reloading .357 mag. rifle

[rickwh]

I am waiting for a Winchester 1873 lever, 20" barrel in .357 mag. My Smith 686 + .357 mag. with 3" barrel likes Longshot 8.4 gr. using Montana Gold 158 gr. JHP or Xtreme FPCP around 1100 fps. Using small reg. primers. Any suggestions for what a good (max. or near max) rifle load might be? I've got HP 38, WST, Longshot, 300 MP, and Unique to play with now. I have checked the Hodgdon site and have load data for 18.5" barrel in .357 mag., but I thought I'd check with you fellows as well. Safe to use JHP in a tube fed lever? Any advise appreciated from those who know more. Evan.

 

[scooter123]

Jacketed hollow point is about as safe as you can find for a tube magazine lever action. The big issue will be the developed velocities in a rifle barrel, both the Speer Gold Dot and Hornady XTP are limited to about 1500 fps. IMO the bullet you'll probably need to look for is the Hornady FTX Rifle (do NOT confuse this with the Handgun FTX). BTW, someday I hope that Hornady will release a Magnum XTP in the 357 diameter, from what I've seen Magnum XTP's are good to 2200 fps.

As for powder, for a rifle you'll want a slow burning Magnum Pistol powder or a relatively fast burning Rifle powder like 5744. IMO of the powders you listed 300MP is probably the most suitable. Unfortunatly as it's a pretty new powder you may find it difficult to find a rifle specific recipe for it. Failing a rifle specific recipe you may want to start at the halfway point between the starting and maximum loads.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

Before you load up a bunch of hot loads, the 73 action isn't the strongest action. I know if it says it has to handle SAMMI listed pressures, but for how long? I have a 73 in 44 Special and love it, I know a lot of people that have 45 Colt 73's, but Magnums are a whole different thing. After you decide you can look in reloading manuals, most of the good one's have pressure readings, I say stick to the lower ones. Years ago I made a H110/WW296 with 158 and 180 grain JSP bullets, for a Marlin, but they were very hot. Handloader Magazine has had many articals on this subject. The latest edition of Lyman's has a 357 Rifle section also. Ivan

 

[Buckey08]

I second the Alliant 300MP powder!

 

[klausinak]

I agree with Ivan, the '73's "toggle link" isn't the strongest around. I'd do a little research. I load 44-40 for an 1889 Marlin & according to Lyman, the 1873 is considered a "weak action". If you want to hot rod it get a '92. The other thing you're now going to have to deal with is some bullets just won't feed. What you're starting with should have no issues, but lever guns & SWC's generally don't get along; also your nose to crimp measurement becomes very critical.

Just my .02

-Klaus

 

[mtgianni]

The 73 probably will not handle the same loads as your revolver. I would keep it at lead cowboy action levels.

 

[Vulcan Bob]

There is really no "rifle loads", that is loads that surpass standard handgun loads for the .357 Mag that I have seen listed in my manuals. Ken Waters book Pet Loads does have a good section on .357 Mag carbines. The 73's action should handle SAMMI spec loads but as with any firearm a steady diet of max loads may accelerate wear. I have two pistol cartridge rifles, an Uberti 1873 in .45 Colt and a Marlin 1894 CB Limited in .44 Mag/.44 Special and I keep the loads used by my handguns (flat nose bullet profile) for use in the rifles. This way I do not have to worry about rifle loads in my handguns. Overall cartridge length is critical for proper feeding in the lever guns.

Making "dummy rounds" to check function works well for me, you don't want a live round jammed up in the action (been there, don't want to do it again)! My Marlin will feed .44 Special LSWC's quite well but haven't tried LSWC's in the Uberti. Good luck and have fun with your new rifle!

 

[ShelbyV8]

I always used WW296, which is now is WW296/H110, I loaded them at near published max load. They worked very well in my Marlin.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Of the powders you listed Power Pro 300-MP will deliver the highest velocities.

You said you checked the Hodgdon site and they have load data for an 18.5" barrel. There is no special data for a Carbine. If you cross check the data on the handgun and Carbine pages you will see the charge weights are exactly the same and only the velocities listed are different. Of course that's because of the longer barrel but the charge weights are the same because pressure is pressure and that will not change because you shoot the round from a longer or shorter barrel.

I did a lot of testing in my Carbine and was shocked at the velocities, they were higher than I thought. They actually reached the velocities listed on the Hodgdon site or were extremely close, within 20 fps or less. In a few cases my velocities were even 30 fps over what they listed without going over the Max charge they listed.

Using H110/W296 & CCI-550 primers
125gr XTP AV=2239 fps
140gr Sierra JHC AV=1976 fps
150gr Sierra JHC AV=1826 fps
170gr Sierra JHC AV=1699 fps
180gr XTP AV=1510 fps
180gr Cast Performance AV= 1547 fps

Using 2400 & CI-500 primer
125gr XTP AV=2055 fps
140gr Sierra JHC AV=1930 fps
150gr Sierra JHC AV=1810 fps

Using Lil'Gun & CCI-550 primers
170gr Sierra JHC AV=1793 fps
180gr XTP AV=1584 fps
180gr Cast Performance AV= 1657 fps

If you already have a good .357 Magnum load using the Max charge of Longshot why not use the same load in your Carbine? If you're generating 1100 fps from a handgun you will probably increase that velocity by 100 fps or more because your Carbine has a 20" barrel where as mine has an 18.5" barrel.

Edit:
BTW, who made your Win 73?

 

[papajohn428]

One powder not mentioned but worth trying is Hodgdon's Lil Gun, it burns hotter but it also gives higher velocities at LOWER pressure than similar powders. It handles reduced (5-10%) loads better than most "magnum" powders, and it meters like water. In my Marlin 1894C I use 16.2 grains of LilGun with a 158 JHP for 1750 fps (18.5" bbl), the max load is 18.0 grains and the top end pressure is still WELL below SAAMI max pressure. It burns hot, and max loads in revolvers have been accused of causing premature wear via heat/abrasion/sandblasting effects, but in rifles it shows no such ill effects. I burn about twelve pounds of it a year, and snag every jug I see!

 

[rickwh]

Thank you for your response - of course my new Win. 1873 is Japan made. Wish it was American, but Japan loves American Western history, and does make good stuff. Evan, from Hawaii.

 

[Nemo288]

Maybe too little too late in this thread butt:
As an owner of several 44 Mag carbines (W92 and W94 actions),
I have always just used my (full) revolver loads or followed some advanced
wisdom that says to reduce your max revolver load by at least a half grain.
The closed action can potentially increase pressure by an unknown amount.
Another thing to consider is that with "target" loads using fast powder
you are not going to get the extra velocity you will with full house loads.
In fact with some mouse loads the bullet may be slowing down as it exits the barrel.
Make sure they do actually leave the barrel

---
Nemo

 

[Fla_Sun]

I like the Extreme 158 gr with 16 gr 300-mp. Great plinking load in both rifle @ 100 yds and pistol @ 25 yds. About 1700 fps from 18.5" rifle and 1100 from 4" revolver. Not a hot load but not a wimp either.