Looking for a load for two

[GunnyJohn]

I have recently purchased a M-92 Winny rechambered in 357 mag. I also have a Blackhawk same caliber. For years I have shot 158 grn LSWC over 5 grns of Unique out of my Blackhawk. I'm thinking now that I have the rifle of stepping up to a more powerful load. The loads will be used for anything from cans and ground squirrels to mabey deer sized game if the situation occurs. The possibility of a large kitty is always a possibility around here. As I was having a little difficulty with the swc's chambering in the rifle I bought a Lee 358-158-RF mold. I cast yesterday and loaded today in .38 cases and they chambered with no problems. I have plenty of .38 and .357 cases and currently have only Unique and 2400 for powders. I could check around for other powders as the LGS' seem to be getting in a little more inventory these days. Any thoughts or loads that you all have used? Thanks for the help once again, Gunny.

[runfiverun]

both of those powders will work just fine.
the same 5 grs of unique in the 38 cases will work just fine.
step up another grain for the 357 cases.
I think I was using about 12 grs of the 2400 under my 158 rnfp before I changed my load over to 7grs of herco.

[pworley1]

Except for the deer, the load you now use should work fine ion the rifle. The 92 will also handle a good bit hotter load as well.

[KCcactus]

And, when you are ready for deer, the 2400 will do the job. You'll get a lot higher velocities with the 2400.

[Larry Gibson]

Both of those powders will do nicely but 2400 will give better results in the magnum cases. I suggest you develop the load with the rifle for accuracy staying within revolver load data. The load developed for the rifle will almost invariably shoot quite well in the revolver also. The reason is a magnum level load developed in the revolver many times pushes the bullet too hard in the rifle with resulting poor accuracy.

Larry Gibson

[357Mag]

Gunny -

As a minimum load using WW296 ( H110 same stuff ), I recommend 14.5gr under any ( Lyman ) SWC 0f 158 - 172gr; and SP Mag primer.

Super accurate load for me , in 4, 5, & 6" "N"-frames, and also in an 1894SC.


With regards,
357Mag

[rintinglen]

I don't have the Lee but do have the similar Lyman.
13.5 grains of 2400 works well under a Lyman 358-665 in 357 cases. 4.5 grains of Unique is a standard velocity 38 load that gives good accuracy. 5.0 grains of Unique is a good +p load for full size revolvers--not so much for airweight snubbies. You'll be good for just about any situation with these three loads.

[sniper]

My go-to load is 5.5 gr. Unique; 860 fps, 4" barrel, standard primers, 357 brass; 150-158 SWC. Going to try 5.9-6.0 gr. Unique "just to see", but I may go back to 5.5, as it does all I want it to.

I an experimenting with 10.5-11 gr. 2400/150-158 swc, and I had a 9.6-10gr. Blue Dot load under cast 158 gr. that felt mild, and was very accurate. Once I can buy more of them, I will.

[Thomas Traddles]

I like to load 11.5 grains of 2400 over my RCBS 158 gr RNFP (which is somewhat like the Lee you have). It is accurate in my Blackhawk and runs around 1050- fps, according to Lyman's #3 Cast Bullet manual. Seems to me that such a load would do well in the rifle as well.

[Scharfschuetze]

In your rifle, you'll be able to launch a 180 grain boolit at well over 1,700 fps.

My rifle load for the 357 is a plain base 180 grain truncated cone style projectile over Lil'Gun powder for a chronographed velocity of 1,750 fps. Ballistic uniformity is good and accuracy is also good to several hundred yards. While the boolit I use is a plain base design, there is no leading in the bore at this velocity when it is cast hard.

The trajectory at the longer ranges gets a little steep, but a good aperture sight (Lyman 66 on mine) will fix that in short order.

For a plinking load, a good 158 grain as suggested by several members above is great. That afore mentioned Lyman 66 sight will allow you to switch zeros between plinkers and hi-power loads in an instant without having to fire sighters.

[Ed_Shot]

I use an 1894C, an H&R, a Black Hawk and a Security Six. 13.5 gr of 2400 under a Lyman 358156 in .357 Mag is a definite winner in either rifle or pistol. The Marlin and H&R will cloverleaf the .357 Mag with 358-158-RF @ 50 yds using Red Dot/Promo 5.0 gr. In fact, Red Dot/Promo 5.0 gr in .357 Mag with 120 gr to 160 gr. is outstanding in pistol. I use 358242 (120 gr), 358495, 358447, 358156 and 358-158-RF. As for 38 Spl I hardly load anything anymore but 358242 (120 gr) over Red Dot/Promo 4.2 gr. It is fantastic in both rifle and pistol.