Round nose bullets in 357 magnum lever action a danger?

davery25 · October 26, 2012, 12:05 AM

as the title asks...is it?

zxcvbob · October 26, 2012, 12:28 AM

Are they FMJ or lead?

davery25 · October 26, 2012, 12:38 AM

No theses would be lead in the round nose, but they're also hard cast lead with a hardness of #7 Saeco scale or #16 Brinell Hardness Scale.

Specifically they're these bullets, the round nose versions http://www.hrbc.com.au/

I was going to buy the semi wadcutter versions but don't know if they'll have feeding issues in my lever action.

zxcvbob · October 26, 2012, 01:17 AM

I think they'll be fine, but why wouldn't you get the RNFP's? That's what they are made for.

Sport45 · October 26, 2012, 04:01 AM

I suggest the RNFP too.

But I wouldn't be afraid of RN bullets in your lever gun. There's just not enough recoil to make them a worry. I never thought twice about bullet profile back when I had a .357mag Marlin.

davery25 · October 26, 2012, 06:15 AM

I probably will get some of the rnfps and the swc's too but I like trying out everything. Round noses look classic too. I'll definitely load them in 38 specials but was a little bit more dubious about trying them in rifle magnum loads.

Hammerhead · October 26, 2012, 12:52 PM

Lots of .38 LRN ammo has been fire through all those lever guns over the years. I've never heard any credible detonation stories.

BigJimP · October 26, 2012, 01:17 PM

I shoot the same round in my lever action Henry in .357 mag...that I shoot in all of my revolvers in .357 mag...( although mine are all jacketed )...

I don't see it being an issue - unless you were to constantly unload and reload the rifle for some reason ...marking up the noses of the bullets significantly.

Old Grump · October 26, 2012, 07:08 PM

Only dangerous to whatever or whoever you shoot at. About half my ammo is LRN and most of the rest is LSWC in both 38 spcl and .357.

Axelwik · October 27, 2012, 01:06 PM

Just make sure they have flat points and you seat the primers as deep as they'll go. Here's what I use in my lever gun (45-70).

davery25 · October 28, 2012, 05:59 PM

How is accuracy between the flat nosed and the round nosed?

Old Grump · October 28, 2012, 08:38 PM

I find little or no difference and is why I use them for practice but I feel the flat nose penetrates better for hunting purposes so they or the LSWC get the nod for use.

rg1 · October 28, 2012, 09:14 PM

A lot of 30-30 ammo is loaded with round nose bullets for tubular magazines.

zxcvbob · October 28, 2012, 09:22 PM

Quote:

A lot of 30-30 ammo is loaded with round nose bullets for tubular magazines.

Yep. But does .30-30 ammo line up bullet-to-primer in the magazine, or does the bullet drop down below the primer? (I don't know)

davery25 · October 28, 2012, 09:59 PM

the cartridge stopper/plug on 30-30s is conical i'm pretty sure (pretty sure but not 100%) so they don't sit tip-to-primer.

I'm fairly confident it won't be an issue so i'll try the round noses as well

Hammerhead · October 29, 2012, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Yep. But does .30-30 ammo line up bullet-to-primer in the magazine, or does the bullet drop down below the primer? (I don't know)

They don't naturally line up in the tube, but during recoil I would think anything that can happen, does happen.
Rifle cartridges do have the advantage of tougher rifle primers.

Quote:

the cartridge stopper/plug on 30-30s is conical i'm pretty sure (pretty sure but not 100%) so they don't sit tip-to-primer.

I don't think the mag tube plug has any control over the rounds in the tube.

Sport45 · October 29, 2012, 11:17 PM

With a .357mag rifle I can't imagine the recoil forces are enough to cause a problem with any normal pistol bullet.

It is a real concern with .30-30 and heavier recoiling rifle ammo.

jimbob86 · October 29, 2012, 11:24 PM

Quote:

A lot of 30-30 ammo is loaded with round nose bullets for tubular magazines.

I have shot hundreds and hundreds of Hornady's 100 gr Semi-jacketed lead RN bullets through a Marlin 30A ..... and hundreds of various jacketed RN soft points .... never any problems.....

rebs · October 30, 2012, 07:53 AM

Take a look at all the rifle rounds for other tube fed rifles. I have never heard of any problems of a round going off in the tube.
One of the rifles on my short list is a Henry 357 mag, I am choosing it because I hand load for my 357 mag pistol and would be able to use the same ammo without having to load for another caliber.

reloader28 · October 30, 2012, 09:27 AM

Its no different than a 44, and I've loaded MANY RN 44 in a tube gun.
I agree that a FN is probly better, but for it works fine. It takes a pretty pointy bullet to make a primer go off, tho there is always the posibility.

davery25 · October 30, 2012, 05:56 PM

i'm quite satisfied that it will be safe i think, and that's coming from a guy who rather likes his hands too!

mlw270win · October 30, 2012, 10:23 PM

If you are worry about the round nose bullets just take a file and flatten them a little--works great for me.

October 26, 2012, 12:28 AM	#2
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 3,661	Are they FMJ or lead? __________________ "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun"

October 26, 2012, 01:17 AM	#4
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 3,661	I think they'll be fine, but why wouldn't you get the RNFP's? That's what they are made for. __________________ "The only way to stop a bad guy with a gun is with a good guy with a gun"

October 26, 2012, 04:01 AM	#5
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 3,957	I suggest the RNFP too. But I wouldn't be afraid of RN bullets in your lever gun. There's just not enough recoil to make them a worry. I never thought twice about bullet profile back when I had a .357mag Marlin. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

October 26, 2012, 07:08 PM	#9
Old Grump Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in a little hut in the woods Posts: 3,129	Only dangerous to whatever or whoever you shoot at. About half my ammo is LRN and most of the rest is LSWC in both 38 spcl and .357. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

October 28, 2012, 08:38 PM	#12
Old Grump Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2009 Location: Blue River Wisconsin, in a little hut in the woods Posts: 3,129	I find little or no difference and is why I use them for practice but I feel the flat nose penetrates better for hunting purposes so they or the LSWC get the nod for use. __________________ Good intentions will always be pleaded for any assumption of power. The Constitution was made to guard the people against the dangers of good intentions. There are men in all ages who mean to govern will, but they mean to govern. They promise to be good masters, but they mean to be masters. --Daniel Webster--

October 26, 2012, 12:05 AM	#1
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 270	Round nose bullets in 357 magnum lever action a danger? as the title asks...is it?

October 26, 2012, 12:38 AM	#3
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 270	No theses would be lead in the round nose, but they're also hard cast lead with a hardness of #7 Saeco scale or #16 Brinell Hardness Scale. Specifically they're these bullets, the round nose versions http://www.hrbc.com.au/ I was going to buy the semi wadcutter versions but don't know if they'll have feeding issues in my lever action.

October 26, 2012, 06:15 AM	#6
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 270	I probably will get some of the rnfps and the swc's too but I like trying out everything. Round noses look classic too. I'll definitely load them in 38 specials but was a little bit more dubious about trying them in rifle magnum loads.

October 26, 2012, 12:52 PM	#7
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,183	Lots of .38 LRN ammo has been fire through all those lever guns over the years. I've never heard any credible detonation stories.

October 26, 2012, 01:17 PM	#8
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 9,963	I shoot the same round in my lever action Henry in .357 mag...that I shoot in all of my revolvers in .357 mag...( although mine are all jacketed )... I don't see it being an issue - unless you were to constantly unload and reload the rifle for some reason ...marking up the noses of the bullets significantly.

October 27, 2012, 01:06 PM	#10
Axelwik Senior Member Join Date: March 12, 2012 Location: Land of Enchantment Posts: 199	Just make sure they have flat points and you seat the primers as deep as they'll go. Here's what I use in my lever gun (45-70).

October 28, 2012, 05:59 PM	#11
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 270	How is accuracy between the flat nosed and the round nosed?

October 28, 2012, 09:14 PM	#13
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 642	A lot of 30-30 ammo is loaded with round nose bullets for tubular magazines.

October 28, 2012, 09:59 PM	#15
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 270	the cartridge stopper/plug on 30-30s is conical i'm pretty sure (pretty sure but not 100%) so they don't sit tip-to-primer. I'm fairly confident it won't be an issue so i'll try the round noses as well

October 29, 2012, 11:17 PM	#17
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 3,957	With a .357mag rifle I can't imagine the recoil forces are enough to cause a problem with any normal pistol bullet. It is a real concern with .30-30 and heavier recoiling rifle ammo. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

October 30, 2012, 07:53 AM	#19
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 1,600	Take a look at all the rifle rounds for other tube fed rifles. I have never heard of any problems of a round going off in the tube. One of the rifles on my short list is a Henry 357 mag, I am choosing it because I hand load for my 357 mag pistol and would be able to use the same ammo without having to load for another caliber.

October 30, 2012, 09:27 AM	#20
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 840	Its no different than a 44, and I've loaded MANY RN 44 in a tube gun. I agree that a FN is probly better, but for it works fine. It takes a pretty pointy bullet to make a primer go off, tho there is always the posibility.

October 30, 2012, 05:56 PM	#21
davery25 Senior Member Join Date: October 4, 2011 Location: Australia Posts: 270	i'm quite satisfied that it will be safe i think, and that's coming from a guy who rather likes his hands too!

October 30, 2012, 10:23 PM	#22
mlw270win Junior Member Join Date: May 1, 2007 Location: Louisiana Posts: 10	If you are worry about the round nose bullets just take a file and flatten them a little--works great for me.