Reloading .38/.357 magnum for rifle
- Thread starter COLT45SA
- Start date
Colt -
Howdy !
When I was shooting my Marlin M1894SC, I simply used the same loads in it as I shot in my 4", 5"; and 6"
" N " frames. Worked just fine !
I loaded Lyman SWCs of 158 -172gr over 14.5gr WW296 and SP Mag primer. This was the minimum charges o WW296 that Winchester ( Olin ) used to list in their old hand out reloading pamphlets. It was/is
a bona' fide " magnum " load. * The SWCs don't necessarily have to be GC'd, but for a longer than handgun barrel..... GC's probably wouldn't be a bad idea.
I might also have ran a few of an old Sketter Skelton load..... a 158SWC over 8gr SR4756, and SP Mag primer; all using .357Mag brass..... throught the gun. When using bullets lubed w/ Marvelube.... it smelled like I was shooting hot crayons.
Had the WW296 load in the gun, when I stumbled into a " practical handgun " shoot at a range by my best friends house. They let me run the drills, one of which was... starting out seated @ card table.... stand and engage the target across the table from you. The short-barelled Marlin held out @ nearly arm's length shot the lead bullet right through the steel target plate !
With regards,
357Mag
MikeMcCasland
Team Texas F-T/R
I had a M77/357 for a few years. H110 was the best in terms of achieving peak velocity; it'll work well with everything from 125s up to 180gr bullets.
Another good option for rifles (it reportedly gas-cuts the top strap/forcing cones on revolves) is Lil' Gun. I used that in my rifle too, and it would get good velocity, but it would get your barrel scorching hot in just a few rounds.
Alliant 2400 would be good too.
There are many pistol powders that will work with the 357, but you have to go on the slower side of the burn rate to get the most out of a rifle load.
It's probably easiest to find Lil'Gun on the shelves.
Another good option for rifles (it reportedly gas-cuts the top strap/forcing cones on revolves) is Lil' Gun. I used that in my rifle too, and it would get good velocity, but it would get your barrel scorching hot in just a few rounds.
Alliant 2400 would be good too.
There are many pistol powders that will work with the 357, but you have to go on the slower side of the burn rate to get the most out of a rifle load.
It's probably easiest to find Lil'Gun on the shelves.
JSH
Gold $$ Contributor
I use a custom mold to cast mine. Depending on alloy they weigh from 170-180+.
I have run the little Lee truncated cone bullet, was a 120 grain I believe. Made a heck of a squirrel bullet, didn’t mess them up at all.
Powder. Depends on the purpose at hand and what I have. Never seemed picky in my Marlin.
I have run the little Lee truncated cone bullet, was a 120 grain I believe. Made a heck of a squirrel bullet, didn’t mess them up at all.
Powder. Depends on the purpose at hand and what I have. Never seemed picky in my Marlin.
sneakboxer
Silver $$ Contributor
Marlin 1894 20in and 1-16 I think.
158gr XTP or 158gr Deep Curl 18.0gr 300-MP SPPM at 1775fps
180gr Lead 11.5gr AA#9 SPP at 1422fps
158gr Deep Curl 15.5gr H-110 SPPM
The 158's shoot the best for me. I have messed with the 180XTPs and they were OK but I haven't pursued them too much. The above loads shot well in a GP-100 as well. Used small pistol primers for most but mag primers for 300-MP, H110, W296. Starline brass and a Redding profile crimp die.
158gr XTP or 158gr Deep Curl 18.0gr 300-MP SPPM at 1775fps
180gr Lead 11.5gr AA#9 SPP at 1422fps
158gr Deep Curl 15.5gr H-110 SPPM
The 158's shoot the best for me. I have messed with the 180XTPs and they were OK but I haven't pursued them too much. The above loads shot well in a GP-100 as well. Used small pistol primers for most but mag primers for 300-MP, H110, W296. Starline brass and a Redding profile crimp die.
Emmett Dibble
Gold $$ Contributor
My wife and I shoot A LOT of 357 in several lever guns….
It is a rifle. There is a lot you can tune for, powder, bullet (all 4 of ours have a favorite bullet), COL, amount of crimp, primer and bullet weight…
All 4 of our current guns, Henry 20”, Rossi 24”, Marlin 24” and Uberti. All 4 have differnt twist rates, all 4 will shoot right at 2MOA with iron sights.
It is a rifle. There is a lot you can tune for, powder, bullet (all 4 of ours have a favorite bullet), COL, amount of crimp, primer and bullet weight…
All 4 of our current guns, Henry 20”, Rossi 24”, Marlin 24” and Uberti. All 4 have differnt twist rates, all 4 will shoot right at 2MOA with iron sights.
Emmett Dibble
Gold $$ Contributor
BTW, you didn’t say what rifle/barrel length you are wanting to load for? Some designs are MUCH more robust then others… ie: there are some loads that will break certain designs… My wife shoots a really hot 180gr load in her Henry for CLA rams, it’ll smooth wear out/break a ‘73 with toggle links…
rockhound78
Silver $$ Contributor
I have loaded 180 gr Rem. HP's designed for the 357 max. over a load of MP300. Great velocity and accuracy. Out of an 18" Marlin.
I only shoot 357 in revolver, but you can go to 200 gr in cast or jacketed bullets. But COAL of your rifle will be important...38 Special cases will handle the long 180 to 200 grain pointy bullets better because of the cases shorter OAL...experiment with this load data available for 200 gr. bullets.
I resized the 200 gr .358 rifle bullets to .355 & cut the points down to 185 gr and shot them in 9mm Luger auto loader...got 900 fps accuracy was okay in a 10 twist but they acted like FMJ because of the heavy rifle jackets on these bullets.
I resized the 200 gr .358 rifle bullets to .355 & cut the points down to 185 gr and shot them in 9mm Luger auto loader...got 900 fps accuracy was okay in a 10 twist but they acted like FMJ because of the heavy rifle jackets on these bullets.
I'm looking for enlightenment, are the 357 Mag lever guns capableof 40,000 or 44,000 PSI?
rockhound78
Silver $$ Contributor
Depends on the Levergun. Marlins and 1873's and Henry's, I would say a definite NO!
David -
Howdy !
FWIW -
Review of Hodgdon's reloading data showed the max .35 Remingon rifle pressure load as being 35,000psi.
The max .357Mag rifle load was listed as being 42,900psi. Also noted.... as bullet wt increased, the max load pressures listed ( on-balance ) were seen to decrease. Much has been said about factory .35Remington cartridge pressures being limited by pressure tolerance of the rifle itself, and not as much by the case itself.
There has also been discussion about max pressure that is safe for lever guns like Marlins, on a variety of shooting related websites.
There are wildcatters that have sometimes hoped to be able to use cartridge pressures on the order of 50,000psi in a lever rifle ( M-1894 example ), but this canno
But this cannot be safely done!
With regards,
357Mag
I was wondering, I have a 444 Marlin and that action is a 40,000 or 44,000 PSI limit I believe and I was wondering what they did with the 357 rifles pressures.
rockhound78
Silver $$ Contributor
444 is on a different action than the 357mag
DAve -
Howdy,again !
FWIW -
I saw one .444 load in HOdgdon's data that listed 43, 600psi, and one @ 42,600.
The remainder of the .444 loads listed has pressures in the same psi range as those seen for safe .357Mag rifle loads they also listed.
With regards,
357Mag
I looked and someone said that SAAMI Lists 42,000 PSI now as max, that seems low as the original was 44,000 CUP. I thought it was about there.
So I went to the SAAMI site it lists 42,000 PSI.
Last edited:
dellet
Gold $$ Contributor
357 Magnum is one of the cartridges that SAAMI still lists CUP and PSI for. Confusing the two could get interesting and is more likely..
Raising the pressure limits is possible, but would seem unlikely from an accident waiting to happen point of view.
So in your case, and the case of your cool old rifle:
MILD LOADS ONLY! I suggest you stick with 140 grain Hornady FTX bullets and keep your powder charges small. 140 grain lead semi wadcutters would likely work well too, just keep the powder charges at the lowest setting to avoid leading your barrel and excessive pressure.
That gun would be great for "Cowboy" events.
MILD LOADS ONLY! I suggest you stick with 140 grain Hornady FTX bullets and keep your powder charges small. 140 grain lead semi wadcutters would likely work well too, just keep the powder charges at the lowest setting to avoid leading your barrel and excessive pressure.
That gun would be great for "Cowboy" events.
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