I reload for 3 Smith 357 revolvers and just purchased an 1894 rifle in 357, photos when it arrives in the appropriate thread. I'm leaning to loading one bullet for all firearms, mostly shooting steel. My question, may I use lead RNFP for revolvers up to 50 yds or so with some accuracy?

Wait till you see what I bought!!

Sweet. .357 Wheels and Levers, that's my favorite combo also. A nice SAA would feel right at home in that gang.

1873 Cattleman El Patrón Revolver | Uberti

You should have no problems with accuracy at 50 yards, compared to Keith SWC or HP bullets. They feed a LOT smoother through a '92 or Marlin action, and are easier to load into a revolver if you use speed loaders or moon clips (and a roll crimp). SWCs punch cleaner holes in paper, and probably penetrate better for hunting.

I use Laser-Cast (Oregon Trails) hard cast, 158 grain bullets in both shapes, with minimal leading in a carbine or revolver.

You should have no trouble as long as barrel twists are the same

I use this bullet-but was advised that it should be a little harder as the rifle barrel will increase the FPS by as much as 40%. Bob-the owner of Mid Atlantic bullets has this gun/shoots this set up, and I like his products-give him a call @240-344-4135

I use a Lyman 358156 with Lyman #2 alloy. It's a 155gr. SWCGC. I have 5 357s. Colt Trooper, S&W Models: 19, 27, 28, and a Ruger Blackhawk. Load them with 14.8gr. IMR 4227. Gives a good stout load with velocities in the 1150 range depending on the gun and this load gives another .4gr to move up if you want more. And they shoot really well. Although I don't shoot these in the 19 very often.

I recently purchased a Marlin 1984C pre-cross bolt safety. I've had it to the range once so far. It was nice to be able to grab a box of ammo, sit down at the bench, and shoot a revolver and rifle using the same ammo.

I tried a variety of different lead and FMJ rounds. The only problem was my homecast SWC. It would feed smoothly about 1/3 the time the rest of the time I would have to giggle the gun around until the lip of the bullet crossed over into the chamber.

I appreciate this. I have a bunch of Missouri SWC's loaded and will try those to see if they feed in the rifle. If not, I was thinking Missouri RNFP coated bullets.

I've been shooting Penn Bullets' .358 dia. 158 gr Truncated Cone Bevel Base (TCBB) with good result. He offers two hardness, 4 diameters in this bullet. It feeds great in my 1873 Uberti carbine, even in a .38 spec cartridge. I'm loaded to 1089 fps in my 18" rifle, shoot tin cans just fine at 50 yds, not quite so fine with my Mod 14 or Mod 27 revolvers. Old eyes don't see too good, old hand is not too steady anymore..

I hear you! These are becoming son/grandson guns in time. I've gotten where I like shooting steel and playing with these are pretty cheap with reloads. And the kids will love the lever.

I've used Berry's 158 grain RNFP Hardcast in my 1892 Winchester and Dan Wesson 15-2 revolver. Don't have my chronograph notes handy but memory is that the Accurate #5 loading that produced 1200 fps from the rifle didn't show any leading but a load using Accurate #7 at an estimated 1350 fps leaded up the Winchester lightly. Accuracy was excellent in my Winchester but in my 1892 Rossi it was only passable. Turns out the Rossi features a 1:38 twist barrel and is most accurate with 140 grain and lighter bullets.

Awesome! Good to know.

By the way, I'm still using that 30 year old SR 7625!

Groo here
For pure accuracy,few bullets will out shoot a rn / rnfp.
The thing is, there is no shoulder to cut nice clean holes in paper for scoring.
So we have WC/SWC bullets.
When you get the RNFP be sure the flat is bigger than the primer
to guard against mag tube damage.

I'm hoping the SWC's chamber in this 1894.

In my 1892 Winchester 44 magnum Keith SWC are to long to feed from the magazine. Found that out the hard way. It is not real easy to back a round through a 92 but I got it done.
So avoid Keith type bullets. Other SWC fed just fine.

I like Rainier 158gr plated hp I get from Midway. I load 13.5 gr of 2400 and get 1285 fps out of my 6" 686 and 1700 fps out of my 20" Rossi 92

I just had one of my brainstorms that ends up having been thought of before.

SW RN lead bullet. Round nose with just enough of a step to make the paper cut well.

Look at ACME bullets and you'll see they already make such an animal.

__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Gust make sure ihe point cant hit the primer.

IDK how well those SWCs are going to feed in a lever gun.

The Hornaday 140 RNFP Cowboy bullet is designed specifically for that purpose. I've shot over 1,000 of them through my revolvers and they're good for light plinking loads. They should be fine for steel. They're very soft, swaged lead, so don't try to push them very fast. The graphite lube is also on the messy side.

I currently use Bayou 158s for IDPA but I'm not really happy with the accuracy I've gotten with a variety of powders. I cast a full wadcutter from an M&P mold that is wicked accurate, but just too difficult for fast reloads from a speedloader.

I also hate the little non-holes full RNs leave. The Hornady has a meplat so it does better. I need to find a 158-grain TC mold.

BTW, one big advantage of the coated bullets is how clean they shoot vs traditional lubed lead bullets. If you can find a coated RNFP or TC design, I'd suggest giving them a try.

Great info! I'm hoping to shoot tomorrow to test what I have and i've been considering coated bullets for my next purchase. Missouri bullets lists a RNFP coated for tubular mags so I reckon I'll try some of 'em.

Took the 586-4, the 66-4 (both 4") and the new to me 1894 and shot over the chronograph:

revolvers.....900fps

rifle.....1150fps

SWC's fed fine in rifle, a couple of hickups but since this rifle has seen very little use I'm leaving it alone until I can slick it up.

All loads are in Starline brass, 5.4 grs SR 7625 and CCI 550 primers. 1.61 COL SWC's are Missouri Action, 18BHN at .358

I've used plated in both my .38 revolver and my Henry lever. I do load predominantly .357 for the rifle to avoid a crud ring at the .38 line. The plated round nose flat point, truncated cone, and hollow points have all run fine in both. I recently tried some coated SWCs. One trip to the range and found the accuracy was decent with the one powder tried. Also found the rifle fed the SWCs just fine. Your rifle may vary. My rifle was a little pickier about ammo when brand new. After several hundred rounds through it and several cleanings, it smoothed up. Some of that may have been learning how to operate the lever with authority. Some may have been using an FCD when crimping.

After several rounds through the rifle the feeding is getting better and better. No hiccups at all with SWC. However, I did decide to order Missouri coated RNFP bullets. We only shoot steel so scoring with paper isn't a big deal. Once I try these in my revolvers I'll settle on a load and be done with experimenting, or not.

Powder Valley had 8# of Universal yesterday so I picked one up. It'll replace this old SR 7625 I'm about to run dry.