357 mag carbine load?

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joneb

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I have some MBC WNFP 180gr Pugnose coated bullets, and some IMR 4759 and Accurate 5744 collecting dust. I'm wondering if anyone has had any success with either of these combinations. The barrel length of my lever action is 20" and I believe the twist is 1:30"
Thanks
 
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You cannot get enough powder in the case to do much.

16.0 Grs AA 5744. Zero 125 Gr JHP. WSR primer. Hard roll crimp. 72 Degrees. 10-2008

6" M-28 with a slow barrel.

Hi=1068
Lo=966
Avg=1025
ES=102
SD=32

15.0 Grs AA 5744. X-Treme 158 Gr SWC. WSP primer. Heavy Taper crimp. 72 Degrees. 10-2008

6" M-28 with a slow barrel.

Hi=965
Lo=878
Avg=909
ES=87
SD=36

Very accurate. WSR primer gave more speed but wasn't accurate.
 
I'd probably stick with the tried and true... 2400, IMR4227, W296/H110. I have AA5744 on the bench, I wouldn't even think of trying it in my .41MAG carbine loads.
 
Very accurate. WSR primer gave more speed but wasn't accurate.
Thanks, I am curios how different primers would have a effect with these powders in a 20" barrel.
I've ran these bullets at 1,750 fps with Lil'gun but I wouldn't mind something milder.
MBC advertises the weight at 180gr but mine are 185gr
 
I wouldn't even think of trying it in my .41MAG carbine loads.
I have a 2005 Accurate reloaders guide and I saw this under handgun data for,
357 magnum
barrel 6", primer CCI 500
Hornady 180gr XTP COL 1.575"
5744 start 12.6gr v=947
Max 14gr V=1053
 
Well... there you go. :) And maybe I'm wrong... it might work really well in a carbine-length barrel, but those figures, and that of Walk's, both in a pistol barrel, don't really seem to do those nice XTP's justice. I really like the 180's in the .357, I had a favorite load with a FP cast bullet and Unique when I was loading .357.

Good luck!
 
I guess my thought is... if you are looking for a 1100-1200fps load out of a carbine barrel, you can do it a lot more cheaply with a small charge of Unique
The Accurate data I stated was for a 6" barrel not sure what the velocity would be from a 20" barrel with the 185gr MBC WNFP coated bullet.
 
I have not tried Accurate 5744 in a 357 Magnum but if there is published data, go for it.

Generally, I shoot the same ammunition in my revolvers as I do in my carbines. I guess you could optimize the ammunition for the firearm to be used but that adds a level of complexity that I do not want to deal with.

I like WW296 for full power 357 Magnum loads but other powders work as well.

In my Marlin 1894C, semi-wadcutters to not feed well, the shoulder of the bullet catches on something in the chamber. But with a little fiddling of the lever, they feed after a fashion. Bullets without a sharp shoulder feed more reliably.
 
Generally, I shoot the same ammunition in my revolvers as I do in my carbines. I guess you could optimize the ammunition for the firearm to be used but that adds a level of complexity that I do not want to deal with.
I do agree with that, and if that was my goal I would be using Blue Dot or 2400, my revolver is a 357 Ruger Security six w/a 2.75" barrel, but I'm after something different
 
Thanks, I am curios how different primers would have a effect with these powders in a 20" barrel.
I've ran these bullets at 1,750 fps with Lil'gun but I wouldn't mind something milder.
MBC advertises the weight at 180gr but mine are 185gr
If you back off the little gun, it gets tamer.
Bluedot made a good slightly less than H110 load. I would suggest something around it's burn rate if you want slightly less than full power.
 
Iffin I remember correctly, both of those powders have a limited use and are generally used for reduced loads with rifles. Recipes for them in .357 are also limited and probably for good reason. Way too many other, more applicable powders out there to waste sending good bullets downrange, unless reduced loads are what you are looking for.
 
Iffin I remember correctly, both of those powders have a limited use and are generally used for reduced loads with rifles. Recipes for them in .357 are also limited and probably for good reason.
Yep, too bulky and slow for .357 Mag use, can't cram enough powder in there. Both are very bulky by design to give good fill in rifle calibers and a fast for rifle but real slow for pistol burn rate suitable for reduced loads in rifle calibers.
 
The Accurate data I stated was for a 6" barrel not sure what the velocity would be from a 20" barrel with the 185gr MBC WNFP coated bullet.

That was the 1100-1200fps figure I gave you. In my general tests, using a 4" .41 and a 20" .41 to compare my loads, faster powders like Unique gave relatively little advantage in the longer barrel, roughly 200fps with a 215grn bullet. The slower powders are really what took advantage of the longer barrel; I would have to check my data, but the most extreme case (W296) showed a velocity advantage of 400fps, maybe more (I don't really remember exactly.) I understand my .41 data doesn't translate exactly to your smaller bore, but it's a rough guesstimate.

Generally, I shoot the same ammunition in my revolvers as I do in my carbines. I guess you could optimize the ammunition for the firearm to be used but that adds a level of complexity that I do not want to deal with.

If you are just shooting them to poke holes in paper, one load fits all. I use my .41 carbine to shoot long-range at steel pipe targets... I have to maximize my velocity to reach out to 600yds. I've also used those carbine loads in my 4" .41... where I was bashing the 500yd steel with ease... but it wasn't the most efficient load for the pistol. My faster powder (Unique) is also far more economical than the slower powder I use (IMR4227) by about half... so there is that.
 
Thanks everyone for your replies, I bought these powders mostly for 7.62x39 for loading 123gr plated bullets with a velocity cap of 2000 fps.
Of these powders 5744 worked the best in a SKS, so I will save it for that.
So now I have almost a pound of IMR 4759 that needs a place to burn. I may try it in the 357 lever action with the 185gr bullet with some different primers. It looks like 11gr of 4759 will fit without being compressed, I will try a few just fun and let you all know how goes. I will take a range rod with me in case I stick one.
 
I would to find a old lever action chambered in 30-30 or 32 spl with a shot out bore and have it rebored to a 35-30.
That would be a cool gun. Or a 35-40 Krag with a receiver sight.
Now when the OP gets back from testing, he will have some ideas on how to blow some money THR way. ;)
 
I tried this, all with R-P 357 mag cases trimmed at 1.280" with the MBC coated WNFP and 11.0gr of IMR 4759 (weighed) the only difference between these three loads was the primer used. I loaded ten rounds, four with WSPM, three with CCI 400 and three with CCI 450. I had some 100 ct primer boxes with 5-9 primers :confused:
I set my target stand at 50 yds with a 8.5x11" target, I shot one of four I loaded with WSPM and it missed the target. I moved the target up to 25 yrds and shot the remaining three rounds with the WSPM
H= 1332
L= 1321
Sd= 10
4 rnds
Group CTC 1"

Then I shot three rnds with the CCI 400 primer
H= 1290
L= 1272
Sd= 10
3 rnds
G= CTC 9/16"

Three rnds with the CCI 450
H= 1305
L= 1257
Sd= 26
3 rnds
G= CTC a 11/16"

I don't know where the 1st shot went but at 25 yds all of these loads shot 3" to the left and the elevation was right on, my elevation with standard 158 gr loads hits a 1" high at 50 yds.
This was just for fun :D
 
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May not be what you are interested in, but I have had the best luck using 300-MP powder in my 357 and 44 mag rifles. I get good accuracy, and about 100fps more velocity than H110, with less pressure, and does not need magnum primers. I get 1800fps with 357mag 158gn bullets from a 16" barrel, and 1800fps with 44 mag 240gn bullets from a 20" barrel. (The 5 lb 44 mag rifle kicks really hard).
 
May not be what you are interested in, but I have had the best luck using 300-MP powder in my 357 and 44 mag rifles.
I have tried 300 MP for 44 mag handgun 7.5" and I like it, I've tried it in the 357 lever action with the 20" barrel and was very happy with it.
I was looking for a way to burn up some powder that I don't use, mostly the 4759. This lever gun has a 13" LOP and is one of the few rifles my wife can shoot. I was hoping the 4759 load shot closer to my heavier 357 loads in terms of windage but it seems to shoot quite a bit to the left. I will need to verify this. Other than this issue the 4759 load with the MBC 180gr WNFP and small rifle primers would have achieved my goal.
 
Turns out the rear sight was way left, not sure how that happened this sight takes some force to move. So I did a adjustment and will do a retest for this load with 4759.
 
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