Lever action 357 load good across the board

[fourdollarbill]

I'm looking to find one standard load to for my 6"gp100 and 1894cs lever gun. I'm cutting back on powders and stock. I typically use a 158lswc and I hate gas checks. My normal load of 158 lswc with 6.8 gr of 231 is not working so well in the gp100 but works okay in the marlin. I'm trying H110 with a heavy crimp but it seems stubborn in the GP unless loaded to the max. I can load 38spl+p's all day and get good results from both guns but it takes two hours of lead scraping before I can shoot a mag load.
Do any of you have any good ideas for an all around 357 load for both guns? I like them just hot enough not to use a gas check.

 

[bill in IN]

I,ve never had good luck with lswc in the rifle. I use Unique and 158 gr. JHP or JSP with good results

 

[fourdollarbill]

The price of the jacketed bullet is a bummer. I may shoot 500 rounds in a week out of both guns. I'm sticking with lead just as it sticks to the barrels.

 

[fecmech]

Two loads that work between my .357 rifles and GP 100 are :

5.0/Unique with 158RN,158RNFP, 170gr SWC --900 fps out of the pistol and 1100 fps out of the rifles.

9.5 grs of Blue Dot with the same bullets does 1150 out of the pistol and 1400 out of the rifles.

 

[fourdollarbill]

fecmech, do you need to use a gas check on the 9.5 gr of blue dot charge?

 

[fecmech]

fecmech, do you need to use a gas check on the 9.5 gr of blue dot charge?

No I do not. I have had good results with plain base bullets over the years in magnum pistol cartridges. Bullets that are sized right with good lubes seem to work just fine. The 1200-1300 fps range in handguns and 1400-1500 range in rifles for me has been fairly easy to do. I'm currently running a 173 gr. "Keith" (lyman 358429) over 14.9 of wc820 (similar to 296). The load clocks 1620 fps out of my Model 94 winchester with no leading. Accuracy is decent with 50 yd groups of 2" or less. Not varmit rifle accuracy by a long shot but more than adequate informal target shooting or deer hunting.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

4$,
I use W296/H110, Lil'Gun and 2400 in my .357 Magnum rounds. I've found 2400 works best with lead bullet when you want to push them up near velocities associated with Magnum rounds. It seems to work best with lead bullets.

 

[Dave B]

I shoot 125gr Lee Rnd flat point cast with wheel weights. 7gr Unique makes about 1200 in pistol and about 1600fps in Marlin rifle. This makes a really good load sized at .358

 

[Beagle-zebub]

Dave, what is the leading like out of that rifle?

 

[Walkalong]

Try some AA #5, Unique, Universal Clays, True Blue, or N340. They won't be the fastest (no need for gas checks), but they will all shoot well in both the GP-100 and the Marlin.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Walkalong, I was hoping somebody said AA#5. I just loaded 20 rounds of 158gr swc hornady's with 8.5 gr of AA#5 and 20 with 9.0 gr. (with cci 500's) I'm walking outside to give them a whirl.

 

[Dave B]

I usually lube them twice with Lee liquid alox thinned about 30-40% with mineral spirits. Once before sizing, and once after. I can shoot 100s of rnds with no leading at all. I have never shot jacketed bullets in my Marlin. I have heard that if you switch from jacketed to cast, you should have a super clean bbl as any copper residue acts sort of like a file.

 

[Walkalong]

I am guessing you'll get around 1150 & 1250 FPS from the GP-100, give or take a bit. It will be interesting to know what you get from it and the Marlin.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Too dark too quick. I'm going to hold off till i can see better. Besides I have to go to a friends house to shoot them and I get nervous as people may be walking in the woods and I cannot see them. Even though they shouldn't be there. But that is for another forum.