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Posted: 2/22/2026 1:59:37 PM EDT
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Greetings, I am assembling components for 357 and 44 magnum lever gun rounds. I have 2400, 296, Blue Dot and Longshot on hand. I am trying to find a load my Rossi 92s like with hunting weight (whitetail deer) bullets. For projectiles I only have 180gr XTPs for the 357 at this point and in the 44 I have Speer 240gr Unicor SP and HP and 240gr XTPs. Any bullets to try out? The 357 Rossi has a faster twist than the newer 44 which has a one in 30” twist. |
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  This guys tests H110 / XTP's with different barrel lengths. Really interesting how the XTP handles low and high velocities  Failed To Load Title  Failed To Load Title  Failed To Load Title  Failed To Load Title |
| 140 grain XTP pushed 10% above max load (revolver loads) from a 20" winchester does 2255fps. It expands to .60" and still maintains 90% of its weight. Its a fantastic hunting load and I would imagine self defense. It drops 6" at 150 yards with a 100 yard zero and 14" at 200 but is still going just over 1000fps. |
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Originally Posted By wvfarrier: Couple pics https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/184979/20230822_131717_jpg-3717812.JPG https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/184979/20230822_133156_jpg-3717813.JPG Holy cow that round is cooking! I have some 140xtps I was loading for 38 special+p but I will try those out in my 20” Rossi. |
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44 mag lever action I use Horniday XTP 240 gr at 1725 fps. That’s not the max load but gives good groups at 100 yds. I don’t have a .357 rifle but if I did I would run Barnes or Winchester Silvertip 140 gr. And plink with cast bullets. I have loaded both calibers with various powders some of which can’t be found now, so look at H110 as a powder choice . |
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Originally Posted By Cheesebeast: Thanks- do you find your 357 carbine has a noticeable bullet weight preference accuracy wise? 180 grain works really well with my R92s/.357 along with 2400. I tried 2x R92s in 44 mag. Neither one was worth keeping because of terrible acracy. I believe both guns had oversized barrels. |
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I have 2 ea model 92 .357 leverguns; a 20" carbine and 24" rifle and my favorite load is a 158 grn Zero JSP bullet over 18.0 grns of Lil'Gun lit by a Win SR primer. Chrono'd on an 84° day at my range at 6,100 ft asl, the 20" carbine produces 1,925 fps (9% faster than with H110) and the 24" rifle produces 2,005 fps (10% faster than with H110). Best of all at a peak pressure of only 25,800 CUP vs H110 at 40,700 CUP so my brass lasts a lot longer. |
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I haven’t done much loading specifically for my levers, but here’s what I’ve used: 158gr Summit SWC 6gr Win244, 1.61” COAL, SPP 17.4” Henry: 1300fps 4” Trooper MkIII: 1030fps 3.5” Pre-27: 985fps 2.5” 66-7: 975fps 2” Magnum Carry: 953fps 180gr Missouri WFN 11.2gr AA#9, 1.595” COAL, SPM 17.4” Henry: 1400fps 4” 586: 1038fps 3” Python: 1005fps 240gr Acme SWC 9gr Win244, 1.61” COAL, Win LP 20” Henry AW: 1285fps 4” 29-2: 1058fps 3” 629-6: 1028fps 300gr Missouri TCFP 13.6gr AA#9, 1.6” COAL, Win LP 20” Henry AW: 1226fps My 357 Magnum Henry seems to shoot everything well. The 44 is more picky. I have only loaded hardcast coated for it and the 240 SWC’s are in the 3” at 100 yard range. The 300’s are slightly under 2 inches. Jacketed factory is in the same 2” to slightly under range. Based on what I’ve read and YouTube videos I’ve watched, I’m going to try some 240 soft points and some 300 gas checks. Here’s an interesting one:  Lever Action 44 Mag for Bear |
"He had the right hand of the devil strapped tightly to his side."-The Last Cowboy
| Thanks for the loads. The trouble I’ve found with softpoint 240s is availability. I like the Speer 240 SP but for years I haven’t seen any for sale. I can get the HP version. I wish Speer 270gr soft points were available once again. They might be the sweet spot in rifles. |
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Originally Posted By Cheesebeast: Thanks for the loads. The trouble I’ve found with softpoint 240s is availability. I like the Speer 240 SP but for years I haven’t seen any for sale. I can get the HP version. I wish Speer 270gr soft points were available once again. They might be the sweet spot in rifles. I went down a little internet rabbit hole today about the Zero 240gn JSP bullets, it seemed pretty positive as a general use bullet but I didn't find any hunting examples. |
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Here is a 300gr .452 xtp at 1550fps in a 45 colt winchester. Its a fearsome load. Attached File Attached File |
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.357 Magnum (heavy load). Above current book published loading. 16 grains Alliant 2400 powder. 158 grain Hornady XTP CCI #550 primer Seat at 1.570" COAL with a heavy crimp. When fired from my Ruger 77/357 and Henry Hush .357 magnum carbines it is perfectly safe and does not exhibit any pressure signs. Muzzle velocity is 1805 fps and is stupid accurate. I took a doe last deer season at 50 yards. The bullet was recovered in the offside hide. Expanded diameter was .547" and recovered bullet weight was 124 grains. Impact velocity at 50 yards was 1625 fps. I'm beyond impressed with this loading. There was some fragmentation, but I'm OK with it and it probably aids in reaching out to damage tissue/ impart shock. |
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Originally Posted By McGruff1533: .357 Magnum (heavy load). Above current book published loading. 16 grains Alliant 2400 powder. 158 grain Hornady XTP CCI #550 primer Seat at 1.570" COAL with a heavy crimp. When fired from my Ruger 77/357 and Henry Hush .357 magnum carbines it is perfectly safe and does not exhibit any pressure signs. Muzzle velocity is 1805 fps and is stupid accurate. I took a doe last deer season at 50 yards. The bullet was recovered in the offside hide. Expanded diameter was .547" and recovered bullet weight was 124 grains. Impact velocity at 50 yards was 1625 fps. I'm beyond impressed with this loading. There was some fragmentation, but I'm OK with it and it probably aids in reaching out to damage tissue/ impart shock. Treasure and ration your 2400 supply. I am just about out of it and am searching for a substitute. I have Lil’gun, Blue Dot, 296, and am considering trying Vihtavuori N110. 2400 has been my go to for 44 Mag and 500 Linebaugh loads. Ah well…someday it will return to regular availibility. |
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