357 as needed.

[ironhead7544]

Find a bullet that will feed. My older Rossi 357s feed everything but my new one after Taurus took over was different. Any 38 Special load would feed, even the Keith 358429 that I like. Couldnt get it to misfeed. Never tried wadcutters. However, I never found a 357 loaded round that wanted to feed right. Got a good offer for that one so sold it off.

With the Rossi, it is a 50/50 crapshoot. I dont own any Taurus/Rossi rifles now. If you have to send it back, figure a six week turnaround. It might be better now. Getting parts was also a problem. They wouldnt even sell them to my gunsmith.

[shoot-n-lead]

My new Rossi feeds anything, even wadcutters...there are a lot of fine bullets out there...find what you like and give it a try. I have shot more Lee 125gr RF and NOE 135WFN than anything...they both shoot lights out. Mine cycles .38special fine, but I only load and shoot .357 in it.

If you want to try some before buying a mold...put an ad on the Swap and Sell looking for some to try...it has always worked for me.