100 Yard Round suggestions for 357 Lever

The #1 community for Gun Owners in Indiana

Member Benefits:

  • Fewer Ads!
  • Discuss all aspects of firearm ownership
  • Discuss anti-gun legislation
  • Buy, sell, and trade in the classified section
  • Chat with Local gun shops, ranges, trainers & other businesses
  • Discover free outdoor shooting areas
  • View up to date on firearm-related events
  • Share photos & video with other members
  • ...and so much more!
  • dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    Trying to come up with a round I'm satisfied with for my Marlin 1894C in 357 Magnum. I just started reloading about 6 months ago and have come up with a 9mm round I'm happy with for competition but struggling with coming up with a 357 that shoots good groups at 100 yards. Hard cast lead bullets seem to perform better then coated or jacketed and 158's seem to be better then 125's. Any rounds that chrono ant 1800 FPS or faster always shoot to the right. The 158's seem to shoot best at 1400-1500 FPS.Have tried several different powder and different bullet combos but not too much success.

    Do any of you reloaders have a round that works for you with a similar setup?
     

    clayshooter99

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    15   0   0
    Dec 3, 2008
    232
    34
    I played around with deer load development rounds several years back. As a whole, the heavier bullets grouped the best. I settled on Hornady 158 XTP and my buddy killed several deer with that load. From what I remember the 110's and 125 grouped horribly.
     

    Trapper Jim

    Master
    Site Supporter
    Rating - 100%
    22   0   0
    Dec 18, 2012
    2,676
    77
    Arcadia
    I played around with deer load development rounds several years back. As a whole, the heavier bullets grouped the best. I settled on Hornady 158 XTP and my buddy killed several deer with that load. From what I remember the 110's and 125 grouped horribly.

    Hornady 158 XTP and Speer Deep Curl over 11 Gr Hercules (Alliant) 2400. 3/4 “ at 100 yrds.

    Buddy of mine used these on a Buck and bullet cracked and lodged into outbound rib. Deer jolted 8 yrds and dropped on front knees.
     

    dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    Thanks for the suggestions. I should have mentioned in my original post I'm not necessarily looking for a hunting round, tho I do want to load some of those and from what I have read the Hornady XTP's are the way to go. As weird as it may be I'm looking for more of a plinking round.
     

    Hawkeye7br

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    1   0   0
    Jul 9, 2015
    1,363
    67
    Terre Haute
    I run 15-16 grains of 296 & Hornady 180 XTP in my revolver for silhouette. Don't know what you expect for accuracy, most silo shooters run similar loads.
     

    dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    The last rounds I loaded up were SNS 158 grain Hard Cast Lead Round Nose with 16 grains of Lil'Gun and I can't get a 6" group. I have the gun in a sled but it could still be me. It just seems there is no consistency the hits seem all over. They chrono pretty consistent. I need to try H110, 296 or 2400 to see if that makes a difference also need to try some heavier bullets.
     

    Leadeye

    Grandmaster
    Rating - 100%
    4   0   0
    Jan 19, 2009
    36,696
    113
    .
    Are you running a gas check on your 158 grain cast? Powders like LilGun, 296, etc can scour the base, leading up the rifle and affecting your accuracy.
     

    dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    Marlin 1894C, 16" barrel, 1:16 twist, no scope-Skinner Peep sights. If I use factory ammo of different brands in 158 I get consistency they all hit to the right which I can adjust for as long as I get consistency. I'm just trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong with my hand loads.
     

    dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    Marlin 1894C, 16" barrel, 1:16 twist, no scope-Skinner Peep sights. If I use factory ammo of different brands in 158 I get consistency they all hit to the right which I can adjust for as long as I get consistency. I'm just trying to figure out what I'm doing wrong with my hand loads.
     

    357 Terms

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    3   0   0
    Jan 28, 2012
    836
    43
    Between SB and FT.W
    My deer load for my Marlin 1894 CSS

    180grn XTP with 14.5grn VV N110 and a srp.
    Right around 1700fps (18.5in bbl).

    Shoots very acurately (with XS ghost ring sights)
    Expands well, used it for years.
    I went with VihtaVuori years ago because I noticed velocity inconsistencies with ball powders in cold weather (N110 is a cylindrical powder) N110 is the best Magnum powder in my opinion. I've tried many, not going back.
    My old manuals show small rifle primers, the new ones have changed for some reason, I haven't, why change if it works great!
     
    Last edited:

    700 LTR 223

    Expert
    Rating - 100%
    2   0   0
    Apr 5, 2008
    919
    63
    I went with VihtaVuori years ago because I noticed velocity inconsistencies with ball powders in cold weather (N110 is a cylindrical powder) N110 is the best Magnum powder in my opinion. I've tried many, not going back.
    My old manuals show small rifle primers, the new ones have changed for some reason, I haven't, why change if it works great!

    I have also had some amazing results using N110 , right from the start it turned in some of my best accuracy ever in 357 and 44 magnum loads. Most shooters though are not going to pay the premium for N110. And it is not in every store that sells powder. I'll have to try it with my 180 XTPs.

    My Marlin 357 shoots best with 158XTPs with N110 or 296, H110. This is what I would try at 100 yards. Thus far results not as well with 125s or 180s.

    My Henry 357 fires all bullet weights pretty well - for 100 yards 180 XTPs with 13.0 of 296.
     

    dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    OK, now you guys have me wanting to pick up some N110 and XTP bullets this week. I just bought a Holosun HS 506 yesterday and sighted it in this morning and got much better consistency with my shots then with just the peep sight. Still can't figure out some of the rounds I've loaded but loads using 8.0 grains of Unique with the lead round nose are pretty good at 100.
     

    Colt

    Marksman
    Rating - 0%
    0   0   0
    Oct 11, 2009
    255
    18
    Dearborn County
    When I started using my Marlin 1894C for deer, I tried 15 gr of Lil Gun pushing 180 gr XTPs. Data on the web indicates the muzzle velocity should be about 1700 fps. My only complaint is that the bullets fragment, ruining a lot of meat. This is consistent with Hornady’s maximum recommended muzzle velocity of 1500 fps for the bullet. I switched to making neck shots when I can, which has the advantage of dropping the deer where they stand. I will be using less powder the next time I load a box of 100 for deer.
     

    dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    I have also had some amazing results using N110 , right from the start it turned in some of my best accuracy ever in 357 and 44 magnum loads. Most shooters though are not going to pay the premium for N110. And it is not in every store that sells powder. I'll have to try it with my 180 XTPs.

    My Marlin 357 shoots best with 158XTPs with N110 or 296, H110. This is what I would try at 100 yards. Thus far results not as well with 125s or 180s.

    My Henry 357 fires all bullet weights pretty well - for 100 yards 180 XTPs with 13.0 of 296.

    OK, having a heck of a time trying to locate some N110 locally. Any ideas who might carry this type of powder? I came across other VV powders but no N110.
     

    dmazzio

    Marksman
    Rating - 100%
    7   0   0
    Aug 24, 2012
    175
    18
    Danville
    After much hunting for N110 no luck so I decided to try some Alliant 2400. Loaded up some XTP's and as long as I keep the velocity under 1500 FPS accuracy is good. Seems to hold true for other bullets as well, over 1500 and things start hitting to the right but don't group well. So I'll stick with 12.0 grns of 2400 and I'm good. Need to experiment with some 180's now. Thanks for all the help everyone.
     

    Attachments

    • 357 mag rnds.jpg
      357 mag rnds.jpg
      1.1 MB · Views: 5

    Site Supporter

    INGO Supporter

    Forum statistics

    Threads
    524,489
    Messages
    9,794,217
    Members
    53,638
    Latest member
    Dhlawson
    Top Bottom