Favorite .357 lever gun load?

[cabezaverde]

Both plinker and full power? Rossi 92.

[CoolHandMoss]

[Nobade]

OK, mine are somewhat unconventional. Browning '92, light load is the Lee 158 RN, 38 spl cases, 5.0gr.AA#5 + 1cc poly shot buffer. Makes a standard pressure 38 spl load that also works in revolvers and is super accurate in the rifle. Full power is a Ranch Dog 190 or RCBS 200, sized down and paper patched to .359, seated out to touch the rifling, over all the Lil' Gun I can fit in the case and lit by small rifle primers. Essentially a 357 Max load, and too long to feed. Super accurate and nipping at the heels of standard 35 Remington performance.

[357Mag]

Cabez -

Howdy !

My go-to "N" frame .357Mag load ( also good in the 1894SC I had ) is 14.5gr WW296 and SP Mag primer, under a Lyman SWC of 158-172gr.
I myself never left the need to run these GC'd, and leading wasn't a problem.


With regards,
357Mag

[Prairie Cowboy]

Favorite heavy hunting load:

158 grain JSP / 17.0 grains Hodgdons H110 / 1800 FPS / 38,400 CUP
- Lyman 48th Reloading Handbook

Favorite light load:

Lee 358-150-1R RN / 5.0 grains Hodgdons Universal / about 1100 FPS / about 15,800 CUP
- Lyman 48th Reloading Manual (extrapolated from .38 Special revolver data using .357 magnum cases)

[Gewehr-Guy]

My Rossi is incredibly accurate with 15 grs. Lil Gun and the Thompson bullet, the 358156 HP.

[Vopie]

In my Browning -92 favorite load is 158 JHP or 357446 w/ 16.0 grs. ww-296 and a small pistol mag. primer.

[imashooter2]

10.5 grains of 2400 under a SAECO #353 makes a great plinking load.

14.5 grains of Lil Gun under one of the group buy 180 grain WFN GC boolits smokes out of my 1894C at 1,732 FPS average.
12.5 grains of 2400 under the same boolit gets a bit less at 1,544 FPS average.

[curiousgeorge]

357 mag case - 14.5 grs H110/W296 - 358156

This has been my dream load to do everything with in my Marlin

[T-Bird]

Plinking load: 8gr AA#5 mag case, Lee 158 RNFP. Hunting load: 13.5gr H110, CCI mag sm pistol primer, Accurate 180gc mold (can't remember the number). Coated Hi-Tec.

[trapper9260]

What I shot in my BH I shoot the same ammo in my Rossi. I had some problem with the Rossi and had my gunsmith to fix it and he tested it with what ammo he had He said that it was accurate at 100 yards hit a 6 " steel plate . He was surprise .

[Goldstar225]

Marlin 1894CS

Max load - Remington 158 JSP over 18.3 grains of Alliant 300 MP in magnum case- 1890 FPS and 4" at 100 yards with peep sights.

Still working on a light load using a RCBS 150 SWC. Right now I'm loading 3.5 grains of W231/HP38 in a magnum case for 900 FPS.

[Walks]

Full Power;
Saeco #354-13.0grs 2400, WSPM primer. Rifle or NM Blackhawk only. It's a bit HOT, but I've used it for 35yrs. ACCURATE
Lyman #358156-14.5grs 2400, WSP. This too is a bit over book Max, but used it for 50yrs in M27, NM Blkhk. ACCURATE
Plinking or Cowboy Shooting;
Lee #358-158-RF - 3.0grs Bullseye or TiteGroup, WSP. Good Accuracy

[indian joe]

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

[sghart3578]

180 gr WFN GC over 12.5 gr of 2400 for just over 1500 fps. Accurate and stout enough for what I need.

Lee 125 gr RF over 4.0 gr Bullseye. Never chronoe'd but no recoil and very accurate.


Steve in N CA

[white cloud]

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

Do you have any idea of what velocity you are getting? This is quite interesting.

[rockrat]

17.2gr MP300 with the Remington 180gr 357max bullet for my Marlin and 4.5gr red dot under a 158gr rnfp for plinking

[Handloader109]

Plinker? Ha, 38special..... 3.5 gr Bullseye over 142 SWC Easy on anyone.

357- 5.3gr Bullseye over 158gr Powder coated and to kick it up an notch, 16 gr H110 over a 158XTP.

[downzero]

My favorite cowboy load is 2.7 grains of Clays under a 125 lee RF in 38 brass.

Full power, probably H110 with a 158 Keith bullet. I think my load is in the 16 grain range in magnum brass. I don't shoot too many of these, but it'll really show you what kind of power 357 Magnum can have.

[winelover]

Normally, I'd recommend 2400 powder. Did a recent ladder test in my Rossi 92 with SR 4759 with a Accurate 158 RNFP. Shot the best 100yd groups, I've ever shot, were with 12.5 grains in that carbine. Close to 1 MOA for five shots. Thirteen grains, wasn't too shabby, either.

Winelover