My friend just got his 24" 1892 .357 Magnum back from getting it tuned up, he is wondering what the really successful .357 shooters are using for loads, he is using the Lasercast 158 grain cast bullets. Any help from knowledgeable folks would be appreciated. Thanks.

When I was shooting a 357 before switching to the 44 mag I was shooting 12 grains of 4227 with A 125 grain or 7 grains of unique with a 125 or 158. I had no luck with the laser cast bullet i tryed several different crimps lite crimp to a heavy crimp and just no luck. The Magnus bullet in both weights worked very well. Also tryed some 110 grain jacked with the 4227 and that worked the best out of my gun but wa just to expensive to shoot. Good luck and good shooting.

I use 11g of 4227 behind my 158g RN lead projectile, I have no problems with this load. It has enough power to knock pc rams easily and is easy on the shoulder.

jnyork wrote:... he is wondering what the really successful .357 shooters are using for loads..... Any help from knowledgeable folks would be appreciated. Thanks.

I heard someone calling my assistance!

Just to throw some more info your way, I'm using a 357 Rossi with 4.0gr of Trailboss and Lee 158 RNFP projectiles and it is a great little easy shooting load. You wont ring anything with this, cheap to shoot and like shooting a 22lr.

For fun I've just cast up some 170-180gr Mihec cast boolits that I plan to run this weekend, will try with AR2205.

I was thinking about lubing with KY jelly and if some of the Australians will give me some blue pills I might try stuffing a pill in the hollow point version but I'm worried the targets will stand tall and proud and just WONT go down

But unfortunately you only asked what the really successful shooters use, given I'm a really, really, really successful shooter these loads will probably not be much use to you,

But in all seriousness, if it's accurate in your gun anything will work but those are working for me at the moment. For sure you could drive something harder too for equal good effect. I'll watch to see what others recommend.

Shandy...pm me with your email...do I have the perfect risque picture for a fine Ramslammer like you.
Innocent

Hey Innocent,

PM inbound . However, I must confess I have neither done the time nor the crime to be a Ramslammer . I may be an accessory or guilty by association but please don't confuse me with those, those,....those....well, you know.

And yet I am a Ramslammer, without even having any such fine animals in this part of Florida, so I certainly haven't done the time. Crime? Never thought of anyone that has gone through Sydney a criminal....I will remain Innocent, despite my grandfathers family having been in that fine city for a while, prior to moving to Christchurch.
BTW the picture was forwarded from my home email, a fine Maori word combination.

Innocent

Wow, did THIS thread go to hell in a hurry!!

I do apologise

I am interested in seeing what loads come in from others as I shoot 357 as well obviously. I did outline what I am using in pistol cal with the Trailboss which works quite nicely at this stage. I hope to get a little more time to see if I can fine tune it but it is working well so far.

I loaded up some 170gr Mihec (mp-molds.com, they came out at 172 with wheel weights) 358 diameter rounds last night with AR2205 ranging from the minimum 13gr up to 14gr to try out this Sunday. I'm hoping they might have reasonable success on 200m rams but will be more interested in just a good solid accurate load with a bit more whump for fun. AR2205 is equivalent to 4227.

I use 11 gr. of 2400 in win.357 mag cases,CCI 550 and a 158 gr.sierra jhc.After I get a few more hundred rounds through it,it will be the same powder charge and home cast 150-158gr.

I'm a little late to this party, but I'll express my opinion anyway!

In my Marlin 1894C .357 I'm using 8.0g of Blue Dot under a 125g RNFP bevel base (sized .359) Dardas cast bullet. (http://www.DardasCastBullets.com).
I'm averaging about 1.5" groups out of an 18.5" MICROGROOVE barrel. Speed is about 1350 fps. No leading in my gun.

Hope this helps!

Ed
Bishop, CA

Shandy wrote:

jnyork wrote:... he is wondering what the really successful .357 shooters are using for loads..... Any help from knowledgeable folks would be appreciated. Thanks.

I heard someone calling my assistance!

Just to throw some more info your way, I'm using a 357 Rossi with 4.0gr of Trailboss and Lee 158 RNFP projectiles and it is a great little easy shooting load. You wont ring anything with this, cheap to shoot and like shooting a 22lr.

....(snip)

Shandy -

I tried your 4gr of Trail Boss with 158gr load and you are correct, ZERO recoil! However, I'm curious... Have you ever chrony'd that load?.... I measured it at 650FPS 10 feet out of a 24" barrel! I don't know how they grouped because I ran out of sight adjustment and they all hit the ground about 10 feet short of the 100m backstop, LOL!

Anyway, 5.4gr of it behind a 125gr jacketed bullet shot really well into a 1-1/2" group at 100m at just a hair over 1000FPS (avg). Although I did need 12 turns of elevation to do it (my Williams FP sight falls out of the mount at 14 turns).



-Tim