Anyone know where to buy frangible .357 mag?

[Starslinger]

I'd like to shoot my .357 magnum lever rifle at steel at about 20 yards distance. I have AR500 steel targets that hang and deflect splatter and ricochets down at an angle, and I've had no problems with 9mm. But my understanding is that this isn't really safe with .357 from a rifle due to the velocity gain from the long barrel. Muzzle energy of .357 from a rifle is about 85% of a .223 round according to Ballistics By The Inch.

Does anyone have experience shooting .357 at steel at close range? Does anyone have a source for semi-affordable frangible .357 magnum rounds? Thanks for any help!

[Skipper]

Not cheap, but here's some:

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1019018751/inceptor-preferred-defense-ammunition-357-magnum-86-grain-arx-frangible-lead-free-box-of-20

If you roll your own:

https://frangiblebullets.com/38-Special/

[BB-AR]

Does it have to be 357?
I use my lever gun at similar distances but I use 38 cowboy loads.
Otherwise skippers suggestions are the way to go

[Starslinger]

I'm starting to feel foolish for paying so much for 38 Special, which tends to misfeed pretty often in my lever gun anyway. I think I'm going to end up buying a Ruger PC Carbine in 9mm for plinking. The lever gun is going to end up being a gun for special occasions only. Thanks for the suggestions, folks.

[golfish]

Can you setup the steel a little further, say 50-75 yards?

I don't recall getting ricochets from my .357 lever guns when shooting steel.

Have you thought about sending the gun back to Henry to fix the problem ?

The next time you shoot 38sp rounds, try and be more aggressive when levering a round, see if there's any different.

[Starslinger]

Thanks for the suggestions, golfish. I most often set myself up in one of the pistol areas at the local range, where I can have the area to myself and go back and forth without crossing a firing line. The maximum distance in these areas is 20 to 25 yards. I will continue to shoot the Henry some with 38 Special, and occasionally with .357 magnum if I feel like setting up on the rifle range area. Maybe I will eventually come across some longer 38 Special rounds that will feed smoothly. I'll sent Henry an email about the issue, too. Good idea.

[Garv]

Check LAX Ammo.

Edit: Checked, I only saw .38 special.

[Bisley]

Use .38 loads in a .357 case if feeding is an issue. Or use Trailboss for the .357 instead.

[Quickdraw559]

I always shoot paper under 25 yards. Never been scared of ricochets.

[FeuerFrei]

Over safety, over thinking going on here.
I have shot AR500 plates at closer range with 7.62x54R, 308, 556 du jour with only a smile on my face and no damage to my targets. Angled down of course.
357 should roll off it like water with jacketed or nonjacketed stuff.

Sent using a long string and 2 used soup cans