New Slow Twist Rossi .357 With Heavy Boolits

[Gray Fox]

My wife and I recently bought a pair of Rossi 16" barrel .357 magnums. Lately there have been comments on here that these barrels with a 33" slow twist shouldn't be capable of decent accuracy with boolits heavier than about 158 grains. I have shot the Lee RNFP which drops right at 158 grains from WDWW and the Lee 158 SWC GC that comes in at 165 grains with lube and check. Both shoot fine. I lube these with two thin coats of LLA, and using one of Paco's heavier loads of 2400 I'm getting minimal leading, even from the new barrels.

I have set both of these rifles up in the scout configuration using the new Rossi Weaver style sight base that mounts into the four drilled and tapped holes under the rear sight. The scopes are the BSA Edge 2X, and I must say they are quite sharp and the combo really balances nicely with these short carbines. Clay birds off the berm behind a 100 yard target were not hard to hit from a bag rest. They make a perfect combo with a 4" S&W Model 66.

Has anyone shot anything in the 180 grain or heavier range from one of these and if so what were your results?

Looking forward to hearing from any of you. GF

[fecmech]

I have shot the Lyman 358429 173 gr bullet with max loads of 296/820 and it will average 3-4" 100 yd groups with that bullet running about 1600+ out of both my 20" carbine and 24" Rossi rifle. Both are the new Braztech models with the 1 in 30" twist. That bullet will not shoot well at all at slower speeds like 1100-1200 fps. I have not shot anything heavier than that.

[Gray Fox]

fecmech:

That sounds workable. I was thinking of the Ranch Dog TL GC 175 grain atop a good charge of 2400. I imagine with the 2X scopes that group might shrink a bit. Thanks for the info. Interestingly, apparently the .357 achieves about max performance in a 16" tube, so I think I'll get this process rolling and see what results. GF

[imashooter2]

Using the various 180 grain WFN group buys in my Marlin 1894C, 2400 produces considerably lower velocity than H110/W296 or Lil' Gun. We're talking 1,544 fps for 2400 vs. 1,732 fps for Lil' Gun. 2400 is superbly accurate though.

[Dthunter]

I personally cant justify keeping any rifle that doesnt group inside 3" or less at 100 yards.
I just cant enjoy a rifle thats not dependably accurate.
Pistol calibers included.

I am still trying to find a 44 mag rifle that will shoot this well for more than one group!

I am a bench rest shooter/ and reloader, so my capabilities are not an issue.

What have you guys found with your 44mag rifles?

[fecmech]

I personally cant justify keeping any rifle that doesnt group inside 3" or less at 100 yards.
Well a lot depends on what you mean by group. When I mention it in terms of my Pistol cartridge lever guns it is 10 shot 100 yd groups with plain based cast bullets and an average of more than 1 group. If I were to cherry pick 5 shot groups I could say all my .357 lever guns are less than 2"@100 yds. My experience with pistol caliber lever guns(I've had 4) is you are doing well to average 3" 10 shot hundred yd groups. I don't think there are 2 many fellows who can shoot on demand five 10 shot groups of 2.5-2.75" in a row with a pistol caliber lever gun. That's been my experience.

[herbert buckland]

It has been my experince that with slow twist barrels 2 inches is very good 5 sot groups ,3inch groups more the norm,with fast twist barrels 6 inch to barn door groups seem to be the norm at 100yds

[imashooter2]

Well a lot depends on what you mean by group. When I mention it in terms of my Pistol cartridge lever guns it is 10 shot 100 yd groups with plain based cast bullets and an average of more than 1 group. If I were to cherry pick 5 shot groups I could say all my .357 lever guns are less than 2"@100 yds. My experience with pistol caliber lever guns(I've had 4) is you are doing well to average 3" 10 shot hundred yd groups. I don't think there are 2 many fellows who can shoot on demand five 10 shot groups of 2.5-2.75" in a row with a pistol caliber lever gun. That's been my experience.

I don't know what you're talking about. I've been on the internet for years and you can't swing a dead cat without knocking over a dozen rifles that will group 1" or less at 100 yards "if I do my part."

I never see those guys at the range mind you, but I read about them all the time.

[smilie=1:

[Lonegun1894]

I don't know what you're talking about. I've been on the internet for years and you can't swing a dead cat without knocking over a dozen rifles that will group 1" or less at 100 yards "if I do my part."

I never see those guys at the range mind you, but I read about them all the time.

[smilie=1:


I have 4 scoped bolt guns that will do under an inch every time at 100yds, but my leverguns wont, at least not with me shooting them with open sights. 2-3" is normal if I do my part, 3-4" without a good rest or if I screw up, with an occasional 1-2" group that is infrequent enough to make me call if more of a fluke than anything else. Having said that, 2-3" will take care of just about anything I can see me needing to do in a hunting situation, so I can't complain about that kind of accuracy--especially knowing it would be better if i was willing to mount a scope on a lever-gun while I can still see the iron sights.

[Tristan]

Using the various 180 grain WFN group buys in my Marlin 1894C, 2400 produces considerably lower velocity than H110/W296 or Lil' Gun. We're talking 1,544 fps for 2400 vs. 1,732 fps for Lil' Gun. 2400 is superbly accurate though.

How's the accuracy of the Lil' Gun loads?

[imashooter2]

How's the accuracy of the Lil' Gun loads?

Ten shots into 2.5 inches at 50 yards with iron sights, elbows rest and no bags. Hard to say how much of that is my old eyes on the iron sights.