.357 Hunting Bullet Recommendations

[CavalierLeif]

Out of curiosity, have you verified that your .357 carbine really does have a 1:30 twist? 1:18 or 1:16 is more typical for .357. 1:30 sounds more like a .45Colt twist rate.

Just want to make sure you have verified it yourself on your rifle and not just going by what is written somewhere.

I have not verified myself, yet. Recently acquired. The 1:30 twist rate is what I've seen published.

 

[AJC1]

I have not verified myself, yet. Recently acquired. The 1:30 twist rate is what I've seen published.

Marlin has different rates for different models and some are microgrove, Winchester seems to have been more consistent.... never checked rossi

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Marlin has different rates for different models and some are microgrove, Winchester seems to have been more consistent.... never checked rossi

The store in Micanopy has a table full of them. I’ll ask the owner next time I’m there if I can check a few.

There’s a problem with that idea now that I think about it: if I find one with a 1:16” or 1:18” twist, I’ll have to buy it. But if they ALL turn out to have 1:16 or 1:18, then what????

 

[Soonerpesek]

The store in Micanopy has a table full of them. I’ll ask the owner next time I’m there if I can check a few.

There’s a problem with that idea now that I think about it: if I find one with a 1:16” or 1:18” twist, I’ll have to buy it. But if they ALL turn out to have 1:16 or 1:18, then what????

Sounds like a "GROUP BUY"..........................!!!

 

[AJC1]

The store in Micanopy has a table full of them. I’ll ask the owner next time I’m there if I can check a few.

There’s a problem with that idea now that I think about it: if I find one with a 1:16” or 1:18” twist, I’ll have to buy it. But if they ALL turn out to have 1:16 or 1:18, then what????

I think Henry had a faster twist like that.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I’m going to second the use of Hodgdon Lil’Gun.
When I had a Winchester M94 in .357mag with a 20” bbl, I found that my preferred load of 17.8gr of LilGun gave 2,080fps with some Remington bulk 158gr JSP I bought 20+yrs ago. (Still have several hundred). I killed several 110+lb does with it jump shooting them on a clients estate. I traded/sold the rifle due to very soft metal in the cartridge stop pawl causing misfeeds and jams. And, I prefer the .35Rem anyway.
But, my second choice is H110, and third is #2400. H110 is faster velocity wise, than #2400, but not as accurate as #2400.
Don’t be tempted to go above 17.8gr of Lil’Gun as it will actually give LOWER velocities, not higher. Just a peculiarity of Lil’Gun.
Yeah, I know! Lots of bad opinions on Lil’Gun in throat erosion in REVOLVERS. NOT a problem in rifles.

 

[35 Whelen]

Hi all - I'm working up some rounds for my Rossi R92 16" .357 and I'd like to roll some for hunting whitetail here on the East Coast.

So far, I've been reloading SWCHP 158 gr Hornady Frontier Lead since I already have a stock of them, but I imagine these aren't ideal for hunting. Probably a 158 gr or 180 gr RNFP would be better. But, the R92 has a 1/30" twist rate, which I'm concerned may not stabilize the heavier 180 gr as well.

I've seen cast, powdered cast and plated in 158 gr and 180 gr and I'm open to feedback on which combination of weight and structure would be best for this rifle for a hunting load.

Any thoughts/experienced opinions about a favorite bullet for a .357 magnum deer hunting handload?

Planning on using Win 231 since I have it already, but could put another powder on the look-out list if necessary.


Many thanks

I've been shooting a '92 Rossi .357 for many years. I wouldn't worry about the twist; shoot first, then if there's problems, start digging. Remember the length of the bullet, not the weight, is what determines the twist needed. I've successfully loaded the 170 .gr. Sierra in my Rossi as well as a 180 gr. cast FP I cast myself, running ~1700 fps. The deer and hog I've killed have been with the 180 gr. cast bullet in HP form which, depending on the size of the cavity weight 162-168 gr. This one came from the hog-

8/.357 180 GR. LBT- WFN Similar bullet in solid form.

Regarding your choice of powder (W-231), published max is 6.9 gr. which is probably going to around 1200 from a revolver, and you can add roughly another 200 fps for the carbine. So 1400 fps isn't too shabby at all and you're using less than half the amount of powder you would be using with H-110 et al.

I personally am a fan of heavier bullets in this caliber and wouldn't under any circumstance go under 158 gr.

35W

 

[AJC1]

I've been shooting a '92 Rossi .357 for many years. I wouldn't worry about the twist; shoot first, then if there's problems, start digging. Remember the length of the bullet, not the weight, is what determines the twist needed. I've successfully loaded the 170 .gr. Sierra in my Rossi as well as a 180 gr. cast FP I cast myself, running ~1700 fps. The deer and hog I've killed have been with the 180 gr. cast bullet in HP form which, depending on the size of the cavity weight 162-168 gr. This one came from the hog-

8/.357 180 GR. LBT- WFN Similar bullet in solid form.

Regarding your choice of powder (W-231), published max is 6.9 gr. which is probably going to around 1200 from a revolver, and you can add roughly another 200 fps for the carbine. So 1400 fps isn't too shabby at all and you're using less than half the amount of powder you would be using with H-110 et al.

I personally am a fan of heavier bullets in this caliber and wouldn't under any circumstance go under 158 gr.

35W

A 180 grain at 1700 fps.... that's a little above hogden load data of 1381 out of a 16 inch rifle... that's even moving out of a 168... what's your load lilgun?????

 

[35 Whelen]

H-110, not LilGun.

35W

 

[cfullgraf]

My micro groove 1980 vintage Marlin 1894C carbine likes jacketed bullets. I load 158 grain hollow points at a full charge of W296/H110 but a previous poster said the hollow points do not do well in deer. A solid point jacketed bullet may be better.

I have not had good results with cast bullets in the micro groove barrel but other folks have had good results.

 

[OS/N]

A 180 grain at 1700 fps.... that's a little above hogden load data of 1381 out of a 16 inch rifle... that's even moving out of a 168... what's your load lilgun?????

Same W/ 180 Cast:

About 1650 is all I can get with lil'gun then the speed starts falling off and SDs widen along with group size.

296 or 110 will swell the cases before getting to that speed is what I've noticed.

I use the Saeco Sil 180TC GC so seating depth may be different than others. It seats a little deeper than the typical 158 bullet and trims out at 1.6 OAL. I didn't put the charge weight because it will change with the seating depth but the bullet is not seated to the powder depth like with a 158 w/ lil'gun or a 125 w/ W296.

In photo the 180s, 158s, and 125s are my prefered hunting bullets.

 

[CavalierLeif]

Appreciate all the replies - great to have some more food for thought when putting together new loads. I ran my reloads of 4.7 gr Win 231 under a 158 gr LSWCHP the other day, and all functioned well out of my Rossi R92. Only got out to about 35 yards pinging steel, but didn't experience much leading with those 50 rounds. Ran a boresnake through and the barrel is clean.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Man, if OP has some 2400, those 180 cast/coated would certainly work.
BTW, my Henry has a twist of 1:16 as AJC1 mentioned.

 

[Firewood535]

It's hard to beat a 158 grain XTP on top of 9.4 grains of HS-6. Unless you put one on top of 13.6 grains of Ramshot Enforcer!