Loading for Rossi m92 357 mag

[joneb]

I have a Rossi M92 that I want to reload for.
I have Extreme plated 158gr FP, I'm not sure if this bullet profile will work with this gun ? So I will load these as if they could be fired in my .357 mag revolver.
The powders I have that seem applicable are,
AA#5
AA#7
AA#9
2400
H-110
I have both standard and mag. primers.
Thanks, any help would be appreciated.
PS' I will be using a taper crimp on these bullets.
I forgot I have HS-6 as well.

 

[nix4me]

2400 is my favorite 357 powder

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

You are going to find that the M92 really likes 125gr bullets.

My best plinking load is the LEE 125gr rnfp ahead of 5gr of herco.
4 gr of Unique will give the same load but the Herco will give you 100 fps more speed and still shoot out the bull at 100 yards.
Try it you will like it.

 

[joneb]

You are going to find that the M92 really likes 125gr bullets.

Not what I wanted to hear. But thank you

 

[Water-Man]

In my experience, the Rossi 92 likes Hornady FTX 140gr.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a fan of 158gr bullets in both the .38 Special and .357 Magnum.
I'm also a huge fan of HS-6 for middle to middle hot .357 Magnum ammo and IMO that would be a good powder choice for those plated bullets along with a magnum primer. You could use all the powders you listed but you really shouldn't push plated bullets past 1200 fps so you might not want to use H110, AA#9 or full loads of 2400 either. Since 2400 can be safely downloaded you can use it but I would use HS-6, AA#7 or AA#5 of the powders you listed.

That bullet profile will be just fine in your Rossi... I would probably start with a charge of 7.0gr HS-6 and work up to the charge that delivers the velocity you want. I usually use a charge of 7.2gr HS-6 for hard cast or plated bullets in the .357 Magnum.

Don't forget the range report...

 

[buck460XVR]

X-Treme says to not run their plated bullets over 1500FPS. That is easy to do in a Carbine using powders like H110/W296, 2400, AA#7 and AA#9. Remember the cannelure in that bullet keeps the bullet from being set back in the tubular mag of the M92.

 

[Buck13]

I haven't tried the FPs, but my M92 feeds 158 gr SWC very well. If you question regards accuracy more then feeding, I can't say. I recently got some 125s, but haven't had time to load any.

I have noticed that the 158 hit high with a stock front sight and a Skinner rear sight. I need to get a taller front sight if those bullets are going to zero.

 

[witchhunter]

I would roll crimp, not taper crimp into the cannelure. This will ensure no bullet setback in your tube magazine.

 

[joneb]

I would roll crimp, not taper crimp into the cannelure. This will ensure no bullet setback in your tube magazine.

I will try the taper crimp first as this was recommended by Exteme.
I have had good results for revolver with plated bullets using a taper crimp die, but these were low end .357 mag. loads.
My plan is to find a accurate load under 1500fps, AA#5 and HS-6 will be first up to bat.
Thanks

 

[Glockula]

I use unique and 2400 for my Rossi 92 trapper carbine. The gun likes 158 gr Hornaday xtp fp with near max loads of 2400. I worked up from the minimums to get my specific load. I also use 125 gr xtp fp and 158 gr speer unicore SP that shoot well.

120 gr lead from SNS casting in a .38 special case and bullseye is lights out.

I have not tried plated bullets but I put a light to medium roll crimp on anything that can go through the 92 because they feed better. My experience with the rifle YMMV

 

[35 Whelen]

Don't let anyone tell you "Rossi's like this bullet or that...". Rifles are typically individual. I've fired 125 gr cast FP's, 158 gr. cast SWC's.. 170 gr. cast SWC's and 170 gr. Sierra HP's in my Rossi. It does quite well with all of them and I mean well at 100 yds. Believe it or not, it even feeds the 170 gr. SWC (Lyman 358429) which is a long-ish bullet, just fine.

Oh, and I roll crimp everything. The 125's are roll crimped then run through the '92 at a relatively high rate of speed during CAS matches. No feeding problems at all so long as the o.a.l. is right.

35W

 

[joneb]

I shot some of these bullets with HS-6 and AA#5, with a taper crimp using Hornady 9mm/38 tpr crimp die in a 4th step.
The HS-6 load was,
brass,(I) trimmed to 1.278"
primer, CCI 550
COL, 1.572"
charge, 8.6gr
I loaded 10rnds and fired 8 rnds in the Rossi they shot well, I measured the last two rnds @ 1.565"
I loaded 5rnds in a revolver, I fired 4 rnds, measured the 5th @ 1.582"

The AA#5 load was,
brass, (I) trimmed 1.278"
primer, WSP
COL, 1.572"
charge, 8.2,8.6 and 9.0gr
The 8.2gr load I loaded 5 rnds and fired 4 in the revolver the 5th measured 1.576"
These loads shot well, but the crimp is a issue.
On the bright side, I ran a patch after each load change and no copper pieces were present
As for the crimp I will apply more, if that doesn't do it I will try a little chamfer on the inside of the case mouth and try the roll crimp.
These bullets from Xtreme seem well done.

 

[35 Whelen]

A taper crimp is for cartridges that headspace on the mouth of the case, which a 38/357 does not. no offense, but using a taper crimp on these calibers is pointless. I'd suggest an e-mail asking Extreme why they go to the trouble to apply a cannelure to their bullets, then recommend a "only a light taper crimp".

35W

 

[joneb]

. no offense, but using a taper crimp on these calibers is pointless.

Well shoot 35 I was doing what I was told, I tell my wife " just tell me what to do and I'll do that " Still married

 

[35 Whelen]

LOL. I understand. I'm on Plaintiff #2...and plan to keep it that way!

35W

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

Not what I wanted to hear. But thank you

If you have a newer M92, Most likely you have a 1 in 30 twist.
It will shoot 158's ok, But once I get heavier than that. They loose stability pretty fast.
I tried to work up a Deer load using some 180 rnfp's ahead of 2400.
At 50 yards they just sort of patterned on the target. At 100 yards the ones that hit the target hit it side ways.
Sweet spot seems to be 125 gr. I thought maybe lighter was better so I tried some Lee 105gr swc's
Real good at 50 yards. But at 100 yards the butt falls out of them and they just tumble also.

Now if your a lucky soul and you happened upon a old Rossi with the 1in 16 twist before Taurus got to them. You have some thing special that really needs proper care.
Sending it to me would be one way to insure it was properly cared for. I would keep it well fed with 180's slapping some Hogs.

All that being said. I have heard tell a guy name Ranch Dog shoots heavies out of his Rossi's and gets good results.
He even sent me instruction on how to do it. Alas... I have yet to master that VooDoo.

 

[joneb]

Now if your a lucky soul and you happened upon a old Rossi with the 1in 16 twist before Taurus got to them.

This one was purchased used in the mid 90's and has a 20" barrel. I have not checked the twist...yet .

 

[A Pause for the Coz]

I think your going to be happy. Never sell it.

 

[SASS#23149]

I"ve taper crimped lots of bullets with cannelures,works fine and doesn't 'wrinkle' the bullet.I shove HARD with my thumb after crimping,and none have ever moved,nor do they move in the mag tube. There IS more than one way to skin a cat,as they say.

 

[ch84]

In my experience, the Rossi 92 likes Hornady FTX 140gr.

+1 on the 140 grain bullets found that out shooting the fiochii 142 fmj now load the 140 xtp with 296 seems to like the hot rounds a little better. Got lucky was my first time reloading worked my way up with powder weight an see no reason to change.

 

[buck460XVR]

There IS more than one way to skin a cat,as they say.

One way to skin a cat is to tie it to the hitch of your truck and drag it down the road till all the hide is gone. Ain't what I would recommend tho, to someone new to cat skinning as the right way to do it, just cause it works for me.

I figure there's a reason manufacturers put a cannelure on bullets intended for use in revolvers and tube mags. I also assume there's a legitimate reason every reloading manual I have ever read, tells you to and shows you how. That said, this is what I would recommend to anyone new to reloading for revolvers and tube mags when using a bullet with a cannelure. What I would do is unimportant.

 

[35 Whelen]

If you have a newer M92, Most likely you have a 1 in 30 twist.
It will shoot 158's ok, But once I get heavier than that. They loose stability pretty fast.
I tried to work up a Deer load using some 180 rnfp's ahead of 2400.
At 50 yards they just sort of patterned on the target. At 100 yards the ones that hit the target hit it side ways.
Sweet spot seems to be 125 gr. I thought maybe lighter was better so I tried some Lee 105gr swc's
Real good at 50 yards. But at 100 yards the butt falls out of them and they just tumble also.

Now if your a lucky soul and you happened upon a old Rossi with the 1in 16 twist before Taurus got to them. You have some thing special that really needs proper care.
Sending it to me would be one way to insure it was properly cared for. I would keep it well fed with 180's slapping some Hogs.

All that being said. I have heard tell a guy name Ranch Dog shoots heavies out of his Rossi's and gets good results.
He even sent me instruction on how to do it. Alas... I have yet to master that VooDoo.

Where did you read or hear about a 1-in-30" twist in Rossi .357's? Mine's about 1 1/2 years old, and while I've never checked the twist I've fired Sierra 170 gr. HP's as well as home-cast 173 gr. SWC's and they both groups in the 2" range @ 100 yds.

If mine does have a 30" twist, ie for sure works with heavier bullets!

35W

 

[Schwing]

My M92 seems to like everything I put in it with the exception of wad cutters which don't cycle well (semi-wad cutters are fine).

There seems to be a lot of conjecture and opinions about the best weight and shape of bullet as well as crimp type etc. I would recommend you don't over think it and just work up whatever loads you have that are within spec and try them out. You will probably have to fiddle with your powder weight but not much else.

I think your experience will be about the same as mine... Nice 1" or less groups at 50 yards with the original sights.

 

[buck460XVR]

My M92 seems to like everything I put in it with the exception of wad cutters which don't cycle well (semi-wad cutters are fine).


I think your experience will be about the same as mine... Nice 1" or less groups at 50 yards with the original sights.

Same here....with the exception of having to replace the front sight with a taller one. Other than that, I have been mildly impressed with my 20'' Stainless M92 in .357.