Anybody Reload .357 Mag for Leverguns?

[frankski]

I bought a Henry Big Boy in .357Mag/.38 Special this past weekend (pics later) because I like the concept of having a rifle that can run the same ammo I use in revolvers (and because it was raining and my wife was watching a figure skating marathon). So far, I've been feeding it a variety of factory ammo to see what it likes best.

But I'm already thinking about reloads. Will probably start with round-nose-flat-tip in a hard cast lead. Lyman shows some loads for rifle that are different than pistol, but all the powder data I've seen so far from the manufacturers websites don't differentiate between rifle and pistol loads.

I'm curious whether anyone else reloads pistol calibers for leverguns, and what your results have been.

[knight0334]

Generally with the rifles you can load them as hot as the brass can handle.

They really isn't a difference "rifle" and "handgun" loads in handgun cartridges(few exceptions for catered loads). ....you just get more velocity because of additional room for the powder to do its job - up to a certain point. After so long of a barrel the bullet can slow down within the barrel.

My old Speer #11 book does have some rifle specific loads, measured barrel length of 18.5". Do you have a desired powder that you would like to use?

[frankski]

I haven't chronyed it yet, but I read that the longer rifle barrel will deliver 50% to 90% higher velocity depending on the powder.

I'll be starting with AA5, HP38, Unique, SR4756.

[knight0334]

Of the powders that you listed, my book only has Unique.

110gr slug
10gr = 1905fps
9.5gr = 1817fps
9.0gr = 1708fps

125gr slug
9.6gr = 1764fps
8.6gr = 1585fps
7.6gr = 1416fps

140gr slug
8.8gr = 1638fps
7.8gr = 1466fps
6.8gr = 1265fps

158gr jacketed
8.2gr = 1452fps
7.2gr = 1286fps
6.2gr = 1129fps

158gr cast
6.0gr = 1294fps
5.0gr = 1083fps
4.0gr = 869fps

180gr jacketed
no data for Unique.

[Remington788]

I bought a Henry Big Boy in .357Mag/.38 Special this past weekend (pics later)

I am so jealous. That sound like such a fun rifle.

[Gunsnwater]

If you hot load them now you have to make sure they never get into your pistols.

[frankski]

Of the powders that you listed, my book only has Unique.

110gr slug
10gr = 1905fps
9.5gr = 1817fps
9.0gr = 1708fps

125gr slug
9.6gr = 1764fps
8.6gr = 1585fps
7.6gr = 1416fps

140gr slug
8.8gr = 1638fps
7.8gr = 1466fps
6.8gr = 1265fps

158gr jacketed
8.2gr = 1452fps
7.2gr = 1286fps
6.2gr = 1129fps

158gr cast
6.0gr = 1294fps
5.0gr = 1083fps
4.0gr = 869fps

180gr jacketed
no data for Unique.

Interesting stuff.

Looks like the loads are the same as the pistol loads, but the velocities are clearly rifle.

Looking again at the Lyman book, it seems the rifle loads in some cases have higher minimum values, but max loads are the same as pistol.

[frankski]

I am so jealous. That sound like such a fun rifle.

It's pretty cool. Very well made, action smooth as butter, and beautiful in an old fashioned brass & walnut kind of way. Looks like a Fudd Gun. But 10 in the magazine and one in the tube of .357 at close to 2,000 fps is strong juju.

I'd been looking for a good levergun for a little while, and would have considered an older Marlin, Winchester, or even a broken in Rossi. My favorite gun shop said they haven't seen any used leverguns, and didn't know when they'd get any new Henrys.

Then I went to the Henry website and looked for dealers. I found a little shop about the size of my living room over a garage run by a retired military guy in Pipersville: Bill's Gun Shop. Called him up, he said he has three, come on down. The rest is history.

[frankski]

If you hot load them now you have to make sure they never get into your pistols.

You make a good point.

But, as noted above, it seems max published rifle loads are the same as pistol. Seeing as how the longer barrel wrings out a lot more velocity and power, I can't see any reason to experiment with higher than published loads. The assumption that the rifle can handle higher pressures doesn't give me the comfort for wildcatting.

[knight0334]

Interesting stuff.

Looks like the loads are the same as the pistol loads, but the velocities are clearly rifle.

Looking again at the Lyman book, it seems the rifle loads in some cases have higher minimum values, but max loads are the same as pistol.

You're gonna have higher minimum to keep the squibs away.

Maxs are determined by the brass strength and design. Most modern cartridges can go a bit hotter than SAAMI spec. But hotter does mean more accurate, and there can be times of diminishing returns on velocity versus the amount of powder being used.