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dual .357 Mag loads
countershaft
Member Posts: 320 ✭✭✭
Anyone out there load for the .357 Mag and use the same bullet and powder charge for both the rifle (Henry) and the pistol(Ruger100)ammo ?
Comments
Might have feeding problems in the rifle if you were using SWC.
Although my .357 rifle is now a low-wall/single shot, for years I shot various loads through a Marlin micro-groove lever action (and contrary to the various myths, lead bullets shot very well, thank you). I know round nose bullets would have fed better, but I was always uncomfortable shooting them in that rifle because of the magazine tube.
So I shot mostly SWC, and at first, occasionally had to scrape a little lead off the chamber opening, or even, as hdcolt 51 suggests, occasional refusal to feed. Judicious/careful work with a file to create a ramp on the bottom of the chamber/barrel opening allowed SWC cartridges to feed without any difficulties. All you have to do is knock off that sharp lip.
I expect the slower powders will give you a bigger gain out of the carbine barrel.
Actually.....no. I refer you to those various loading manuals showing .357 Magnum loads for rifles. For example, the loads in the Lyman book (for TC carbine) are essentially identical to the revolver loads, but, of course, with higher velocities because of a longer barrel and the lack of a cylinder gap.
The reason, I suspect, is that the .357 case doesn't really have the capacity that most rifle(or even a .44 magnum) cases have . So if you try slower powders, you'll discover you just can't pack in enough powder to make it go faster. Ergo, 2400 or H110 are great powders for both firearms.
That's what makes the .357 Magnum a no-brainer for both revolver and rifle. Carry one load for both, or interchange with impunity: what works in one will work well in the other.
Thanks for the info on the advisory on the .41 and Blue Dot. I had heard the one on the .357 Sig. It must be time to find another propellant, any thoughts on Power Pistol?
and....I trust this isn't a high-jack....I've not had great experience with the current Blue Dot in .44 Spl. Older batches (probably 20 years old) of Blue Dot seemed to be fine, but there's too much residue in my latest loads. I don't use Blue Dot for that caliber any more.
This is probably a good example of what experts and long-time reloaders have been saying for years: same brand/same name powder batches are often different from batch to batch, and one should almost always be conservative when loading from a new package.
And, to get back onto the topic, some loading manuals have different loads for the Thompson Center rifle (because of its strength) than from from pistol recipes, but for the most part, the same load in your revolver will work well in any rifle.
GH1[:)]
that's why I smoothed the bottom of the chamber into a mild ramp....let's one use SWC as well as RNFP.
Same loads for both pistol and carbine.[:)]