Is it worth the effort?

[Mr_Flintstone]

As part of my regular reloading internet browsing, I came across the .360 Dan Wesson cartridge and load data. Further reading led me to people hand loading equivalent loads in 357 Magnum cases by seating the bullets long for single shot 357 Magnum rifles. This made me think about whether my Henry would be capable of shooting these. So, I made up a couple dummy rounds.

As it turns out, the new rounds are too long (1.71” 158 gr Sierra flat points) for the lifter to feed them from the tube, but they will chamber quite nicely when hand fed. Next, I looked at pressures. The Dan Wesson loads, it seems, max at about 45,000 psi, but the 357 Magnum maxes at 35,000 psi. I thought I remembered it being 40,000, but I guess I was wrong. That meant that even with bullets seated to Dan Wesson overall lengths, I would have to reduce the minimum loads to 357 Magnum pressures.

Running the loads that I found through Gordon’s Reloading Tool, I found that reducing the listed 360 DW minimum load of H110 by about a grain, it should produce a 1900 fps load at just under 35,000 psi. Hodgdon shows the max 357 load for this type of bullet at just over 1700 fps.

I just can’t decide if there’s any use for the extra 200 or so fps. Maybe for a hunting load, but hand feeding them would be a drag. If I loaded to CIP pressures I would get over 2000 fps, but it might cause undue wear on my rifle.

What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

 

[AJC1]

As part of my regular reloading internet browsing, I came across the .360 Dan Wesson cartridge and load data. Further reading led me to people hand loading equivalent loads in 357 Magnum cases by seating the bullets long for single shot 357 Magnum rifles. This made me think about whether my Henry would be capable of shooting these. So, I made up a couple dummy rounds.

As it turns out, the new rounds are too long (1.71” 158 gr Sierra flat points) for the lifter to feed them from the tube, but they will chamber quite nicely when hand fed. Next, I looked at pressures. The Dan Wesson loads, it seems, max at about 45,000 psi, but the 357 Magnum maxes at 35,000 psi. I thought I remembered it being 40,000, but I guess I was wrong. That meant that even with bullets seated to Dan Wesson overall lengths, I would have to reduce the minimum loads to 357 Magnum pressures.

Running the loads that I found through Gordon’s Reloading Tool, I found that reducing the listed 360 DW minimum load of H110 by about a grain, it should produce a 1900 fps load at just under 35,000 psi. Hodgdon shows the max 357 load for this type of bullet at just over 1700 fps.

I just can’t decide if there’s any use for the extra 200 or so fps. Maybe for a hunting load, but hand feeding them would be a drag. If I loaded to CIP pressures I would get over 2000 fps, but it might cause undue wear on my rifle.

What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

I do the same exact thing with 38 cases in 357 guns, but I only run in the 20-25k range. I have piles of 38 cases and no 38 only so it makes logistical sense. Mostly to load Keith bullets designed to do this exact thing.like the 358429. These were historically called 38-44.

 

[horsemen61]

As part of my regular reloading internet browsing, I came across the .360 Dan Wesson cartridge and load data. Further reading led me to people hand loading equivalent loads in 357 Magnum cases by seating the bullets long for single shot 357 Magnum rifles. This made me think about whether my Henry would be capable of shooting these. So, I made up a couple dummy rounds.

As it turns out, the new rounds are too long (1.71” 158 gr Sierra flat points) for the lifter to feed them from the tube, but they will chamber quite nicely when hand fed. Next, I looked at pressures. The Dan Wesson loads, it seems, max at about 45,000 psi, but the 357 Magnum maxes at 35,000 psi. I thought I remembered it being 40,000, but I guess I was wrong. That meant that even with bullets seated to Dan Wesson overall lengths, I would have to reduce the minimum loads to 357 Magnum pressures.

Running the loads that I found through Gordon’s Reloading Tool, I found that reducing the listed 360 DW minimum load of H110 by about a grain, it should produce a 1900 fps load at just under 35,000 psi. Hodgdon shows the max 357 load for this type of bullet at just over 1700 fps.

I just can’t decide if there’s any use for the extra 200 or so fps. Maybe for a hunting load, but hand feeding them would be a drag. If I loaded to CIP pressures I would get over 2000 fps, but it might cause undue wear on my rifle.

What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

For me no it’s not worth it 200 Fps isn’t enough juice to make it worth the squeeze to have to single load them

 

[brewer12345]

If you really need the extra juice from a medium bore rifle, buy a 350 Legend.

 

[AJC1]

If you really need the extra juice from a medium bore rifle, buy a 350 Legend.

The 338 fed would be easier to reload and flatten game like a hammer.... slow enough for cast boolits without giving up a bunch.
Or a 35 maximum, or 35 Remington or 35 Whelen or 358 winchester if 35 caliber is your need.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

I don’t need a 35 caliber gun so to speak. I was just wondering if it was worth the effort to load. If I was willing to push to the edge of CIP data I could get some impressive numbers, but staying within SAAMI specs doesn’t do too much for it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I don’t need a 35 caliber gun so to speak. I was just wondering if it was worth the effort to load. If I was willing to push to the edge of CIP data I could get some impressive numbers, but staying within SAAMI specs doesn’t do too much for it.

.360DW falls between .357Mag and .357Max.

 

[AJC1]

I don’t need a 35 caliber gun so to speak. I was just wondering if it was worth the effort to load. If I was willing to push to the edge of CIP data I could get some impressive numbers, but staying within SAAMI specs doesn’t do too much for it.

You could get what you want from the max or 35 rem with no limit jumping... the Dw may be more rare than the max so more complicated from the outset with more challenges.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

As part of my regular reloading internet browsing, I came across the .360 Dan Wesson cartridge and load data. Further reading led me to people hand loading equivalent loads in 357 Magnum cases by seating the bullets long for single shot 357 Magnum rifles. This made me think about whether my Henry would be capable of shooting these. So, I made up a couple dummy rounds.

As it turns out, the new rounds are too long (1.71” 158 gr Sierra flat points) for the lifter to feed them from the tube, but they will chamber quite nicely when hand fed. Next, I looked at pressures. The Dan Wesson loads, it seems, max at about 45,000 psi, but the 357 Magnum maxes at 35,000 psi. I thought I remembered it being 40,000, but I guess I was wrong. That meant that even with bullets seated to Dan Wesson overall lengths, I would have to reduce the minimum loads to 357 Magnum pressures.

Running the loads that I found through Gordon’s Reloading Tool, I found that reducing the listed 360 DW minimum load of H110 by about a grain, it should produce a 1900 fps load at just under 35,000 psi. Hodgdon shows the max 357 load for this type of bullet at just over 1700 fps.

I just can’t decide if there’s any use for the extra 200 or so fps. Maybe for a hunting load, but hand feeding them would be a drag. If I loaded to CIP pressures I would get over 2000 fps, but it might cause undue wear on my rifle.

What do you guys think? Is it worth the effort?

As you already know the lifter assembly of the Henry is not friendly to the DW case length. That makes it a nogo. If you want to mess with it, get a 92 or 94 toggle action lever action. I have read about some models of Rossi that would feed .360 DW without modification; I have also seen where some need to have the lifter modified. But I have not seen anyone use a Henry.

 

[brewer12345]

I don’t need a 35 caliber gun so to speak. I was just wondering if it was worth the effort to load. If I was willing to push to the edge of CIP data I could get some impressive numbers, but staying within SAAMI specs doesn’t do too much for it.

From what I have seen, the hottest safe loads for a 357 are lil gun and jacketed bullets. I experimented with the combo for a bit and found very accurate loads, but didn't have a Chrono at the time. Not legal for hunting in my state, so I haven't revisited the idea.

 

[jmorris]

When I was younger, I spend many hours working up 357 magnum loads beyond printed load data, squeezing the last little bit the round had out if it, knocking on the back door of the 41 magnum.

These days, I’d just get out a .44 mag and down load it.

There are lots of things than can be done and safely, under the right circumstances. Margins for error get smaller the closer to the edge one gets.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

When I was younger, I spend many hours working up 357 magnum loads beyond printed load data, squeezing the last little bit the round had out if it, knocking on the back door of the 41 magnum.

These days, I’d just get out a .44 mag and down load it.

There are lots of things than can be done and safely, under the right circumstances. Margins for error get smaller the closer to the edge one gets.

Yup, so true. Back in my younger, more foolish days I decided a 4-5/8” Blackhawk was no longer enough .357 for my new, more active stalker-style of hunting, so I bought more yards in the form of a Marlin 94 .357. It was like having Odin’s Thunderstick. But using 15 yard 160gr loads in that massive 18” barrel was less than optimal, so I went back to the drawing board and came up with a carbine load - which was also my pistol load. It’s a wonder I didn’t blow both guns up. I eventually learned the value in waiting for the game to come to me, waiting for the right shot, and letting bad shots walk away - which is my previous, old-style of hunting - instead of trying to use more cowbell. (SNL reference). It was a hard lesson.

Now if I think I need more yards I use the Super Blackhawk .44. Still need more? I use a rifle.

 

[Varminterror]

Find a spare carrier, open the throat, and enjoy life.