Ruger 77/357 and hot loads

[shadow9]

Has anyone done this?

I've been thinking that with a 77/357 one could cook up some very toasty loads due to the much larger amount of metal surrounding the case head, and that it locks up on a two-lug bolt rather than just the frame of a revolver.

What about accuracy with one? Any owners?

 

[Byron]

Buy a bigger caliber. It is not good to push a firearm beyond it's ability.I reload for mine and load on factory specs,158 gr jacketed at about 1250 fps in a revolver and close to 1800fps in the rifle.That seems plenty for me.

 

[M1key]

I didn't buy mine to load it up, so I can't help you.

I load 158 XTPs with 14.0gr (15.0 max) of 2400 at about 1700fps. It's comfortable, accurate, and relatively quiet to shoot.

Good luck

M

 

[splithoof]

I am going to guess that you also load for other .357 firearms including revolvers? Well my friend, the day that you mistakenly mix one of those hot-loaded rounds with the batch of other "revolver" loads will be the last day for your revolver.
I load for several .357 rifles/carbines INCLUDING the Ruger, and have found no benefit of increased accuracy as maximum loads are approached. I also load for an older Contender in .357 Maximum (yes, there is such a chambering), and while it launches bullets a bit faster, there is no real/practical improvement in accuracy.
I think Byron said it best: get a bigger caliber.

 

[Walkalong]

Metal or no metal, I would stick with standard pressure loads. There is plenty of data out there that can make the .357 sing out of a carbine. What can the bolt lugs handle? Want to find out the hard way?

 

[rswartsell]

or accelerated primer flow? gas escaping chamber from ruptured case? ...any number of nasty things can happen when maximums are exceeded and a strong action will not solve all of them. Bad idea.

 

[Haxby]

Is there a suitable powder to try this?
The hottest published load with something like H110 is probably going to give you as much velocity as you can get out of a 357.

 

[splithoof]

H110 is a great powder for turning a 2" snub into a flamethrower. Try it at night!

 

[R.W.Dale]

Is there a suitable powder to try this?
The hottest published load with something like H110 is probably going to give you as much velocity as you can get out of a 357.

This.

I've loaded 357 mag and max for platforms capable of 65k psi

Without resorting to doing retarded things with fast powders you simply can't get a 357 mag to do much more than it already does with max h110/296 loads which are already generally a case full.

Now this said I have fewer compunctions about using loads from the good ol Speer no11 in my 77/357 than I do my rolling block in 357 for example.

I've been playing around with the 180g hornady SSP spitzers in mine.

 

[R.W.Dale]

What can the bolt lugs handle? Want to find out the hard way?

It'd be fairly straightforward to find out

What is the bolt thrust on a max pressure 44mag case head?

How much pressure do you have to put into a 357 case to = that?

But as noted above aside from a mental exercise it's a bit of a moot point.

 

[shadow9]

Sounds like I'll be going back to plan A - if I wanna chuck a .357 pill at zippy speed, I'll just use the .35 Rem I inherited to do it.

For the record, slinging a 158gr FP XTP out of a .35 Rem case under the minimum recommended charge of RL7 still results in a 1L coke bottle being split in half perfectly and unfolded to lie flat - with all water instantly expelled around the range. Kicks like a .223, too.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Hod. Lil'Gun is your friend.
I had a 20"bbl Win. Mod94 in .357mag.

With a 158gr Remington SoftPoint, over 17.8gr of Lil'Gun, I got a chronographed 2,050fps. This is a good load; no flowing primers, no sticky extraction, no issues. You can go as high as 19.0gr of Lil'Gun, but velocities will be LOWER, not higher.
I've also used H110/296 in the .357mag and carried a .357mag revolver for 20yrs as a L.E. officer. Lil'Gun is my all time favorite powder with #2400 coming in second as it typically gives better accuracy for me.
Use magnum primers with the Lil'Gun and standard with #2400. I've mostly used 15.0gr of #2400 with jacketed bullets and 12.5 with cast, but with the newer #2400, dropped to 14.5gr. It will give around 1,750fps from the 18.5-20"bbls.

 

[rule303]

The 77/357 (and 77/44) are built on a slightly modified 77/22 action. They are nowhere near as strong as a traditional bolt action rifle. You are already gaining 25% or more velocity over a .357 revolver, there is only so much potential in a case that small.

 

[RCArms.com]

The 77/357 is a fantastic little carbine and its a great deer rifle as well as a fun rifle to target shoot with.

Not sure what pushing the limit would do for you that a stout factory loading won't provide. Additionally, as mentioned previously, if you have other .357 mag firearms, a deliberate over max reload could have really bad consequences

Don

 

[LeontheProfessional]

Not to hijack this thread but where is everyone getting these? Ive been wanting one for a long time and have never been able to find one.

 

[RCArms.com]

I ended up buying mine off gunbroker. Ruger was back logged with orders and I wanted one for my son to use for deer season, so I paid retail for it.

My son took a nice 6-point buck with it on opening weekend his first year hunting.

Some things are worth paying extra for.

 

[M1key]

Not to hijack this thread but where is everyone getting these? Ive been wanting one for a long time and have never been able to find one.

Bought mine a little over a year ago in a Denver GS. It was sitting out on the rack for week or so. Even the clerks were surprised Ruger came out with it and wanted to know where they could get one...

Just in the right place at the right time, I guess.

Good luck

M

 

[Byron]

I saw mine on gallery of Guns a few months back and my gunstore got mine through them.

 

[horsemen61]

It's on the soon to buy list

 

[ECVMatt]

You guys are killing me, I have been telling myself No, No, No, on these, but now I really want one.

Back to the OP's question:

I have taken some nice hogs with my Winchester 94 and H110/XTP combo. I see no need to go beyond the max load because is does so well within the limits I have set.

Sounds like you have a winner with the 35 Rem, so would stick with that for fun and enjoy the Ruger for what it is.

 

[Eb1]

I am glad i bought the 77/44. Don't have to push it hard to get the thump. Thinking of going Penn 320 grain flat nose at 1350 fps if the 300 grain XTP or 270 Speer doesn't workout.
I'd like to have a 77/357 ,also.

 

[Eb1]

Are you getting good accuracy from your 77/357?

 

[shadow9]

Eb1 - I actually don't own one...yet. It was speculation on my part in case I invested in one.

 

[jmr40]

This debate came up a few months ago with a slightly different twist. The 77/357 rifle is designed more closely to the 77/22 than the regular 77's. I don't remember the details, but after a bit of debate I think the consensus was that the rifle just wasn't up to really hot loads.

 

[gamestalker]

It drives me nuts when I hear that expression "hot load". There are two types of loads, published data, and those that are not.

Regardless of how strong an action is, the case can only handle so much pressure. Exceeding that pressure limit results is case ruptures, blown primers, and damage to the firearm and, or, shooter.

Buy a bigger cartridge.

GS