Posted about it in another thread. It is a 24 inch one. I've never loaded specifically for a rifle in a handgun caliber. I'd like to take advantage of this rifle's extra bbl length. Any tips or pointers for loading the 357 for rifle. I am just starting to cast some 357 429 hollowpoint bullets that I am going to powder coat/bake whatever you call it and would like to try some in it but have many many 180 gr(and some larger) jacketed to load too. Help??
Bought a 94 Win in 357
- Thread starter Skeet 028
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1sailor
Member
Hodgdon lists .357 rifle loads on their website. They're actually the same as the pistol loads just showing the higher velocity through a rifle. Probably not safe to load them any hotter than your pistol rounds to avoid any mix ups.
I like #2400 behind my cast 168's in my 357 Rossi.
I have reloaded my handgun cartridge rifles to the same levels as for my handguns (mostly .44 Magnum). The advantage is higher velocities due to longer barrels and I have found no need to load "rifle only" loads. I've loaded some pretty hot loads for my handguns (4 in 44 Magnum and just 1 in 357), but never exceeded handgun data for my rifles...
Congratulations
I really like handgun caliber lever actions. I have quite a few in 22LR, 357 Magnum, 41 Magnum and 45 LC
I agree on the top end just use what works in our revolvers.
H110 is a great powder for long barrels. My 357 magnum handgun loads really move out in the lever gun
My 125JHPs which chrono at 1300+ from a snubby model 27, 1600 from the 8" Python, get to just under 2200 in the 1892 lever action rifle
The 158s hit 1200, 1400, 1750 respectively
My 180s are not that fast since I loaded them to be sub-sonic, not full power, in the lever action.
They get shot in a lever gun that I have threaded for a suppressor
One of the really cool things that can be done with a handgun caliber lever gun is the development of a cat sneeze load. Paco Kelly did an article about this 20+ years ago.
Using pure lead balls and small powder charges of fast powder you work up a slow load that still clears your barrel. The result is an almost silent load, it is as quiet as a cat sneeze so it is hearing safe
My 45LC load puts 2 .458 diameter balls into an inch of each other at 20 yards. Those weigh 140 grains each and move out at roughly 600 FPS. It like a double tap from a 38 special snub but at distance.
I never worked one up for the 357 since I had the 45LC first.
I really like handgun caliber lever actions. I have quite a few in 22LR, 357 Magnum, 41 Magnum and 45 LC
I agree on the top end just use what works in our revolvers.
H110 is a great powder for long barrels. My 357 magnum handgun loads really move out in the lever gun
My 125JHPs which chrono at 1300+ from a snubby model 27, 1600 from the 8" Python, get to just under 2200 in the 1892 lever action rifle
The 158s hit 1200, 1400, 1750 respectively
My 180s are not that fast since I loaded them to be sub-sonic, not full power, in the lever action.
They get shot in a lever gun that I have threaded for a suppressor
One of the really cool things that can be done with a handgun caliber lever gun is the development of a cat sneeze load. Paco Kelly did an article about this 20+ years ago.
Using pure lead balls and small powder charges of fast powder you work up a slow load that still clears your barrel. The result is an almost silent load, it is as quiet as a cat sneeze so it is hearing safe
My 45LC load puts 2 .458 diameter balls into an inch of each other at 20 yards. Those weigh 140 grains each and move out at roughly 600 FPS. It like a double tap from a 38 special snub but at distance.
I never worked one up for the 357 since I had the 45LC first.
I had an original 1892 re-barreled to 44 mag.. But I never even tried pushing it. Those old actions may not handle the 296 loads anyway. I have used 2400 and 4227 in my 357 mag loads. Want to try L'il Gun in this rifle....maybe
A quick check of a couple of manuals indicates lighter loads of H110 for the rifles than for handgun. Of course while achieving much higher velocities in the rifle.
muddocktor
Member
Probably different powder lots and tested at different times of the year, Skeet 028.
I've been shooting the same ammo I load for my revolvers and my Coonan in my 20" barreled Rossi with no problems whatsoever for 20+ years. The 1892 action is hell for strong anyways, especially done with modern steels like the repro guns have. Like others have said above, you will see much higher velocities out of the rifle than the revolvers. I don't have the numbers right at hand, but I have chrono'ed some MBC 140 grain Zingers out of both revolver and my Rossi and they gained around 400 ft/sec and were a shade over 1900 fps out of the Rossi. The slower powders will see the most gains, since you have a longer barrel for them to work in and you also gain velocity due to the closed chamber of the rifle versus open chamber of a revolver that has a cylinder to barrel gap.
I've been shooting the same ammo I load for my revolvers and my Coonan in my 20" barreled Rossi with no problems whatsoever for 20+ years. The 1892 action is hell for strong anyways, especially done with modern steels like the repro guns have. Like others have said above, you will see much higher velocities out of the rifle than the revolvers. I don't have the numbers right at hand, but I have chrono'ed some MBC 140 grain Zingers out of both revolver and my Rossi and they gained around 400 ft/sec and were a shade over 1900 fps out of the Rossi. The slower powders will see the most gains, since you have a longer barrel for them to work in and you also gain velocity due to the closed chamber of the rifle versus open chamber of a revolver that has a cylinder to barrel gap.
I don't know. I can only speculate that because the bullet is stuck in the barrel longer, pressures have the opportunity to rise higher, past max.
Newer (for me) Lyman and Lee books show identical loading for each.
Newer (for me) Lyman and Lee books show identical loading for each.
For some odd reason I have less 357 brass than any others in the handgun line. Even less than 41 mag. I have been out in the grudge looking for some cases and have only found 400 once fired 357s...and half of them are nickle cases. I do still have a load of 357 mag reloaded ammo I got in that buy from the estate of the guy that died in a house fire. Some is marked with the loads some not. What I have left is all jacketed reloads. Sold all the 38s and 357s loaded with light cast bullets. Still have 30 boxes...so the ones that are marked with the loads are going to get checked for accuracy. I may actually shoot some that check out. I don't wand to pull 1500 bullets with a wack a molee bullet puller. Of the marked ones only 2 are loaded with H-110...and I can pull them. The rest are Unique and 2400 according to their labels. The other 18 boxes are unmarked reloads.. The bullets in the marked ones are almost all 158 gr XTPs
Ivan the Butcher
Member
In the early 80's I got my first Marlin 357 ($158 OTD!) I developed a load before the loading manuals took up the idea. My best/favorite load was 180 gr Hornady soft hollow point, over 4227 with a CCI small pistol mag primer. Was the best accuracy (maybe because of the Micro-groove rifling). I tried 200 grain RNSP .358 bullets for 35 REM, but couldn't get them fast enough without blowing sidewalls of the case with the powders of the day! 4227 (H or IMR) is a little different burn rate than 296/H110 and just worked better for that load.
It is just below the max. load for handguns, so is plenty safe! The exact load is lost in the cobwebs of my mind, but this will give you someplace to start.
Ivan
It is just below the max. load for handguns, so is plenty safe! The exact load is lost in the cobwebs of my mind, but this will give you someplace to start.
Ivan
Ivan the Butcher
Member
I never had a pistol caliber model 94, I've had 3 Marlin 94's and 2 Rossi 92's. All worked well. Except well worn Marlins get into problems with 38 Special loads feeding. (that has to do with the lever extension wearing a grove in the bottom of the elevator.) Think of a 357 lever action as a Cowboy M1 Carbine!
Ivan
Ivan
p8riot
US Veteran
I just put a Winchester 1873 Short Rifle in 357 on order at my LGS. Love the shorter lever stroke over the 94.
Model 1873 Short Rifle Color Case Hardened
Model 1873 Short Rifle Color Case Hardened
old&slow
Member
A 158 gr loaded with 13.5 grs. of 2400 chrono's at 1243 fps. out of my 4" revolver and 1677 fps. out of my 16" Rossi 92 .357.
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For a short time I had a 94 Win in 44 mag but never shot it. It was also the rifle version. Guy that bought it won't part with it.
Ivan that was a great post...357 Lever gun is a cowboys M1 carbine. Perfect!
Ivan that was a great post...357 Lever gun is a cowboys M1 carbine. Perfect!
17.0 grs of 296 under a 158 gr Hornady JHP chronographs right at
1800 fps out of my 18.5" Marlin .357. Lil Gun is supposed to be the
powder to use for the highest velocities from a .357 rifle. I've got a
can but I haven't tried any loads with it yet.
1800 fps out of my 18.5" Marlin .357. Lil Gun is supposed to be the
powder to use for the highest velocities from a .357 rifle. I've got a
can but I haven't tried any loads with it yet.
I have a 94 375 rifle and use H322 or H4198 with the 200gr Sierra.
With the 220 Hornady I use H4198 for around 2200fps.
One manual list the 255gr Barnes with IMR3031 powder for 1903_2051fps.
Reloading is the way to go, with the cost of the ammo, if you can find it.
Good shooting.
With the 220 Hornady I use H4198 for around 2200fps.
One manual list the 255gr Barnes with IMR3031 powder for 1903_2051fps.
Reloading is the way to go, with the cost of the ammo, if you can find it.
Good shooting.
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