accuracy of a 357 mag nef handi

[jacks44mag]

I got a new 357 mag nef handi I load my own bullets
 Can any one tell me what the best load is for accuracy . and what kind of accuracy to expect from this gun
I have Bulls eye, unique , Blue dot , h110 and 125g xtp and 158g xtp

[Dinny]

JMHO, I would recommend some different powder and bullets. Try Hodgdon Lil Gun and a 180gr Hornady XTP or SSPB. The H110 is a good powder too, but I think Lil Gun has the advantage.

1" accuracy at 50yds is a good place to base your loads from. You should get at least that good from a properly loaded Handi rifle in 357 Mag.  

Just know that when you fire it, Spanky says it will talk to you.   Yes it will talk! It says, "max me, max me"! lol  

Thanks, Dinny

[gendoc]

i perfer a 158gr bullet, imr-4227 powder in all of my mags...hand and long guns (6)
  a 180gr and the same powder in my 2 max rifles, #1 ruger and the handi

[mrcoolid]

I shoot a .358 cast performance 180 grain WFNGC bullet with 2400 powder. This combo is pretty accurate @ 50 yds. out of my "talo" .357 handi..  3 shot group is .625" ctc.

it's fun to shoot and I plan on harvesting some backstraps with it.

Mike

[revbc]

Here's a couple 100yd groups from my maxi.

[lee1954]

You have a lot of fun ahead of you  finding good loads ...Every one is differant and most like full power loads with heavy bullets and that is fun shooting...
 But try some target loads-- 38 spc.    ..

  I like the Lee 105 swc -- Ok I'm weard --  anyway I can  get -- just over a one inch group at 50 yards -- with a bullet that is not suposed shoot good in  a 357 handi .. So you can do better  EZ ...
 My  handi is starting to whisper "Max me"

[Ranger J]

A lot of the .357s have a long throat and finding a load that will give reasonable accuracy with them can be a problem.  I had one and finally gave up on it and sold it to someone that was going to convert it to another caliber.  A lot of people are converting them to 357 Max with good results.  I seriously considered this but being out in the boondocks I could not find a gunsmith locally that  would do it.  That was a shame because the conversion seems to be rather simple and the people that have had it done are real happy with it.

RJ

[snapcrackpop]

I've reamed my Mag to a Max and shooting the "mag" loads. 
I thought the Lil Gun and 158 XTPs were good till I shot the 180 XTPs with H110.  Then yesterday I got 3 touching with the 140 XTP and H110.  Every load seems to look better than the last! (all at 100 yards)
Hmmm.......  What to load tonight? 

[manatee1947]

I got mine to shoot cast, I shoot 185 gr lee flat based and 3.6 gr unique in 38 sp cases seated out to 1.550, I get .850 @ 50yds. I used the 158 gr and get about 1.20 @ 50 yds using 13.5 gr of 2400 in 357 mag cases. You could try 9.5 to 10.5 gr of Blue Dot.

[USSColorado]

Silly me... I was wishing they made it in .38 special so I could use my brass... .357 Mag brass is too expensive.

[HAMMERHEAD]

Silly me... I was wishing they made it in .38 special so I could use my brass... .357 Mag brass is too expensive.

.38 spl brass works pretty good in my .357 Handi, I roll a lot of cast loads and have good luck, 1" to 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards with open sights. Doesn't improve with magnum brass. I only use the magnum brass for heavy jacketed loads.
For plinker loads 130/125 LRN-FP and any 158 LSWC has given good accuracy. Hornady swaged bullets are particularly good in mine (and my revolvers).
Fast powders are the way to go for light lead loads. Titegroup, Clays and Trail Boss have all worked well.

[LaOtto222]

As you can see there is no one load that works well, you just have to find out. I can shoot 38 Specials with wad cutters and Bullseye or a 357 Max with a heavy load of 1680, W296 with 180 grain bullets and do well. But like I said you have to just try it.

[LaOtto222]

I forgot one thing - DO NOT TRY BLUE DOT AND 125 GRAIN BULLETS. Blue Dot and 125 grain bullets in a 357 case can be dangerous.

[zoner]

When i got my 357 mag components were hard to find. Ran across a box of 158 gr LRN bullet and bought em....loaded some up with 5 grs 231 in 357 cases and some with 5.5 grs 231. The 5 gr load printed 1" at 100 yds, the 5.5 was 1 1/4" then my spotter handed my a box of factory 158 gr hydrashok and that stuff printed 1". I'm scared to max it....it's a darn good shooter just like it is

[petemi]

I'm scared to max it....it's a darn good shooter just like it is

I had the same fear.  After I got the second .357 and they both shot very well, I decided to risk one and ream it to max.  No difference at all.  Everything shot well.  I reamed the second one, and same story.  If I were you, I'd do it.

Pete