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Posted: 2/14/2012 9:08:21 AM EDT
| I am new to loading for the 357 mag. I have a smith 627 UDR (2 5/8") and 627 Pro (4") revolvers and a marlin 357 mag lever gun. I just ordered some Hornady XTP's in 125 and 158 plus some hard case lead in 195 grain. Anyone got some GOOD load info for these? Obviously the 125's are personal defense the others are hunting loads. Thanks I am trying to stick to one or two powders and primers. |
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One thing: stick to 158's and heavier in the carbine. The velocities of teh 125s out of the marlin will be excessive, and the 125's will come apart. While the 158's are "okay" the best bullet in terms of reliable penetration and expansion without over expanding is Rem's 158 JSP. These can be driven to 1800-1900 fps in an 1894n carbine.
You will likely find its very hard to find one or two loads that do everything well, if only because your 357s are so different. The little 2" gun is a whole world apart from the carbine. I dont have a single load to recommend. I use H110 in 357 mag loads, and then use Unique or Win 231 in 38 special loads (in my 357). Hodgdon LilGun offers incredible performance in the 357 (especially in carbine) BUT I have stopped using it. It burns entirely too hot, and there are documented cases of severe throat erosion and cracked/eroded forcing cones in even top quality handguns like freedom arms due to the use of LilGun. Buyer beware. If you try to change loads in the carbine you can expect huge point of impact changes when you shift from light to heavy loads. I recommend you load a 158 to close to max pressures in 357 cases for the carbine. Then come up with two entirely different load for the handguns: A 125 grn mag load with H110 (or win 296) and a target load using cast bullets over unique/win 231 in 38 cases.. Just my two cents based on years of playing with 1894's and handguns in both 44 mag/44special and 357 mag/38 special. |
| I have had very good results with lil gun at slightly below max to max with the 158 xtps and know about the erosion problems with it;however none is occurring with 357 loads as there is not a big charge as in the freedom arms calibers and the fact that a rifle does not have a gap as a revolver.H110 and or 296 are diffenately great at max loading and are what most people swear by.I thought I was scared off by the lil gun rumors but have realized that in the 357 it is not a problem and pressure is very low and accuracy is unbeatable for my marlin and in my revolvers.SD has been in the single didgets with good velocity. |
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357 MAG: Hodgdon HP38 125GR XTP______MIN: 7.3GR––-MAX: 8.5GR OAL: 1.590" I go to 7.7
357 MAG: Hodgden HS6 125GR XTP______MIN: 9.8GR––-MAX: 10.9GR OAL: 1.590" And 10.0 (light load) Both using fed small pistol. But in my opinion stick to factory loads for defense but its up to you. This data was found here, I take no responsibility if there is any incident http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp |
| I shoot the same loads in my Marlin micro-groove carbine and a 6" revolver. My rifle and pistol shoot Accurate Arms AA#9 powder with Hornady 158gr XTP's, both HP and FP's. The 158 XTPS shoots extremely well in both pistol and rifle. I highly recommend AA#9 powder using Accurate Arms data. Stick with AA#9, H110, Win 296 in your magnum loads and you'll be fine both in pistol and rifle. Don't reduce charge weights much with these powders in .357 magnum. A medium speed powder may work best for your 125XTP loads in your pistol.. My favorite load is 13.0 grains of AA#9 with the 158 XTP's in both pistol and rifle. Check Accurate Arms data. |
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For the revolvers get some H-110 and magnum primers for full loads. Use a firm crimp. Hodgdon's site has load data for H-110. x2 H-110 is a fantastic MAGNUM pistol powder This. And I love the fireball it makes.   Oh yea! Scares the crap outta' the Glock shooters at the local indoor range! 
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I worked up some 18 grain Lil Gun behind 158 grain XTP's and they are superbly accurate but I dont have a chronograph so no velocities except what hornady advertises. These are stricly a carbine load and not recommended for revolvers.
IF anyone knows of a load for them I have some 195 grain harc cast LNFP (brile 18) that I am looking to build. |
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