Rossi Rifleman

Too bad we don't live closer. My grandson loves shooting coons with his .17, but we don't have nearly as many around here as you obviously do.

Very interesting write up. Just today I was pondering the effectiveness of the 357 on medium sized game (deer, black bear, etc...). I've never hunted with one but have been curious about it for some time. Personally I hunt with a 44 Magnum rifle loaded with hollow points and use the 38/357 for "plinking".

Also, thanks for the link to the cheek pad. That looks much nicer than the stock ones that come with the Rossi.

I think the 357 Mag, as I use it, is more of a whitetail rifle than a hog rifle. I have no experience with black bear but would think it would be more like a hog. My shooting probably averages 70-yards and I've found the R92 with my 175-grain bullet to be very effective on whitetails at this range.

Ranch Dog wrote:I think the 357 Mag, as I use it, is more of a whitetail rifle than a hog rifle...... and I've found the R92 with my 175-grain bullet to be very effective on whitetails at this range.

Well that is encouraging. I have always thought a 357 hard cast out of a rifle should perform similar to a 30-30. Would you say that has been your experience?

A friend of mine used to hunt deer with a 357 and he swore it off due to "lack of penetration", however he was using hollow points out of a pistol. My brother has been thinking of hunting whitetail with his Winchester 94 in 357 and I was looking for some solid starting point for him.

dvw86 wrote:Well that is encouraging. I have always thought a 357 hard cast out of a rifle should perform similar to a 30-30. Would you say that has been your experience?

I think a full load 357 Mag with a 170 - 180 flat point cast would be like a reduced load 30-30 Win using a 170-grain flat point cast. At least that I how I start the kids here. I also really control the shots, just like I would do. If a really young kid is coming to hunt in the fall, I start them in the summer with a couple of sessions using my Marlin 1894CL chambered in 32-20 Win and then move to slightly reduced loads in the 357 Mag. By hunting season they are are shooting full load 357 Mags.

I've killed a couple of whitetails with the 357 Mag out at 100 to 125 yards. I would say on these all the conditions were right, the stars were aligned and I felt completely certain of the outcome.

Thanks, that is good info to pass along to my brother.

Maybe coons need a NOE hollowpoint in a lighter bullet maybe from a .38 or a mild loaded .357 magnum.

Ranch Dog, a couple of questions on your TLC359-175 RF loading for the M92 Rossi. I think you mentioned in another post that you size the bullets to .357, is that correct and how did you end up there vs .358 or .359? I was just looking at your cartridge drawing on the Ranch Dog outdoors site and it shows .359 for this load so wanted to make sure I was reading this right. I think I will order some from Carolina Cast Bullets, they list them in .359 and .358 for the 175 and 190. Second question, what primer are you using? I assume small pistol magnum but wanted to be sure. Also do you have a preference as to the primer brand? Final question, what type of lube are you using on these loads?

This is a great forum and you have obviously put a lot of work into it, keep it up!

Thanks in advance.

Cheyenne4090 wrote:Ranch Dog, a couple of questions on your TLC359-175 RF loading for the M92 Rossi. I think you mentioned in another post that you size the bullets to .357, is that correct and how did you end up there vs .358 or .359? I was just looking at your cartridge drawing on the Ranch Dog outdoors site and it shows .359 for this load so wanted to make sure I was reading this right. I think I will order some from Carolina Cast Bullets, they list them in .359 and .358 for the 175 and 190. Second question, what primer are you using? I assume small pistol magnum but wanted to be sure. Also do you have a preference as to the primer brand? Final question, what type of lube are you using on these loads?

This is a great forum and you have obviously put a lot of work into it, keep it up!

Thanks in advance.

The groove diameter of my R92 357 Mag is .355" right on the SAAMI spec. I shot both .357" and .358" and the latter held a slight edge in accuracy so I size everything for this rifle to .358". I use small pistol primers, I don't use magnum primers for anything.

Now the bad news. Jerry of Carolina Cast is no longer in business according to the latest contact a user had. He had suffered a stroke and is unable to do the work. That is what was reported here on the forum.

Thanks I guess I need to slug my barrel and see what it measures also do you use a particular lube or do you use one of the newer coatings? If Carolina cast is no longer in business I guess I'll be picking up a mold and making them myself.