Max COL for my 357 mag Henry

[Mikeinkaty]

Max COL for my 357 mag Henry big boy is 1.7155". I've been reloading to 1.59".

I measured the max COL by slitting the top of a cartridge and inserting a bullet just enough that it would slide in easily then chambered the round. No primer or powder. After extracting it measured 1.7155" with my calipers which may be a tad off.

So, this means that my bullets have been jumping 0.1255" before engaging with the lands. Is that good or bad?

 

[edonwheels73]

From what I've seen a .003-.010 jump is best. I would load at 1.710 then check your group. That's going to change your pressure too so you may need to adjust your load.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

 

[snakeye]

Your loading them way short of the lands...normally loads are around .010 to .015 off the lands for better accuracy

 

[Mikeinkaty]

But, 1.59" is what the book says! Maybe that was for pistol rounds? If I adjusted for that then I don't think I would go over 1.70"'. Also with the MBC bullets I've been buying I've been crimping in the cantelure. Is it ok to crimp in a lube groove? Would I need to get bullets without grooves?

Or, why worry about it. The thing is more accurate than I am as it is!!

 

[LAA]

Hornady manual lists 1.59 for both the rifle & pistol sections.

 

[snakeye]

That load in Hornady is for the bullet and powder that was used. If you want to load off the lands then you have to adjust the load for that. You can load and shoot the 1.59 recommended but accuracy is going to suffer that far off the lands. So to answer your question you can shoot loads jumping 0.1255" before engaging with the lands just don't expect tight groups

 

[Mikeinkaty]

Actually, at 1.70", my Bullets would still be short of the forcing cone in my 686 revolver.

 

[radio11]

The longer OAL may not cycle properly in your lever gun. That's a much bigger issue than any gain in accuracy you may get. On the other hand, if it works, you may squeeze out another eighth inch at 100 yards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Pisgah]

How close your bullet is to the lands is strictly secondary to how long the cartridge can be and still feed reliably through the action. If it'll feed, loading a round long does no harm, but it really may not do much good, either.

 

[Clovishound]

I've been loading to the canelure in all my .357 rounds. My Henry seems to like them.

So, what happens when you load .38s for the Henry? No way you are going to be able to load them that long.

FWIW, I normally only shoot .357s in my Big Boy, but distance from the lands is not why.

 

[Mikeinkaty]

I've been loading to the canelure in all my .357 rounds. My Henry seems to like them.

So, what happens when you load .38s for the Henry? No way you are going to be able to load them that long.

FWIW, I normally only shoot .357s in my Big Boy, but distance from the lands is not why.

I got 1.5" groups at 50 yards with 38 Spl in my Henry and using a scope. That caused me to do some thinking. And that bullet (125 grain coated lead) was having to jump like 1/4". If I loaded them long I should get higher velocity without unduly increasing peak pressure. While not near hog strength, they'd be good for rabbits and armadillos! And pesky raccoons robbing my corn.

 

[rwsmith]

As long as they feed...

Revolvers are easy. Max COL is when the cylinder won't turn any more. Rifle actions have to feed rounds. There may be a limit in any rifle. Generally speaking, more accurate rounds are set closer to the lands. Competitive bench shooters often load their rounds until the bullet does touch the lands, but those are bolt guns and may even be fed singly.

 

[Mikeinkaty]

maximum length for feeding.

I made up 4 dummy rounds of 357 magnum.

COL of 1.6615", 1.6630", 1.6875", and 1.6900" would all feed with no problems through my 20" Big Boy rifle. 1.6900" would be 0.0020" less than the maximum COL for the rifle.

That would be seating at the top of the lube groove, leaving only about 0.1300" inside the cartridge with the MBC 125 grain coated bullet.

Mike