.357 Mag Lever Rifle Loads?

[okie]

It's a pretty small gun. Feels tiny compared to all of my bolt actions.

that was a jab to you becoming a bovine shepard LOL

 

[Bill K]

May end up with a newer one, Win94 or something, in 357 Mag to add to my Original Win 94, bought in 1949, 30 WCF. I use the 170 cast lead for plinking and went to the non-lead bullet for game hunting to be legal in Commie California. But it does the job.

 

[LVLAaron]

Moved to reloading and my announcement of becoming a cowboy was removed!

 

[ebb]

I think that is a good idea, much better that some 7 foot tall Okeechobee bull rider calling you out on it. And while I dig the lever guns you guys have posted pictures of, I only have one word for you 30/30. I restored one my friend Steve forgot about in a wet gun case after the roof blew off of his house in 2004, he died of heart failure and I gave it back to his son. I've got 2 left a never fired Marlin, and a bag of parts Winchester. The Marlin is perfect the Winchester is not even close to perfect.

 

[LVLAaron]

I would have gotten a 30/30.... but I'm all set up for .357

 

[joshb]

I would have gotten a 30/30.... but I'm all set up for .357

You picked right. Wait until I’m ready to sell one of mine. I have two Marlins and two Winchesters in 30/30.

 

[K22]

Gee! I wish I hadn't read this post! It reminds of a Marlin 357 Magnum Rifle I had several years ago and traded it. One of the worst moves I ever made, and this post reminds me of that stupid decision!

Now I want one! But I will take a cold shower and restraint myself.

PS: I used 2400 and 158 grain jacket soft points in mine and it was a real hammer and relatively accurate for a lever rifle. Also, the rifle was very reliable. It was also extremely fun to shoot. Dumb and dumber for getting rid of it.

 

[akajun]

Pretty fun I bet?

damn right it is

 

[ebb]

K22 it's only money, and money is only green paper. Skip the shower and swipe the card.

 

[Adam in WI]

Thread title editor strikes again, lol

 

[nakneker]

I would have gotten a 30/30.... but I'm all set up for .357

357 is a fun one, especially with a can.

 

[Krogen]

There's something about a lever gun that appeals to me. Their simplicity, ruggedness and functionality contrast with high end precision rifles. Even more so, are iron-sighted single shot rifles. Yesterday a friend let me fire his Trap-door. It ticked a lot of boxes! Iron sights, cast bullets, black powder, single-shot, and smoke! A simple almost 150 year old rifle had me grinning like a kid.

 

[joshb]

Woohoo! I actually managed to sneak this JM Marlin 44 Magnum out of Gunbroker at a good price! Thanks for fanning the flames Aaron!

 

[dhagerty40]

The locals here got me switched from Pistol silhouette to lever action rifle silhouette and now own 3 lever actions! still looking for a 30/30 with 22-24" barrel!

My 357 is a Rossi R92 Stainless with 24" octagon barrel. The load it likes (for pistol cartridge silhouette) is 6.1grs of Unique and an Xtreme 125gr copper plated FP bullet.

Now, for you guys with the 44Mag Marlins, Beware it will depend when and who made the Rifle.
The early (before Remington) had 2 different rifling's. If it is Ballard rifling, no problems. If it has Micro-Groove rifling The trick for cast bullets is to size the bullet to .432".

The Remington Marlin 44 (which I have) only has a 38 twist and I had to push a max load to get a 240gr to stabilize!

The Ruger Marlin's I am hearing nothing but good info on them as they use the faster twist.

 

[nakneker]

Woohoo! I actually managed to sneak this JM Marlin 44 Magnum out of Gunbroker at a good price!View attachment 1589127

Congrats! Nice rifle!

 

[LVLAaron]

Are there any issues with light loads of 296? Wanting to stay subsonic

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Woohoo! I actually managed to sneak this JM Marlin 44 Magnum out of Gunbroker at a good price! Thanks for fanning the flames Aaron!View attachment 1589127

Nice JM stamp and Stainless!

 

[nakneker]

Are there any issues with light loads of 296? Wanting to stay subsonic


View attachment 1589136

I don’t have any experience with 296 and subsonic loads. I’d think Unique, 231 and the such would be good - fast burning powders. I’ve been using a lot of unique for 30-30, 44 mag and 45 bolt subsonic loads. It’s not position sensitive in the case and I haven’t had any pressure spikes or weirdness. I would guess it would work well in 357 mag lever loads but I don’t have any experience with it. Just thinking out loud.

 

[RegionRat]

Nothing wrong with those start loads, but the accuracy and Velocity Stat is always an individual outcome.

When I used to play with subs, powders like 231, Unique, Clays, Red Dot, and Trail Boss were tried.
The ones like H110, were not happy till they were making nearer to full pressure. More recently, folks have also been running Titegroup. (I have lots of SASS folks at my club.)

Trail Boss has been curtailed till they come up with a different plant or process, so I wouldn't get to attached to it cause it is unobtanium once it is all burned up. It was the GO TO powder for what you want to do.

Always take your long brass rod and mallet to the range when playing with subs and start without the can just for safety. Be sure every shot actually exits the bbl.

 

[dhagerty40]

I have to agree with them. Never had good luck with reduced loads with either 296 or H110 when it comes to accuracy.