New Reloader 357 Magnum Hunting Ammo

[dpowers92]

I want to reload 357 magnum Heavy Hunting Ammo.
These will be shot from R92 16" barrel for hunting and my SP101 3.25 barrel for target fun.
My father inlaw has a turret press.
I have Lee Carbide Dies
I have brass.
I have powder (H110 and Lil Gun for maximum effect). Will be loading as hot as possible (at max reccomended safe pressures.)

I have some bullets (200) 180xtp Hornady.
What are some other heavy bullets (160-200 grain) (cast and jacketed) that are easy to find load data for.
To avoid leading I need to use gas check bullet at rifle speeds is that correct?
What size primers do I need?
From my limited knowledge fast burning powders are best used with magnum pistol primers is that correct?

Any other advice will be appreciated.

[Johnnyjr]

Why do you want to load so hot and hard??
Your just going to be shorting to life of the rifle.
You seem to have it all together.. good luck..

[dpowers92]

Well I think the rifle will last a long time. I've shot well over 1500 rounds. And this thing is still on point. Atleast 300 of those have been heavy hitting 357mag rounds from BB, DT and Grizzly.

The SP101 has seen over 100 rounds of the same heavy for caliber bullets and still goes bang every time. Hell of a sturdy revolver.

[Czy_Horse]

IMO, in a 357 Rifle the best jacketed bullet to use is Hornady's #35780 158gr FN-XTP, from Hornady #10, suggested MV 1150-1800fps.
Hornady's #35750, 158gr XTP's, suggested MV at 700-1400fps, will be fairly frangible at rifle velocities.
180gr Hornadys, #35771, I was not impressed with the Ballistic data for them out of a 357 Rifle. Gordons' Reloading Tool, a free European based program, similar to Quick Load.

I'm pushing 1800fps in my 18.5" Marlin with Magnum Primers & 16.5gr H110. Have not chronoed any rounds from the new 24" Rossi.
I have not tried Lil'Gun in the 357's yet. In the 20" Marlin 1894 44Mag/44Spl, I seen velocities over 1900fps with a 240gr XTP bullet, but the groups where terrible.

[GasGuzzler]

The 1:30 twist of a Rossi demands FPS. The real question is why people buy a .357 Magnum then download it. Maybe because .357 is the smallest R92 cartridge? The R92 will take well more pressure than the spec for .357.

Anyway, the H110 and Lil'Gun will work very well. I use a NOE 360180 with a gas check and powder coating. There is no official data for it but it's fairly stout. Dig around and you can find data.

[cavelamb]

Primers seem to be the limiting factor right now.
H110 wants a Magnum primer to guarantee full ignition.
Those seems to be mighty scarce.

I have a bunch of real Magnum level loads on the shelf and I'll keep them for serious work.

So I'm making what I call 357 Specials for plinking.
That's a 357 case loaded with a NON-magnum powder.
I'm using CFE Pistol and Accurate #5 for these.
They shoot just fine - just not as fast as a true Magnum load.

But not really all that slow either.
The following cast lead powder coated bullets are from a 1894 Marlin 357
using CFE Pistol and regular small pistol primers.

[dpowers92]

Are all primers relatively the same.
Federal vs Winchester vs CCI .
My local gunshop has a large stock of Federal SPM primers.

I have seen that when shooting lead bullets it's best to go atleast a diameter up.... bullets in 358.

When style of cast bullets is best for hunting applications.
LBT, SWC or WFN GC?

[runfiverun]

I use RNFP for everything.
they feed the best, are accurate, and they kill stuff.
they don't need 1800 fps to get the job done either.

after having a couple of XTP's fail to open on mule deer years ago I went to a plain base cast bullet of around 10 BHN at about 1400 fps, and have never looked back.
sure I can go to 1600+ fps if I want to, but as far away as I can hit anything 100% of the time every time there isn't any need.

[dpowers92]

I've never really thought about RNFP for hunting. If you have a perfect broadside I know the bullet shape is irrelevant.
How would a shot through the shoulder look like when taken with RNFP?

[cavelamb]

I've never really thought about RNFP for hunting. If you have a perfect broadside I know the bullet shape is irrelevant.
How would a shot through the shoulder look like when taken with RNFP?

a mess