best brass you can buy is starline. for 38 special and mild 357 I like ramshot True blue. I use it also for 9mm, 40 s&w and 45 acp. I just loaded up some 357 with H110, lilgun, and enforcer to see which one my gun prefers. 2400 and 4227 are also good 357 powders. I have a bunch of longshot powder for my 45 colt, so might need to find a 357 load using that powder. I cast my own bullets. for 38 I do a lee tumble lube swc 158 grn. For 357 I cast noe's version of ranch dogs 180 grn gc bullet. only round my gun wouldn't cycle 100% was full wadcutters. I have only had my 1894 cb for 2 weeks so still working on loads. first time out, I shot factory 38 +p's a friend had given me, a bunch of 38's I had loaded up for my S&W heavy duty 38/44. and half a box each of 357; 110 hp and 158 sp I loaded up at a mild 357 load. If hunting with 357 for deer or pig, I would recommend going 158-180 well constructed bullet that will hold together. I haven't hunted with a 357 before other than a very unlucky ground squirrel. But I have killed a lot of game up to elk and bear with a 35 whelen. I'll tell you a 35 caliber makes a nice wound channel.

 

Hornady 158 XTP over Solo 1000 powder wrapped in Starline brass. I am currently using well above the listed max in my 336 CB but.... The load shoots very well with good accuracy (as far as I can tell with my irons) and shows no pressure signs on the primers and extracts well with no sticking.
I started using Solo in competition action pistol because it burns clean and not near as hot as Titegroup. It does not burn clean as a bunny fart load in my experience.

 

I’m shooting the Hornady XTP flat point out of Starline brass with CCI 550 primers. My powder charge is 16.4 grains of H110. The MV is 1,785 FPS out of my 18”-barreled Marlin.

 

In my revolver it’s 16.5grs h110 and the 158 xtp or 158 xtp-fp


I tried to reply to your PM again and it was denied.

 

In my revolver it’s 16.5grs h110 and the 158 xtp or 158 xtp-fp





I tried to reply to your PM again and it was denied.[/QUOTE

One more time Bearcat.
I just p.m. if it doesn't work ill contact help desk.
Sorry bud.
Romans

 

I had previously worked up a book max load with 2400 that gave me 1690 FPS with the Hornady 158 FP XTP. I was wanting more velocity so I tried Alliant MP300 after reading up on it. Using a Remington 158 grain JSP I worked up to 18.3 grains of MP300 (0.3 grains under Alliants max) and achieved 1891 FPS out of my Marlins 18.5 inch barrel. I'm in my happy place now, now for deer season.

My "plinking" load is a 158 grain LSWC over 3.5 grains of W231 in magnum brass. That load gives me +/- 900 FPS.

 

You want to hit like a freight train? Get an 1894 in .44 Mag or .45 Colt. Both cartridges can do things that .357 never thought of. The on-target performance is visibly and audibly superior. Ballistically you're sending out twice the energy and 25% more meplat without even straining pressure limits.

 

You want to hit like a freight train? Get an 1894 in .44 Mag or .45 Colt. Both cartridges can do things that .357 never thought of. The on-target performance is visibly and audibly superior. Ballistically you're sending out twice the energy without even straining pressure limits.

I was trying to consider what analogy to use earlier, and all I could relate the to "freight train" mention was at least a 45-70. The .357, in my little distorted mind, rates close to a nice, hopped up, '57 Chevy. In that spectrum though, I'd have to put the .44 mag (actually my personal fav) nearer to a suitable semi-truck/tractor. I do like my .357 lever gun, but I just can't seem to equate it to "freight train" potential .... although it certainly has it's place.

just my blathering ....


jd

 

Romans,

The standard 158 gr jacketed hollow point is hard to beat for 4 legs. The 125 gr is great for 2 leg predators. Here is a link to a post I started in the reloading section with many reloading references. I would keep your expectation in the 100 yard or less range for hunting. Many shoot 200 meter silhouette matches with the 357 and 180-190 gr lead moving slower. However, not a hunting load.

Take your time and review the powder options. As others have indicated, for full throttle loads many of the slower mag pistol powders work great in the 357.
If you want a load and powder combo for practice that is economical, 4.0-4.5 grs TiteGroup with a copper plated 125 or 158 gr bullets (Berry's) is hard to beat.

If the pistol is a 357, don't bother with 38 special brass. I have seen more than one lever action have issues cycling 38 specials.



https://www.marlinowners.com/forum/reloading/281290-line-free-load-data-references.html

 

Thanks all, I appreciate your feed back. How is the recoil on a 44 vs 357. I've had two neck surgeries, so it doesn't take much to cause a flair up.
I've already got a set of 44 dies, so there is a plus for the 44. 😁😁😁

 

.44 rifles can be loaded mild to wild. From .44 Specials with TrailBoss to 310gr magnums that'll rattle your teeth.

 

I didn't know about your neck. .44 Mag heavy loads will have stout recoil. In that case, .357 Mag is your best bet for full power hunting loads.

 

One of the best things about the 357 is the flexibility it offers. My first 1894 would feed 38's just fine if they were loaded a little long, my current 1894C (2002 mfg) won't feed anything but full-length 357's. So I only use 357 brass, and while I don't shoot mild loads, it's easy to do if you want. Five grains of Unique or anything close in burning rate will kick out a 158-grain SWC out at around 1100 fps, and is fine for small game, or even two-legged predators in a pinch, I suppose. But my primary load is a jacketed 158-JHP or JSP at 1750 fps when driven by 16.2 grains of Lil Gun. Max load for that bullet weight is 18.0 grains, so it's plenty safe, and still hits hard, penetrates well, and expands like the pictures in bullet maker propaganda. This load has been tested in a dozen or more 1894C's, and seems to be accurate in nearly all of them, like it landed feet-first on an accuracy node.

You can also use that load with the 140-grain JHP bullets, Hornady makes pistol bullets that make most 1894's sing like bluebirds, so that's where I'd start. I don't know if Remington still offers component bullets (because I bought a zillion of them when they were a nickle apiece, and still have a bunch) but they always shot better in MY rifle than anything else. Your results may vary, of course, I'm just passing on what worked for me over the last 35 years. :bandit:

 

In my lever .357, my load is 14.0gr 2400, 158 XTP-FP, Starline brass and Win Std primer. OAL:I.580"-1.585". This is a very accurate load in my Henry with 20" barrel.