.357 load for 18"-20" carbine/rifle

K

Kram

New member
I hope I'm not asking too many dumb question.

I've found it very hard to find info for longer barrel loads in .357. I've read great things about LiL'Gun and I'm thinking about trying this later. I've also read good things about 2400 and H110.

So far, I have Alliant powders in 2400, Unique and BE-86. I've loaded a few rounds of each.

My question is, what powders are you using for your long gun loads?

Are you using the same powders for your handguns loads as you are your long gun loads?

I don't want you all to think that I haven't done my homework. I have searched this site along with others.

Thank you all
 
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Use the same loads you use in a handgun. The cartridge doesn't change because it's being shot in a long gun, the velocity goes up due to the longer barrel. For 357mag you simply can't do better than WW296/H110. Other powders shoot well, but none are better.
 
I’ve played with 700x, BEye, TGrp, Universal and H110. Out of my Henry BB, Titegroup seems to be my favorite at < 50 yards with iron sights. (Plated 158gr). H110 gives some pretty good umpf and velocity but TG seemed more accurate.
 
I am reloading my .357Mag Marlin Rifle with Lill Gun these days. Best accuracy is with 158gr Nosler HP bullets and 16.5gr of Lill Gun powder. I use Fed 205 primers. Accuracy is under 1" with 5 shots at 50 yards. Average speed is 1750 fps. I have read on forums that Lill Gun Powder is burning a little hot, but then normally if you shoot 5 shots in a string it does not matter that much if you let it stand for a few minutes. Pressure is exceptionally low.
 
Kram said:
I've found it very hard to find info for longer barrel loads in .357.
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Well... Hornady, Speer, and Sierra all have rifle barrel length reloading data for the 357 Magnum in their reloading manuals. And Speer and Hodgdon have 357 Magnum rifle data on their websites.
 
 
For use in my Marlin 1894CS .357, I like 2400 with lead alloy SWC's. For any velocities above ~1500 fps, I've found that a Gas Check is necessary. My Marlin and several others I've worked with, does better by far with bullets sized 0.359" or more. My favorite load is Skelton's old load: 13.5 gr 2400 with Lyman's 358156GC bullet. As always, consult a good manual before working up to this load.

For jacketed bullets, especially Hornady 158 gr XTP's, Winchester 296 does extremely well in that same carbine. With a 2x scope mounted 16.5 gr of Win 296 will do less than 1-1/2" groups at 100 yds for the first three rounds. The same caution applies to this load.

Best Regards, Rod
 
2400 is my go to powder for full house .357s. 296/110 are good too, and in some cases will yield a few more fps or a bit better accuracy, but that depends as much on the individual guns as anything else, I think.

Win 296/H110 do have a bit of a drawback, they get erratic if you go BELOW their optimum load levels. 2400 is much better behaved in that regard.

Manuals may be different, but a quick look in one of my old Speer manuals shows the same loads in the rifle and pistol section, the only difference was the listed velocities. Note, not ALL the pistol loads were in the rifle section though.

Do be aware that some .357 bullets can be "overdriven" by the carbine velocity. Check with the makers about their bullet's construction and recommended velocity ranges.
 
I can't thank you all enough.

Please bare with me. I don't want to ask a bunch of stupid questions or questions that have already be answered. There's lots of good info here.
 
Late to the party here, but I'll chime in.

I don't have a 357 rifle. Wish I did. I do have a Marlin lever action in 44 Mag.

Basically, you can shoot pretty much any 357 Mag round purposed for handgun; but to make full use of that nice long barrel, you'll want to move to a slow propellant. 2400 is a great choice; but runs on the fast end of the slow-magnum propellants - if that made any sense. I like 2400 because I also have pistols and I think it behaves better in short barrel (pistol) applications than the big boomer propellants like IMR 4227; N110; H-110; W296 (same as H-110) & 300MP. All these bring max velocity.

There is no substitute for barrel length. Compromises only become necessary when dealing with short barrels.

And since you have the barrel length to push 'em hard and fast, might as well go to heavy bullets too - 158's or even 180's.
 
I'm in the 2400 camp. In my Henry BB brass with 20" barrel, 2400 and 158gr XTP's are it!
I've tried a bit of BE-86, but, not enough to have an opinion yet. 2400 is a very easy powder in the .357 rifle.
 
I'm currently using 2400 with the Hornady 158 grain XTP-FP. Slightly under the book max load is giving me 1690 FPS. I think I'm going to try some Alliant 300MP next.
 
The 2400 seems to be the front runner. I was fortune to have a new friend who has lead me in the right direction.

He's going to be picking up a new Henry BB steel in 45C with a 20" barrel. I can't wait to see it.
 
You haven't really told us what you are looking for. Heavy hitting hunting loads? Accurate softer shooting range loads, or powder puff loads pleasant for even the slightest of folks to shoot?

I load all of the above for my handgun caliber carbines. It is true that one can shoot the same ammo from the carbine as they do from their handgun, but you can specifically load for the carbine too. Carbine loads are the only ammo I would use Lil' Gun in, and thern I would not use them for ammo that I would use for extended range shoots. In a Carbine with standard for caliber bullet weights, it will do nuttin' that can't be done with H110/W296. While IMR4227 works well in .357 carbines, I don't use it for my hunting loads, due to the limited case capacity. 2400 works well in both as does the H110/W296, with the latter giving me the best accuracy along with the higher velocity. For medium velocity loads, 2400 works well, as does the 4227. For Powder Puff loads that remind one of shooting a .22 mag, Unique is my favorite.
 
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I load all of the above for my handgun caliber carbines. It is true that one can shjot the same ammo from the carbine as the do from their handgun, but you can specifically load for the carbine too. Carbine loads are the only ammo I would use Lil' Gun in, and thern I would not use them for ammo that I would use for extended range shoots. In a Carbine with standard for caliber bullet weights, it will do nuttin' that can't be done with H110/W296. While IMR4227 works well in .357 carbines, I don't use it for my hunting loads, due to the limited case capacity. 2400 works well in both as does the H110/W296, with the latter giving me the best accuracy along with the higher velocity. For medium velocity loads, 2400 works well, as does the 4227. For Powder Puff loads that remind one of shooting a .22 mag, Unique is my favorite.
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Pretty much nailed it. I have about two pages on a spread sheet from load development in .357mag rifles. Decide what you want to do with the gun and then develop a load to do it. Just picking a powder and then going with it isn't the way to go. FWIW, I have four pounds of 2400 on hand, and it works well. It's just not "the best" for what I want it for.
 
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