.357 Magnum Handi,,,,any fun loads you've found?

[alan in ga]

I've shot just about all the pistol ammo [.38 Spl and .357 mag.] I  had in the shop drawers. Got dies,,,got some 148 Hollow Base Wadcutter I could load. Anyone load them hollow base forward? Any game/varmint results? How about Spitzers,,loading any of those? After owning a half dozen Handi rifles, this is my only one. Found it on a shop rack just over a year ago and figured it would HAVE TO BE the most fun and practical Handi Rifle chambering made. Why,,I've even kept the MaXimum reamer away from it!

[dpe.ahoy]

My favorite load came out of Handloader Magazine, writer was Brian Pearce.  I've found it to be accurate and reliable in all 4 357's I have.  It is a stiff load but brings out the best in that caliber.  Hodgdon goes up to 18.0 gr. of LilGun, Brian listed 19.0 gr. behind a 158 gr bullet.  I've used it with cast gc as well as jacketed.  The 18.0 gr charge is listed as only 25,800 CUP and H4227 is listed up to 42,000 CUP and H110 is 40,700 CUP.  Have loaded this load for a year or more and NO problems from my Ruger GP 100 or the 3 rifles.  LilGun has just about replaced the other 2 powders for me.  Use it in the 45 colt for heavy loads and have run down to the point of going to have to start reloading 44mags as well, and I'm going to try it there too.  Sorry to rattle on, but I miss this forum if I can't check it every day.   DP.

[OBXPilgrim]

I got some good loads from a 9mm 147gr Lyman cast bullet using 4.0gr of Unique powder in a 360 DW case - a "whisper" on the cheap.  Yours will chamber a 360DW case won't it?  I think the bt of that slug really helps it stabilize at such a slow speed.

 

[Badnews Bob]

This is a trick question right?  I didn't know they made a load for a .357 handie that wasn't fun to shoot.

[alan in ga]

This is a trick question right?  I didn't know they made a load for a .357 handie that wasn't fun to shoot.

Some loads might be "more funner" than others!
I still would love to suppress this one,,and still might.
All it takes is a handful of money and a month wait. Already got my pretty little $200 stamp for 22s [TAC 65].

[WILD_WEASEL]

I've been having great success with 357 rifle loads from the Speer #10 and #11 Reloading manuals.  The two manuals have loads using the 180gr semi spitzer intended for 35 Remington.  They shot surprisingly well (great) in my Handi.  The 180gr Hornady SSP also shoots great.  Given their longer than standard length they will only chamber in single shot Handis.

[jpshaw]

I was shipping my handi out for a 30/30 Brl and decided to add a .357 barrel also since I have a lot of powder and  bullets left over from my .357 Revolver days.  My question is, even though it won't be used for hunting much, what would the best weight bullet be for deer?  I was thinking the normal 158 gr JHP.

[Smoke Wagon]

I hunt with a 357 levergun sometimes. I use Speer 158 gr gold dots, they work good on deer and hogs usually only shot out to about 75 yards though. No need to reload for the 357 yet, get all the factory ammo I need for free.

[jpshaw]

Thanks Smoke.  That's what I wanted to know.

[WILD_WEASEL]

Speer recommends 158gr and 170gr soft points in their #14 Reloading Manual for deer size game.  Handgun bullets generally pick up too much velocity in a rifle, causing premature expansion or bullet failure with the lighter hollow points.  While I like tinkering with loads using 180gr bullets, if given the opportunity to use my 357 Handi for hunting I'd go with a Speer 158gr unicore softpoint on top of a max charge of H110 and 550 primer.  H110 is probably is not the best powder for us in my 4 5/8 inch Ruger Blackhawk, but is very accurate just the same and give maximum velocity in a rifle barrel.