In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Next handloading project

old06old06 Member Posts: 577 ✭✭✭✭
edited December 2003 in General Discussion
I ran across a deal early this year I have shot it a little and had to with some handloads I have for a pistol it is a 94 trapper in 357 the gun came to me for just around a 100.00 in a package deal I picked up several gun's from a guy going oversees anyway I thought it would be a good starter gun for the grandkids question is has any one here done any development of pistol rounds in a rifle may save me a bunch of work I like to run them up a little but not at the risk of damage to the gun or kids ? Any help would be welcome [:D]

psalms 16
· Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

Comments

  • paboogerpabooger Member Posts: 13,953
    edited November -1
    I have a Marlin 1894 Cowboy 44 Mag. I use it for shooting silhouettes. I load down for shooting the silhouettes, but I have shot my max load, hand loads thru it several times! I know this is not a problem with the Marlins, but not sure about the Winchesters!

    I chose the 44 mag as I already have the 44 mag Handgun. I do know that several people at the club do use the 357 rifles for the same reason!

    I don't own a 357 so I can't help you out much with loads for it!

    Not sure how old the grandkids are but the light loads shoot more accuratly with less recoil! Also if you keep the velocity down you can shoot the hardcast bullets without barrel leading and save a few bucks!

    paboogerani3.gif
    To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
    This was the Ancient law of Youth
    Old times are past, old times are done:
    But the Law runs true, O little son!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • old06old06 Member Posts: 577 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    oldest step is 10 or 11 I put some 38 throught it also it didn't like them as much as the 357 now mind you it just what was on hand I have yet to make something just for it I wish my gun was a Marlin but at that price!! you know the rest of a story like that now come to think of it the 357 had jacket and the 38 lead ? waht do you think Pa

    psalms 16
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paboogerpabooger Member Posts: 13,953
    edited November -1
    I prefer the lead for plinking, cheaper and does less damage to the metal targets that I shoot at! There are many on here far more qualified than me who will give you their opinion.
    I shoot the 44 specials out of my handgun also, less recoil and much cheaper!

    If your going to reload the lead bullets are much cheaper, and you can cast your own if so desire!

    paboogerani3.gif
    To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
    This was the Ancient law of Youth
    Old times are past, old times are done:
    But the Law runs true, O little son!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • old06old06 Member Posts: 577 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Hope to get a few more inputs maybe some folks are back from the Christmas visit Thanks Bob

    psalms 16
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paboogerpabooger Member Posts: 13,953
    edited November -1
    Bob: Hit the edit tab and change your title from next years project, to something related to the question in hand. I think you'll get a ton more response's!
    Pa.

    paboogerani3.gif

    LIFES MOSTLY SCARS AND SOUVENIRS - Max Stalling


    To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
    This was the Ancient law of Youth
    Old times are past, old times are done:
    But the Law runs true, O little son!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • robsgunsrobsguns Member Posts: 4,581 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Ensure you dont shoot a lot of the short cartridges in your .38's and .44's, or .45's, especially if you dont clean your cylinders, very, very well, or you'll have problems extracting the longer cartridges when you switch back to them. A carbon ring (buildup) may occur from firing the shorter cartridges, right where the additional length of the longer cartridges should be, thats what causes the extraction problems.

    "Never argue with an idiot.... They drag you down to their level then beat you with experience."

    "I don't have an attitude problem, you have a perception problem."

    Ryan
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • IconoclastIconoclast Member Posts: 10,515 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I've never had a rifle in handgun caliber, but I would check with the maker to find out about the power of the firing pin. In normal practice, one should not mix rifle and pistol primers or use pistol primers in a rifle (or vice versa). I like Unique in my .357 revolver, but you may want a slower burning powder in the longer tube. Be ABSOLUTELY SURE you keep handgun and rifle rounds segregated - perhaps use only one bullet type in the rifle and / or color the base of the cartridge with indelible marker (this does not flake off and clog actions as paints or nail polish can). Between probable different loads and primers, this will be essential IMHO to ensure safety, especially when providing ammo for the use of youngsters.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paboogerpabooger Member Posts: 13,953
    edited November -1
    Heres some info from my Marlin 1894 manual, note they come in either the 44 Mag or the 357!

    The 1894 Cowboy is designed to handle 44 Rem. Magnum factory loaded ammo except wad cutters and shot shells! It will function with 44 special cartridges that are within the length parameters shown!
    Min O.A.L. 1.535
    Max O.A.L. 1.610

    All factory ammo that I have ever bought is designed for the handgun and functions fine in my rifle! I shoot my pistol reloads as well with out any problems!







    Here's some info I got from www.marlinfirearms.com, 1894 Cowboy forum


    One thing you should NOT do, is reload cartridges using H110, or WW296, BELOW the minimums listed in your reloading manual.

    If you want reduced loads, use Unique, or WW231. Both are great powders for reduced loads. (And there are other powders, too, for reduced loads, but those two are my favorites, and are very efficient.)



    Bought a 1894CB in 38/357 with the intention of using my range-proven pistol reloads. Was disappointed and mayhaps foolish to think they would shoot the same in a rifle.... Found the only pistol load that worked well at 50/100 yards in both was the 125JHP w/16gr of 2400. All of the 158LSWC pistol loads were awful at any distance, even though they were sized .358. Down-loaded several to negate the 300-400fps boost in a 24" bbl, but still no good. Found factory 158JSP ammo shot well, so will probably start reloading some of that and see how it performs in the revolvers.
    Last October, MUZZLEDUSTER had a post about his 148DEWC reloads with 3.0gr of 700X(I used Bullseye) in 357 cases and mag primers. Those worked out well at 50 yards in both rifle and pistol. Think from now on, I'll stick with 357 cases for everything as it's cleaner in the chamber/cylinder and feeding is never a problem in the rifle. (The fun part of reloading your own is watching the endless load possibilities eat up the econonical advantages! Hey, it's a HOBBY, not a business, ok?)
    Seems like I have to keep the cast bullets slow, and the jacketed bullets fast to get good results in the 24" Ballard. The 125JHP's chron @2000fps and the 148DEWC's run 925fps. Anyone have similar data through the 18"?
    Good luck and let us know what works good for yo

    paboogerani3.gif

    LIFES MOSTLY SCARS AND SOUVENIRS - Max Stalling


    To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
    This was the Ancient law of Youth
    Old times are past, old times are done:
    But the Law runs true, O little son!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • paboogerpabooger Member Posts: 13,953
    edited November -1
    The guys at the club who use the 44 mag Marlins have found that using a light load of Unique, produces the best results for shooting silhouettes out to 100yds!

    paboogerani3.gif

    LIFES MOSTLY SCARS AND SOUVENIRS - Max Stalling


    To Ride, shoot straight,and speak the truth
    This was the Ancient law of Youth
    Old times are past, old times are done:
    But the Law runs true, O little son!
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
  • ThrockmortonThrockmorton Member Posts: 814 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nearly all of the powder makers have data online,and have 'cowboy action shooting' load sections.
    My favorit .357 powder has been Titegroup.chronos the most accurate and meters nice.Very efficient in small cases. :)
    www.hodgdon.com
    Us cowboy shooters shoot TONS of lead bullets and have no leading problems with hardcast bullets at mild velocities.
    You should use round nose flat point bullets only to avoid detonating a mag tube full of ammo.wad and semiwadcutter ammo is iffy feeding in lever guns...some will,some won't.SAme with .38's.Mine will feed 'em,some hiccup on em.
    Have fun,they are a great plinker or medium sized game gun.


    Throckmortons' the alias,cas is the game.
    · Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Sign In or Register to comment.