.38/.357 in a rifle

[COLT45SA]

There's been a lot of posts about different calibers in different rifles here, but very, very few about reloading .38 and .357 cartridges for rifles. I've seen quite a few Rossi lever action rifles sold in this area and very little reloading posts, recommendations, and experiences about reloading for rifles. I'm looking at a Winchester 1885 by Miroku chambered in .357 right now, and even the loading manuals provide little to no information~!!

 

[Rook 6]

I probably am missing the intent of the question but I’ve never heard of any load info other than what’s published for pistol and light cast loads for levergun silhouette. Are you seeking load data outside of one of those two categories? Not aware of anything else.

 

[Jason D Hostetter]

They take standard Ruger heavy pistol loads, like for a Super Blackhawk. They will handle 444, 45-70, 44mag, 357, 44-40, 45 LC, etc anything less than 45k psi. 125s or 158s and H110 is your friend.

 

[dellet]

Not sure what you’re looking for but, Hodgdon has data for bullets 110-180 grain and about 10 different powders, 18.5” barrel. Hornady about, the same for a 16”. Speer and Sierra both have rifle data. So there’s plenty of data out there.

Hodgdon is the only data with pressures listed and of course max loads are limited to SAAMI Cartridge Max. The Miroku action handle just about anything you can throw at it, but you will never find published loads exceeding SAAMI max.

Sadly if you’re looking for people actually shooting the cartridge in rifles to share data, you would probably have better luck with the Contender crowd. More pistol caliber rifles dedicated to accuracy vs the cowboy shooters. There’s plenty of crossover here, but it’s outside the focus.

 

[AA Ron]

A case full of H110/W296 and a 158gr XTP is all you need.
Have fun,
Aaron

 

[K22]

Many years ago, I had a 357 Magnum rifle, Marlin.

My memory isn't the best these days but if my memory is correct, the 158 grain Hornaday XTP's with 2400 powder shot the best accuracy wise. The twist rate is the key element in my experience to finding a bullet that works well accuracy wise.

PS: One of the truly regrets I have is trading away that rifle. Dump and dumper.

 

[Krogen]

I use a Rossi R92 rifle in lever action silhouette. I prefer the 24" octagon barrelled rifle over the 20" carbine for this. The carbine is too light for a steady hold. Targets are out to 100 m so accuracy is somewhat important. Why "somewhat?" Because the "stock nut" is loose (that's me...) and sighting (tang sight) isn't terribly precise.

Having said all that, I shoot IMR4227 in .357 cases with Badman's 157 gr round nose flat point. The load will hold around 2 1/2" at 100 m from a bench. Good enough.

The rifle doesn't feed semi-wadcutters. Their shoulders cause hang-ups. Stubby RNFPs don't feed well either. The "bulbous bow" bangs into the roof of the chamber when feeding. Not a problem with Badman's sleeker bullet. The gun also doesn't care much for .38 Special cases.

Tomorrow there's a lever action silhouette match at Machias if anybody is in the area and interested. Yeah, it says "Seattle" but that's a leftover from the 1960's when the club was closer to Seattle. The name stuck around, but the club didn't.

Seattle Rifle & Pistol Association - Cowboy Rifle and Hunter Pistol Silhouette Matches

www.seattlerifle.org

 

[COLT45SA]

Not sure what you’re looking for but, Hodgdon has data for bullets 110-180 grain and about 10 different powders, 18.5” barrel. Hornady about, the same for a 16”. Speer and Sierra both have rifle data. So there’s plenty of data out there.

Hodgdon is the only data with pressures listed and of course max loads are limited to SAAMI Cartridge Max. The Miroku action handle just about anything you can throw at it, but you will never find published loads exceeding SAAMI max.

Sadly if you’re looking for people actually shooting the cartridge in rifles to share data, you would probably have better luck with the Contender crowd. More pistol caliber rifles dedicated to accuracy vs the cowboy shooters. There’s plenty of crossover here, but it’s outside the focus.

Thanks for that~!!! When I see manuals at the Gun shows they're always wrapped in plastic so I can't open them and see the contents. Show this weekend so now I'll know which one to buy~!

 

[Kittitas George]

I've had a couple of Marlins in pistol calibers, 38-357 and 41 Mag. Feeding and the following frustration was always the problem. The idea was an easy carry gun on horseback in Montana's "real bear" country. Put a Mod-70 under your leg, problem solved.

 

[5spd]

H110, 125g, 158g bullets was my go to when I had a Marlin 1894

 

[357Mag]

There's been a lot of posts about different calibers in different rifles here, but very, very few about reloading .38 and .357 cartridges for rifles. I've seen quite a few Rossi lever action rifles sold in this area and very little reloading posts, recommendations, and experiences about reloading for rifles. I'm looking at a Winchester 1885 by Miroku chambered in .357 right now, and even the loading manuals provide little to no information~!!

Colt45SA -

Howdy !

I’ve owned & shot a Marlin 1894SC .357Mag, an H & R SB2 in .357Maximum, a benchrest-grade single shot bolt action chambered in my “ .358AutoMag “
( .357AutoMag neck expanded .001” to full .358” rifle cal ). I have also loaded for and shot 2 Marlin M-336s in .35 Remington, and a CVA Hunter .35 Remington. Most of the .35 Remington work has been w/ lower power and reduced loads using SR4756,
SR4759, H4895; and H4198.

*** In the 1894 Marlin .357 Mag, the H & R .357MAX, and the custom “ .358AutoMag “,
WW296 and Magnum primers shot best; under all bullet weights I tried. That included things like Lyman SWCs of 158-172gr, and Hornady + Sierra jacketed bullets of 170-180gr ***

*** For my .357Mag loads, I found the same load that has shot so well for me for 50yr
is 14.5gr WW296 and SP Magnum primers… under the lead SWCs of 158-172 gr.
These did not have to be GC’d. The loads worked well in a variety of brand name cases;
both nickeled and plain brass, and also in other ( Ruger and Colt ) revolvers…. shot great in my Marlin 1894SC.

* ** This powder charge wt was the minimum charge of WW296 Olin/Winchester used to list in their former reloading handout pamphlets. It is the same load I have shot/shoot in my .357Mag “ N “ frames. I loaded my .357Mag cartridges to fit the comparatively shorter “ N “ frame cylinder, and it also fed and shot well in my 1894. I was going to try “ score “ shooting @ 100yd w/ the 1894SC… just out of curiousity, but the trajectory levels and basic accuracy were too far short of what I wanted/needed ( my gun, my loads ). YRMV.


Beyond .357Mag:
In my bolt action “ AutoMag “ wildcat, plated Remington .358” cal 150gr PSPs proved to be just stupid accurate. The same bullet also shot superbly in my M-336
XLR .35 Remington.

Along with my reduced loads work in .35 Remington, here’s what I have seen range testing the SB2, and AutoMag bolt rifles: There seems a plateau is reached @ 24gr WW296 under bullet weights of 140 - 180gr; when shooting WW296 in the smaller cases from a 20 -22” barrel. IF something more than that is still desired in .35” calibre, the next incremental step up ( powder capacity wise ) would be to go with “ reduced loads “ in .35 Remington, using a powder like 2400, H4895; or H4198. For my 100yd .35” cal accuracy shooting, I have gone over to shooting reduced loads of H4198 under
“ Cutting Edge “ 150gr turned brass Extended range “ Raptor “ bullets.
But…. I digress !


Best of luck in your endeavors !

I have no pic of the 1894 .357Mag I eventually traded.


With regards,
357Mag

 

[kujuak]

Lots of discussion about 357Mag loads on the Marlin Owners Forum,, subforum "1894" for hunting loads, "Cowboy Rifles" for that sport. Lots of discussions about rifle loads 38/357.Not as technical as this site.But informative if you wish to shoot some stuff, not just paper targets with your pistol caliber rifle.

 

[COLT45SA]

Lots of discussion about 357Mag loads on the Marlin Owners Forum,, subforum "1894" for hunting loads, "Cowboy Rifles" for that sport. Lots of discussions about rifle loads 38/357.Not as technical as this site.But informative if you wish to shoot some stuff, not just paper targets with your pistol caliber rifle.

Thanks. Never been on that forum and didn't even know it existed. I'll check it out.

 

[DHD]

Not sure if your intent is to hotrod the 357 in the rifle. I also am not sure of the twist rate but suspect it should be fast enough for the up to 180 grain weight bullets.

Having the ability to hotrod the caliber out of a Freedom Arms 83, I can say the heavy weights can be very accurate. Probably the weak link is brass in the FA, and I am not sure if the lever actions want that level. A 1885 probably won't care.

A 180 grain Sierra FPJ is the most accurate bullet I have fired in the FA. My own heavy LFN-GC bullets are so close to the FPJ. I suspect the Sierra would be accurate to any range you might want to use the rifle at. H110 is the powder here IMO.

 

[Jason D Hostetter]

If you don't happen to know, some recommend W296 and some H110, they are one in the same, wrapped up in different cans with different shiny labels, for marketing. I think they've done away with W231 and W760, and kept the Hodgdon brands, which are HP-38 and H414, which makes me wonder why they still sell W296 and H110. Also makes me wonder why they still market AA2700, when it's also H414. All marketing I guess. 300MP, Enforcer, AA #9, and AA 11fs also work good for full power loads. Powders like N110 and Imr4227 work good for accuracy, but they're slower, they are extruded powders, and you just can't get enough in the case, unless you're shooting the really heavy bullets.

 

[kd4avp]

My son has one of the Henry's in 357. Loads for it just like his pistol. Actually uses the very same load data if not mistaken for both. Fired the Henry a few times myself...kind of liked that rascal.