im curious if anyone has tried shooting this ammo in a handgun, and if so what were the results? i have boxes and boxes of it in .357, but no longer own a .357 rifle/carbine.

I cannot imagine anyone loading factory ammo over SAAMI spec and then selling it. It may be stout and towards the upper range and may rattle your cage, but it's safe in your revolver unless it says on the box DON'T CHOOT IN HANDGUNS. But I still don't think it's unsafe because what if you had the ammo without the box that said don't shoot in handguns and you shot it and it blew up.
Think of it this way-either way if your gun blows up you'll have a whopper of a lawsuit

Sorry-that's the lawyer in me talking

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I run it in my 629 while hog hunting. Quite effective, and no problems that I can tell.

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I've shot it out of a Ruger GP100 and S&W 28-2 with no trouble at all.

Accuracy was excellent out of the Ruger and terrible out of the 28-2.

140 grain 357 flextip , M28-2 6 inch
low : 1356
high : 1461
es : 105
avg : 1409
sd : 33

225 grain 45 Colt flextip , M25-5 6 inch
low : 861
high : 913
es : 52
avg : 886
sd : 14

both loads seem to shoot pretty good. however just remember that Hornady ammo with the flextip will have cases that are about .060 shorter. I believe that was done to keep a standard oal length for cartridge.

I shot it out of a 686 before with no issues.

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It will be fine in a handgun. Hornady shows it in S&W revolvers in their catalogue. I have shot the 44 Mags in a S&W and it shot great.

It hammered a big pig out of a Winchester Trapper in 44 Mag.

Just because the bullet makes the ammo safe to use in a tube feed carbine doesn't mean you can only shoot it in a rifle. Any factory handgun caliber ammo can be safely shot in a handgun of that caliber.

The added velocity comes from the bullet profile, not making the ammo "hotter".

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SWCA #3437

I pushed a few out of an SP 101 (bought it 'cause I liked the red tips ).

Fired OK, but was pretty dirty. I suspect the cartridges are formulated for longer carbine barrels, and don't function quite as well in a shorter pistol barrel.

I've relegated it to the drawer until I get a carbine.

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In fact, VERY accurate in Model 29 & Model 27.
Terry

I've shot it in .357's and .45 Colt... and while its perfectly good ammo, the bullet itself didnt perform well in my tests. Very little expansion in either caliber (there are videos on YouTube showing the same thing). It may be fine out of a carbine, but I wouldnt buy any more of it to shoot out of a handgun.

Might save you some money and time... The 450 Lever Evolution ammo shoots so well I've bought many boxes and have one fine XLR that shoots one ragged hole out to 150 yards with little concentration. Because the 450 shot so well, I bought a Marlin 44 Cowboy and sent it to Brockman's for all the custom work he offered - spent about $1,600 on the total rifle; was just sure that 20' barrel and the 44 mag Lever Evolution would shoot like it did in my 450. It did not - shoot a shotgun pattern at 50 yards - totally sucked. So I sold the rifle. The ammo shoots a lot better out of my 16' Marlin 1895p, a short barrelled carbine with a scout scope. So, I have a ton of the 44 mag Lever Evolution ammo and plan to shoot it out of my numerous 44 mag revolvers and that 1895p. Bottom line, go for a shorter barrell on a rifle - like a man said here his Trapper shoots it well. Talked to some reloading experts and there is a point of diminishing return as a function of a longer barrel with 44 mag loads in a rifle.

Hornady's .357 Magnum Leverevolution ammo is tested from a 8" barrel and 18" barrel. It is right on their website.
The 140 gr. FTX is what I plan on using in my 686.

If the .357 shoots as well as their 30-30 then I will be over the top happy.

have it in my 66-2 now shoots great.

Your answer is, "Yes it can be used in a handgun."

I've used them in my S&W 581 4" 357. Works well on possums.

I don't think you will have any problems with it, but the bullet has a velocity window in which you get optimum expansion. You probably won't get that out of a short barrel.

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This was my question about it.If the bullet is designed to perform at max from a rife/carbine length bbl,I was curious about the actual performance from handgun.
The only lever evolution I have ever tried was in .35 Rem. It gave a nice whoomph to the shoulder and is a deer slayer for sure. That load,I liked.

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I've also used it in my 629 with no problems.

Looks like I'm the only one so far to shoot Leverevolution through my J-frame. 1150 fps!! Sure tries to squirt out of my hand though.....

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Stu--- that is an awesome load in the 35 Rem. And CHEAPER than the Core Lokt!!!!

I recently tested Hornady's 140 gr. FTX in my 686-1 6" and although it was great at 25 yards, it was a complete disappointment at 50 yds.

I am thinking it is the 686 and not the Hornady. I will be going back with my 28-2 4" just for curosity. Not a fair comparison, but it is all I have.

I was testing different rounds to carry in my M&P 340 with the scandium frame. I shot 1 round and that was enough. In a bigger, heavier gun I would guess it is fine. However, in a smaller lighter gun it HURTS! Since this is my only .357 mag I gave the other 19 rounds to a friend for his carbine.

Both said .45Colt Honady FTX 225gr loads are safe out of my Governors for defense ammo.

OldArcher, out...

Thanks for all the great advice - I had the same questions about using lever in my 629-4 for deer hunting. If it is safe - I'm going to give it a try for accuracy. "629/29" owners please chime in on this specific application.

It would necessarily meet SAAMI specs, therefore would considered safe for using in any gun chambered for it. I think someone else may have mentioned it, but I have seen numerous comments on other forums about bullet expansion performance of the LevRevolution not being the greatest one could wish for. The LR gimmick is a more aerodynamic bullet shape which retains velocity better at longer ranges - and that's all.

I shoot from my 627 pro but performance was lack luster

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" But I still don't think it's unsafe because what if you had the ammo without the box that said don't shoot in handguns and you shot it and it blew up.

That sounds like good logic to me, however, companies like Buffalo Bore make "hot" ammo, like .45 Colt Plus P, thats sold as "Ruger Only", or some such, and if you had the ammo without the box, you might blow up your Judge (gun).
Just something I have often wondered about, which probably says something about me!

Rick