Suggestions for a 357 Henry

[PapaG]

I've been loading for sixty- five or so years and have loaded and fired many thousands of 357s, most in handguns and maybe a hundred in a converted 92 Winchester. I just got a Henry single shot 357 and wondered I any one had favorite hunting loads for a 21-22" barrel rifle (carbine). I have all the normal powders, Unique, SR4756, 2400, H110, and a good selection of bullets, Hornady 140 , 158, some old semi jacketed Speer, Lyman 358156, and a few 158 Fed Hydra shock
I have all the manuals, time on my hands but wondered if anybody had developed specific loads for hunting with a 357 carbine. The 140 Hornady FTX are rated at 1500 fps but I hope to get something around 1700-2000. I can get other bullets. Accuracy, expansion and no blow up to 100 yards (a long shot on my land.).
Thanks for reading my long, presumptuous post.

 

[AJC1]

I'm keen on a 158 jsp behind a max load of #9 in a 16" carbine... mine are sierras I believe.

 

[film495]

hunting for what?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I've been loading for sixty- five or so years and have loaded and fired many thousands of 357s, most in handguns and maybe a hundred in a converted 92 Winchester. I just got a Henry single shot 357 and wondered I any one had favorite hunting loads for a 21-22" barrel rifle (carbine). I have all the normal powders, Unique, SR4756, 2400, H110, and a good selection of bullets, Hornady 140 , 158, some old semi jacketed Speer, Lyman 358156, and a few 158 Fed Hydra shock
I have all the manuals, time on my hands but wondered if anybody had developed specific loads for hunting with a 357 carbine. The 140 Hornady FTX are rated at 1500 fps but I hope to get something around 1700-2000. I can get other bullets. Accuracy, expansion and no blow up to 100 yards (a long shot on my land.).
Thanks for reading my long, presumptuous post.

I have a HandiRifle .357 rechambered to .357Max and prefer the 200gr WFN hard cast gas check bullets over the hollow points. I’ve found a wide nose meplat bullet delivers a harder blow and creates more trauma. Deer and pigs are my main game and 100yds is a long way with irons for me these days. I have tried the 135gr Speer and several other bullets in the line up through the 170gr GDFP with good success also. Main powders are 2400 and IMR 4227 pushing the limits of T/C Contender data.

 

[AJC1]

Found them
https://www.sierrabullets.com/product/38-caliber-357-158-gr-jsp/

 

[Random 8]

I run a 158 Speer soft point over Hodgedon max book charge. Haven't taken a deer yet, but results on soft targets and recovered bullets are promising. Have also loaded 110, 124(9mm) and 125 XTP to high velocity. Results on soft targets are devastating. Not what I'd want for game. Shooting the same Henry Single as the OP. I like a 158 cast over a. 38+p load for practice, and a softer 158 SWC over a light charge of Red Dot or H38 for casual target shooting. Firewood stick bowling is a hoot with this rifle to 100+ yards with subsonic 158s and lots of Kentucky.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I did some work with the .357 Magnum in my Marlin levergun.

140gr Sierra JHP bullet, 19.0gr H110 w/CCI-550 primer got 1987 fps
140gr Sierra JHP bullet, 16.5gr 2400 w/WSP primer got 1930 fps

158gr Sierra JHP bullet, 17.0gr H110 w/CCI-550 primer got 1826 fps
158gr Sierra JHP bullet, 15.5gr 2400 w/WSP primer got 1810 fps

I hope this helps a bit.

 

[cfullgraf]

I suppose like any rifle, the Henry may have a favorite load that would improve accuracy.

But, for my Marlin 1894C, I shoot the same load that I use in my handguns which is mostly 158 grain jacketed hollow points or soft points driven by W296.

My Marlin has a micro groove barrel and I've not found a cast bullet load that equals the accuracy of the jacketed bullets. So, I'm no help there. I have shot some cast loads for fun when plinking at targets of opportunity.