Lee TL 357 SWC Loads for Marlin1894C

[redfisherdave]

I've been casting bullets for a few years now, using wheel weights & a Lee TL 6 cavity 158 grain SWC mold for my 38 Special revolvers. However I just acquired a Marlin 1894 in 357 Magnum. I tried my 38's with the SWC's & they fed great. So now I'm thinking I would like to start loading for 357 Magnum using the same bullets. This would not be for plinking, but for Hog hunting. One of my revolvers is a S & W Mod 65 so I could use the load in this gun as well. Any load recommendations?
Thanks
Dave

[Wally]

I have a Marlin 1894C----it leads up with the Lee 158 SWC-TL bullet and 8.0 grains of Unique. I solved it by attaching a gas check to it. IMHO I'd use a 168 Lyman Keith bullet with 2400 powder if I was to use it for hunting.

[wgg]

I am looking at this bullet for reduced loads 1200 FPS. Would it be acceptable. Thanks Glen

[Wally]

I am looking at this bullet for reduced loads 1200 FPS. Would it be acceptable. Thanks Glen

Use 6.5 grains of Unique---that will be in the Ballpark for 1,200 FPS in your 1894C.

[telebasher]

My favorite all-around plinking/woods walking load is the Lee 158SWC-TL over 9 gr Alliant 2400. This is for my 6in. Ruger Blackhawk and my H&R Handi- rifle. 1163 fps from the revolver, and hair over 1300 in the rifle. Small whitetails, coyotes, turkeys, prairie dogs , squirrels, rabbits, crows and more than a few rattlers have been taken with this combo with no complaints from anyone.

[357Mag]

Redfish -

Howdy !

I liked the same load in my M1894SC that I did in my .357Mag "N"-frames....

14.5gr WW296 SP Magum primer any ( Lyman ) SWC of 158-172gr.
I don't see why the Lee bullet you mention, shouldn't also work ?!

H110 is the same thing as WW296.

The 14.5gr load is NOT a max charge for that powder in .357Mag + the bullet weights I mentioned. But.... it IS a legit "magnum" load.

I also like 7gr I4756 and regular SP primer under same 158-172gr SWC bullet wt.
No chrono/power data on this load, so it could be light for hogs ?
This load is a tad sooty. Again, not a " reduced load " in the classic sense, but a powder choice with great performance at lower charge weights.

With regards,
357Mag

[bobthenailer]

In my Marlin 357 mag i use the GB lee 180 gr fngc , without the gas ck installed with 4.5 grs of Tightgroup @ 1050 fps . another load is 12.0 of surplus 820 . with gas ck installed @1400 fps , another load is 16.5 gr Lil Gun @1700 fps with GC all loads are very accurate.
These guns are just plain fun to shoot ! I have a Aimpoint on mine and love it

[161]

I have an 1894C and a GP100 6 in barrel. I shoot that boolit with 5 gr. Unique in 38 sp. cases. 7 gr. Unique in 357 cases. And 13 gr 2400 with an aluminum plain base gas check installed. All with Tula Small Pistol Primers. The Unique loads don't have gas checks. 50/50 WW Pure Lead water dropped.

[redfisherdave]

Thanks for all the recommendations.
357Mag, did you get any leading with your W296 loads?
I'm casting with wheel weights.

[williamwaco]

That bullet is my current favorite for the 357 bore. I size it .356 or .357 depending on the individual firearm I am loadng it for. This bullet consistently produces 1.5" groups at 50 Yards from my Thompson Contender .357. Two inch groups at 25 yards from my S&W M19. It produces sub two inch at 50 yards with factory sights from my Winchester M92. I tumble lubed it with LLA. I have also tried Rooster jacket but I like the LLA better. There is No difference in accuracy between the lubes. Both are entirely adequate for a 20" barrel.

I load it with 2400, A No9, Herco, and A. No 2. I get better accuracy with 2400 and Herco but use A No 9 more often because I have three pounds and am trying to use it up.

Leading is not a problem. I do not use maximum loads. My loads produce about 1200fps in the 6" revolver, 1400fps in the 12" Thompson Contender and about 1600fps in the rifle. I don't like to recommend specific loads but check your manuals for loads that produce 1200 to 1300 fps with the six inch revolver. These loads will be slightly below maximum.

Lube with LLA or 50/50 Alox Bees Wax lube. If you have leading problems it will be bullet fit, not lube.

PS: I also use straight air cooled whell weights.

[357Mag]

Redfisher -

Howdy, again !

No...... I had no leading problem shooting 158-172gr Lyman SWC PBs.

In fact, I don't recall ever having shot GC bullets in any of my .357Mag
"N"-frames. 14.5gr WW296 and Mag SP primer did not seem to lead up my barrels at all. This, with a variety of lubes.

My homebrewed lube was 50/50 paraffin and vaseline.

As regards perf;ormance in the 1894SC....
I walked in on a pistol match my buddies range. All I had with me at the time, was the 1894 ( .357Mag ).

The drill started w/ the shooter seated @ a card table. The first target to be engaged was a man-sized metal gong sillhoutte, standing just across the table
from me.

At the whistle, I raised the rifle from the table; and let fly.
The 162gr SWC propelled by 14.5gr WW296, shot right through the gong, much to the disgust of my buddy and his friends !!

I appologized profusely, and left w/o inflicting any further damage on their targets !

Still love that load, here lately... .loading it by the hundreds & hundreds at a time.

With regards,
357Mag

[redfisherdave]

Thanks again for all the replies.
357mag, I haven't used W296 in over 30 years. I found out the hard way, that it doesn't ignite well unless you have a near full case. Does the 14.5 grain load fill the case pretty good & ignite all right. Back then, I ended up with a stuck bullet in my Model 19 more than once till an old-time reloader told me what I was doing wrong.
Dave

[357Mag]

Redfisher -

Howdy, again !

I've NEVER had ignition problems w/ my pet load of 14.5gr WW296 over a SP Magnum primetr ( Usually CCI ).

I have shot this load for some 35yr, in all sorts of weather/temperatures/climate conditions.

I once tested my newly-received custom S & W M58 that was changed over to a
4" fixed-sights heavy barrel .357Mag..... outsided in wind chill temps of -25*F
( shooting the load we discussed ). NO problems.

I've shot the same load after removing the gun from hot oven-like car, with the gun metal too hot to touch. NO problems.

From memory, the 14.5gr WW296 SP Mag load is right out of the old Winchester
reloading guide " flyer ", seen even before the name switched to Olin powders.
Again from memory.... 14.5gr was the minimum recommended charge of 296, and ( I believe ) 16.5gr was the max..... all when shooting 158 lead SWCs.
*** " Please check these numbers out for yourself utilizing today's latest data, before loading/shooting WW296 in your gun(s) " ***

This in the only " factory" or reload guide-recommended load that I shoot, in any of my guns. It just happened to be a " keeper ".

I have not tried it in the guise of " H-110 ", although I've been assured they are both the same powder. Those two powders also worked superbly @ th esame charge wt, in my .357AutoMag carbine. No other powders produced more accurate
loads, same as I found with use in .357Mag ( w/ 296 0

Regards,
357Mag