.357mag/.38spcl reloads for a lever rifle.

Fullthrottle · April 6, 2013, 11:18 AM

I have been reloading for several years now with great success, and rather enjoy this part of shooting. But I have a question.

I am seriously thinking of picking up a lever action rifle in .357 mag. to go along with my revolver in .357 mag. I have not seen any specific reload data for rifle vs revolver in .357/.38spcl. Is there any difference?

Thank you,
Fullthrottle

Vance · April 6, 2013, 11:55 AM

I use the same load in my Ruger GP100 as in my Rossi Model 92. It is more accurate in the rifle due to the barrel length utilizing all the pressure developed by the charge. It is acceptable in the revovler.

BrokenBottles · April 6, 2013, 11:58 AM

I've barely been able to find any different data. Normally the only thing that seems to change, is the powder types in the manuals I've seen.

buck460XVR · April 6, 2013, 12:05 PM

I use the same loads in my handgun caliber carbines as I do in my revolvers, basically for convenience. The fact that they shoot well in both don't hurt either........

Most manuals do show separate recipes in the rifle section for handgun caliber rifles....even Hodgdon's website has info.

kraigwy · April 6, 2013, 12:24 PM

I'm with the others, I use the same loads for my Marlin '94 as I do in my revolvers.

Don't want to worry about getting some hot rifle load in the wrong gun.

If something that needs done I can't do with revolver loads in my rifle, I'll find a heavier rifle.

Fullthrottle · April 6, 2013, 12:24 PM

OK, I was looking in the Lee Modern Reloading 2nd edition and they do not break down rifle/handgun they just list by caliber. And in my Hornady 7th edition I was looking at .38spcl and none listed for rifle. BUT I just found it for .357mag.

Thanks all!

A pause for the COZ · April 6, 2013, 12:31 PM

The new Lyman cast Bullet manual has loads for 357 mag rifle.

Now... Before you purchase your gun.
Decide what you want to do with it.

If you want a all around shooter look into the Rossi M92

If your looking for a hunter. I.E. Deer or Hogs.
I suggest looking into a Marlin.

Reason?
The Rossi has a 1 in 30 twist rate while the Marlin has a 1 in 16 twist rate.

I have a Rossi and it has difficulty with heavy bullets.
Bigger than 158 gr. The 180rnfp's I wanted to take a deer with would not group to a 12 inch paper plate at 50 yards.
Just wont stabilize the big ones.

125gr, I can cut the bull out at 100 yards shot after shot.

So if you want a easy time with the heavies look at the 1 in 16 twist.

jimaw2 · April 6, 2013, 05:00 PM

good info on the twist rate. I just bought a rossi for plinking and will be using most 158 plated and cast, but I would have been a little unhappy if I was wanting to go heavier. I never even thought about that when I bought it!

A pause for the COZ · April 6, 2013, 05:14 PM

If you want to see what that Rossi can do. Go to a 125gr bullet ahead of 5gr of Herco or 4 gr of Unique in 38 special case. Up them a grain in 357 cases.

That gun likes that load allot.

57K · April 6, 2013, 05:33 PM

Quote:

I've barely been able to find any different data. Normally the only thing that seems to change, is the powder types in the manuals I've seen.

This is on the money. There are no differences as far as pressure spec for .38 Special and .357 Magnum in revolver or rifle data. The only exception is that I have never seen .38 Special load data for rifle and in the case of .357 Magnum loads for rifle you may see data for a few slower burning powders that aren't practical for revolver loading unless you're not concerned about the velocity loss you'd experience in using powders like IMR or H4227 and others.

Fullthrottle · April 6, 2013, 08:07 PM

Thanks again for the info folks.

A pause for the COZ: The Rossi 92 is exactly the rifle I have in mind! Just for general shooting. Nice group in that pic, what was the distance? And was that with the stock sights? I have read a bunch of 92 owners switch to a Marbles sight set.

BrokenBottles · April 7, 2013, 12:45 AM

I have the Rossi R92 and with 125gr Flat Points and 17.8 grains of Alliant 300-MP we were consistently hitting the mark on pretty long shots(over 100 yards). That load is super dirty in short barrel revolvers though

The sights that come from teh factory aren't all that great according to most people I've talked to. The rear sight can shift a little left and right, the rear notch can give off a glare(and it's what I blame for my missed shots

) and little other things that you can adjust to given 100 or so rounds.

david_r · April 8, 2013, 12:22 AM

Fullthrottle,
Try page 451 in your MR v2. The front section is rifle. The back section is pistol.

David Bachelder · April 8, 2013, 09:12 AM

I have a Henry Big Boy in .357 Magnum. I use the same loads in my Henry that I use in my Ruger .357 BlackHawk revolver.

No problem.

CCrawford · April 8, 2013, 11:04 PM

This Spreadsheet details where you can find rifle loads in .357 as well as many other calibers. Look for "R"s in Row 751. Slide across the columns for which books cover it.

Looks like Hodgdon, Hornady, Lee, Lyman, Serria and Speer recent manuals cover .357 Rifle.

Enjoy,
Criss

April 6, 2013, 11:18 AM	#1
Fullthrottle Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2009 Posts: 280	.357mag/.38spcl reloads for a lever rifle. I have been reloading for several years now with great success, and rather enjoy this part of shooting. But I have a question. I am seriously thinking of picking up a lever action rifle in .357 mag. to go along with my revolver in .357 mag. I have not seen any specific reload data for rifle vs revolver in .357/.38spcl. Is there any difference? Thank you, Fullthrottle __________________ When seconds count, why is help minutes away?

April 6, 2013, 11:58 AM	#3
BrokenBottles Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2010 Location: The worst Lancaster in the U.S. Posts: 119	I've barely been able to find any different data. Normally the only thing that seems to change, is the powder types in the manuals I've seen. __________________ "Lube the hell out of your Llama. Run it wet and it should be a decent pistol."

April 6, 2013, 12:24 PM	#5
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I'm with the others, I use the same loads for my Marlin '94 as I do in my revolvers. Don't want to worry about getting some hot rifle load in the wrong gun. If something that needs done I can't do with revolver loads in my rifle, I'll find a heavier rifle. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

April 6, 2013, 12:24 PM	#6
Fullthrottle Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2009 Posts: 280	OK, I was looking in the Lee Modern Reloading 2nd edition and they do not break down rifle/handgun they just list by caliber. And in my Hornady 7th edition I was looking at .38spcl and none listed for rifle. BUT I just found it for .357mag. Thanks all! __________________ When seconds count, why is help minutes away?

April 6, 2013, 05:14 PM	#9
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	If you want to see what that Rossi can do. Go to a 125gr bullet ahead of 5gr of Herco or 4 gr of Unique in 38 special case. Up them a grain in 357 cases. That gun likes that load allot. Last edited by A pause for the COZ; April 6, 2013 at 05:20 PM.

April 6, 2013, 11:55 AM	#2
Vance Senior Member Join Date: January 16, 2011 Location: North Bend, OR Posts: 743	I use the same load in my Ruger GP100 as in my Rossi Model 92. It is more accurate in the rifle due to the barrel length utilizing all the pressure developed by the charge. It is acceptable in the revovler.

April 6, 2013, 12:05 PM	#4
buck460XVR Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2006 Posts: 4,342	I use the same loads in my handgun caliber carbines as I do in my revolvers, basically for convenience. The fact that they shoot well in both don't hurt either........ Most manuals do show separate recipes in the rifle section for handgun caliber rifles....even Hodgdon's website has info.

April 6, 2013, 12:31 PM	#7
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	The new Lyman cast Bullet manual has loads for 357 mag rifle. Now... Before you purchase your gun. Decide what you want to do with it. If you want a all around shooter look into the Rossi M92 If your looking for a hunter. I.E. Deer or Hogs. I suggest looking into a Marlin. Reason? The Rossi has a 1 in 30 twist rate while the Marlin has a 1 in 16 twist rate. I have a Rossi and it has difficulty with heavy bullets. Bigger than 158 gr. The 180rnfp's I wanted to take a deer with would not group to a 12 inch paper plate at 50 yards. Just wont stabilize the big ones. 125gr, I can cut the bull out at 100 yards shot after shot. So if you want a easy time with the heavies look at the 1 in 16 twist.

April 6, 2013, 05:00 PM	#8
jimaw2 Member Join Date: October 2, 2008 Location: n california Posts: 83	good info on the twist rate. I just bought a rossi for plinking and will be using most 158 plated and cast, but I would have been a little unhappy if I was wanting to go heavier. I never even thought about that when I bought it!

April 6, 2013, 08:07 PM	#11
Fullthrottle Senior Member Join Date: October 24, 2009 Posts: 280	Thanks again for the info folks. A pause for the COZ: The Rossi 92 is exactly the rifle I have in mind! Just for general shooting. Nice group in that pic, what was the distance? And was that with the stock sights? I have read a bunch of 92 owners switch to a Marbles sight set. __________________ When seconds count, why is help minutes away?

April 7, 2013, 12:45 AM	#12
BrokenBottles Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2010 Location: The worst Lancaster in the U.S. Posts: 119	I have the Rossi R92 and with 125gr Flat Points and 17.8 grains of Alliant 300-MP we were consistently hitting the mark on pretty long shots(over 100 yards). That load is super dirty in short barrel revolvers though The sights that come from teh factory aren't all that great according to most people I've talked to. The rear sight can shift a little left and right, the rear notch can give off a glare(and it's what I blame for my missed shots ) and little other things that you can adjust to given 100 or so rounds. __________________ "Lube the hell out of your Llama. Run it wet and it should be a decent pistol."

April 8, 2013, 12:22 AM	#13
david_r Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2013 Posts: 131	Fullthrottle, Try page 451 in your MR v2. The front section is rifle. The back section is pistol.

April 8, 2013, 09:12 AM	#14
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	I have a Henry Big Boy in .357 Magnum. I use the same loads in my Henry that I use in my Ruger .357 BlackHawk revolver. No problem. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

April 8, 2013, 11:04 PM	#15
CCrawford Junior Member Join Date: April 8, 2013 Posts: 2	Reloading Manual Coverage Index This Spreadsheet details where you can find rifle loads in .357 as well as many other calibers. Look for "R"s in Row 751. Slide across the columns for which books cover it. Looks like Hodgdon, Hornady, Lee, Lyman, Serria and Speer recent manuals cover .357 Rifle. Enjoy, Criss