Favorite .357 lever gun load?

[Bubba w/a 45/70]

Size your cast bullets to .360" let the magic happen.


Steve in N CA

Agreed.

100%

[Bubba w/a 45/70]

Attachment 275275

Winchester model 92 ....38/40 .....26 inch half octagon half round - it weighs 6.55 pounds -------no wheelbarrow required

My favrit offhand cartridge rifle!!!

That is one purdy rifle! Thumbs UP!

[Tim357]

not a lever 357 but yesterday I had good results with:

HS-6 10.2grn 7/8" group...... 158 RF.... .358 sized

in an IMI 357 mag Timberwolf pump shotgun

I envy you the Timberwolf. Shoulda bought one 35 years ago. Sure wish they'd make them again.

[GasGuzzler]

Full power best accuracy for me and my R92 is a Lee 158 that drops at 162 SWC over around 14.5 grains A2400 and a standard primer. Second for full power is a NOE 360180GC sized to .358 over a pile of Lil'Gun.

Remember the barrel twist on the Rossi is 1:30" so keep 'em moving if you load heavy bullets.

I also like H110 and W296 as well as 300-MP.

[indian joe]

That is one purdy rifle! Thumbs UP!

Thanks I built it up from a 25/20 action - it is a sweet thing to shoot......

[4719dave]

Agreed.

100%

so what size expander do you guys use ?

[Bubba w/a 45/70]

so what size expander do you guys use ?

I guess that I didn't worry about a different size expander(whatever was in the die), and I haven't had any problems.

And for what it is worth, I haven't measured the expander either.

[AlaskaMike]

With my Rossi 92, for plinking I just use my standard .38 special load, the 150 grain RCBS 38-150-SWC over 4.0 grains of 231.

For full power I use the MP 359 Hammer (170 grain) over 18 grains of 300MP. This is a hot load and I wouldn't use it in any of my revolvers--only my model 92.

[Sam Sackett]

I have An older Interarms Rossi 92SRC that I use for plinking and cowboy shooting. Favorite load is 3.0 Bullseye behind a 125 grain home cast bullet. RF works the best, but it also eats full wadcutters, RN, SWC and TC nose . All are cast from pure (or nearly) lead sized at .358 lubed with Ben's Red. Love this gun!

[dverna]

Plinking load has been 2.7 gr of Clays in .38 case with 125-130 gr Magma bullets. Shoots well in two 1984's and an 1873 Uberti. A powder puff.

But working on an "all purpose" load for target/plinking/coyotes. Something in the .38 +P range or bit more. Full power .357 are not fun in the revolvers and I want one load for all the .357's. I have no need to hunt deer with the .357 so there is no need to push it.

[cowboy4evr]

I don't mind full power 357 magnum loads in revolvers . What I didn't enjoy was full power 44 magnum loads in a S&W 329 PD , the light weight (23 ounces empty) 44 magnun revolver . Regards Paul

[FergusonTO35]

I've settled on 7.2 grains IMR 4756 under the Lee 358-125-RF for my Marlin. I guess I'll have to try a different powder when my 4756 finally runs dry.

[derek45]

LEE 125gr or SNS 130gr with CLAYS makes a nice mild plinker for the kids




XTP's and H110/w296 or 2400 for serious loads.

[cabezaverde]

I've settled on 7.2 grains IMR 4756 under the Lee 358-125-RF for my Marlin. I guess I'll have to try a different powder when my 4756 finally runs dry.

Too bad you're not local to me.

[FergusonTO35]

I gave my 1894 some exercise with that load today and was reminded why I like it so much. Easy to shoot and accurate as anything else I have ever tried.

[Rodfac]

Ok...with Lyman's 358156GC, I like 13.5 gr of 2400 with a good crimp. My 2.5x scoped Marlin 1894CS will keep 5 shots in less than 2" at 100 yds from a rest. I've chrono'd this load at just over 1600 fps and use it on KY whitetails with good success...through and through penetration of the rib cage and a blood trail of less than 50 yds. For plinking, 6.8 of Herco or 6.5 gr of Unique will do less than 2" at 50 yds from my Marlin without leading. I size to 0.359" for the Marlin's slightly oversize bore...works well with ACWW's +2% tin. If your mold drops 'em big enough, size to 0.360"...for a better leade/throat/bore fit....mine won't but I still get great accuracy as posted above.

For jacketed bullets, Hornady's 158 gr XTP-FP will do the same as above when backed by 14.5 gr of 296 and a magnum primer. Chrono'd at 1560 fps...a great deer bullet with enough jacket strength to be useful at rifle velocities.

As always, these are my loads, safe in my guns. If interested, work up to them after consulting a GOOD loading manual and considering all of the pressure implications and the condition of your gun.

Best regards, Rod

[JSnover]

21 grains of FFFg or FFFFg blackpowder under a 158 grain LEE Flatpoint
The 357 mag makes a really cool little blackpowder round -

It does! I loaded 21.0 grains of 3F over 2.0 grains of 4759 and a 158 grain LSW years ago, I just wanted to know if it really did reduce fouling. It did and it was a lot of fun to shoot.

[DAVIDMAGNUM]

All Starline Brass:
Accurate Molds 36-155C 30-1 Alloy NRA 50/50 Lube WSP 4.5gr Greendot. Soft shooting, accurate to 100 meters and knocks over the pistol caliber rams.
Hunters Supply 193gr Hard Cast, CCI Magnum Primer 16.5gr Reloader 7 . 1400fps with single low double digit extreme spread. Accurate to 200 meters but not good for silhouette shooting. This load craters the mild steel pistol caliber targets but doesn't reliably knock over the 200 meter rams. Still very fun to shoot!

Black Powder!!!
Un-sized Starline brass lightly taper crimped around the first drive band.
Accurate Molds 36-155C DGL Lube WSP and a slightly compressed charge of Swiss 2F 158cc not weighed. Very accurate at 100 meters, I am going to try this new to me load for pistol caliber silhouette this year.

[smkummer]

Yep, a little special attention to my 90’s 1894CS micro groove 18.5”. Lyman’s 358430 195 grain UNSIZED and water quenched is such a wonderful steel pinker as it makes a more pronounced hit on a swinger steel target with 6.5 unique to keep cost down. I may go with 2400 for a faster speed when supplies come back to normal. If I size this bullet to .358, my groups really open up.

Lee’s 158 TL SWC works fine also sized to .358 with 5.1 grains unique in a 38 special plus P. Or 7.0 grains unique in a light .357 case.

Cowboy pinker is Lee’s 125 RF unsized with 2.8 bullseye in a 38 special case. Can’t go any lower or I don’t get a good bang.

[rintinglen]

RCBS 38-162/Lyman 358-156 sized .358, gas checked, and loaded with WSPM primers with 15.7 grains of H-110. I put 50 of these into a 2 inch one hole group at 50 yards with a receiver sight. My one regret with this gun is the front sight integral with the front band.