anyone use reduced 357 loads?

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mickbr
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anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by mickbr »

I was wondering if anyone used 357 loaded down in their lever guns. 4.5-5.5 grains of stuff like 700x, bullseye, red dot behind 125/135 JHP grain bullets around 1200-1350fps. I thought this would make an okay small game shooter, backyard varmint getter and also have HD potential. Low on blast, recoil, flash and powder cost. Sort of filling the niche left by the near extinct 25-20 and 32-20 back in the day or equalling a 9mm carbine. This is what being out of work does by the way :D
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GunnyMack
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by GunnyMack »

I use 800x in my 41 mag, nice easy shooting and accurate. I've also used 700X in my 375 H&H with cast , very pleasant!
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rossim92
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by rossim92 »

how about shooting the lowly .38 special instead?
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Bronco
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by Bronco »

I got tired of readjusting my dies going back and forth between 38 spl and 357 cases. So years ago I just started down loading my 357 cases. Don't know the velocity but my low powered load had been 158 gr cast over 3.5 grs of Bullseye. Only have shot it out of a 6' barrel revolver. I imagine a lighter bullet and a tad more power would give you what your looking for. I am sure other will give you their recipe to choose from. Let us know how it works out please :)
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mickbr
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by mickbr »

rossim92 wrote: Tue Jul 14, 2020 4:39 am how about shooting the lowly .38 special instead?
Well thats pretty common. I was more talking the next level or two up.
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OldWin
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by OldWin »

I load 6.5gr of Unique behind a 158gr plated round nose. It gets 1350 out of a 20" Rossi and 950 out of a 4" Smith 66.
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3leggedturtle
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by 3leggedturtle »

I sure do, tho with 148 wc's and 158 fp's. My 148's are running about 950fps and and 158's from 950-1100's fps. Use Red Dit, Unique and HS7. I use +P data and work between that and the 357 starting loads.
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COSteve
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marlinman93
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by marlinman93 »

Never being a fan of recoil, or the crack of full load .357 Magnums, I've always loaded mine down to warm .38 Special levels. I prefer 148 or 158 SWC cast bullets and have had some great shooting, and accurate shooting at around 900 fps.
One of my favorites is 5.1 grs. of Unique with a 158 Gr. SWC.
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Booger Bill
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by Booger Bill »

Thanks. I have the same rifle, the bullets and the makings. Havent reloaded in a coup;e years. Think I will try your recipe. I drive past Berry`s in St. George ever once in awhile. Wonder if the plant has a sales room?
Chuck 100 yd
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by Chuck 100 yd »

Yes , Cowboy loads by the thousands" some fun shooting .
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by Galloway »

My 357 target load is meant to mimic my hunting load cheaper and easier. I use a dipper that throws 13gr 2400 in a mag case with mag primer then deep seat a bulk 158gr swc (not a good one) and crimp over the front driving band. I see no change of poi out to 50 yards from my max jhp loads. So its reduced, but i figure the lead bullet, mag primer, and seating depth make it act like its pricier sierra sister. Good luck
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crs
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by crs »

.38 special ammo will not stabilize in my .357 Mag rifle.
The Douglas barrel was made for high velocity .357 ammo and shoots that well.
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by AJMD429 »

I use 38 special factory loads in my Marlin 1894 ‘Night Scout’ setup with deadly results and accuracy on barnyard pests and feral felines and canines; VERY quiet too.

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I may do what you are doing though and step up a bit in velocity since I got a threaded version and can put my suppressor on it; for 2-legged predator control I’m more comfortable with a ‘stopping’ load so want a good hollowpoint and enough velocity to open it up.
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by Blaine »

I used to start with 9gr of Blue Dot with a 160 hard cast. Not exactly 'cat sneeze" but certainly not harsh to shoot. IIRC, it was between 1000 - 1200 fps.
Alliant sez don't use Blue Dot with 125gr .357 loads---so be it, but I wonder why :?
Blue Dot is right next to the 2400 in the burn rate chart, and I've used it for .357, and .44 mag exclusivly with stellar results.
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COSteve
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by Sixgun »

Being a handloader allows you to do anything you want....from wax bullets powered by a primer to whatever your needs or wants are...just use your imagination.

3 grains of bullseye and a 400 grain cast in the 45-70 is fun to play with...maybe 400 fps...

A grain and a half of bullseye and a 200 grain cast in the 357 can be shot in your backyard. Just use common sense....ALWAYS a soft cast bullet that's easy to knock out if you only hear "puff". In the big cases like the 45-70 use pillow filler to keep the powder against the primer.......and don't use a $5,000 Winchester ...use a modern junker like a dime a dozen Marlin in case you ring the chamber....in thousands of these loads I've never had that happen but I hear it can.---6
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gundownunder
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Re: anyone use reduced 357 loads?

Post by gundownunder »

In my Marlin cowboy I use a 357 case with a 180 gr Accurate 36-175-B and 5.4 gr of AP70 (unique and Universal are similar). 100 meter rams go down like they were hit by a train. A 158 gr and 6.4 gr of AP70 also works well. For several years I used the 180 gr and 5 gr of Trailboss. They were accurate but probably only clocked about 800 fps out of a 20" barrel, so trajectory had a little bit of a curve to it.
My brothers Rossi prefers a 158 gr and 5.0 gr of AP70 in a 38Spl case. Not quite as much oompf but they shoot one ragged hole at 50 and only open out to 1.5" at 100.
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