Loading for Lever Action in 357/38

[Colt562]

Anyone that loads for this lever action, what are some you pet loads. I am planning on using my 38 special loads for my pistol. But if I need to switch it up I am good with that as well.

[russt]

158gr lswc with either 4.5gr titegroup or 5.1gr h.universal for 357, 15.8gr h110 with hornady xtp 158gr for 357. 158gr lswc with 3.5gr titegroup or 2.8gr trailboss in 38

[Witch Hunter]

Same as my pistol....19 grains of H110 and a Speer 125 HP

[Colt562]

I am going to try the same as my pistol, but I am changing the style of bullet from SWC to Flat RN, Im afraid with the SWC it will stick when trying to feed. We shall see.

[Nirrad]

Xtreme 158g SWC with:
Trail Boss
Bullseye
Unique
Titegroup
AA#7

[maxx03]

Berry's 158gr Plated RN
13.4 GR W296
S&W 686 and Henry 38/357

[Colt562]

Dumb question but can I load 357 type load in a 38 case? My head says yes but I've been wrong once before.

[maxx03]

Dumb question but can I load 357 type load in a 38 case? My head says yes but I've been wrong once before.

Don't do it. Follow load data. You can look up +p data for 38.

[thenodnarb]

Dumb question but can I load 357 type load in a 38 case? My head says yes but I've been wrong once before.

Supposedly the head area is stronger on a 357 vs 38.
I haven't cut one open to verify.One would think that if the chamber is the same and fully supporting the case, and the action is the same, and fully supporting the back of the case head, then what is the difference?

Any way I haven't done it. Even if it did work, I wouldn't want one of those loads to find there way intoa 38 spl only chamber by accident

[maxx03]

The bullets are the same. The difference is in the casings, 38 SPL case has less internal volume than a 357 case. Putting a 357 load in a 38 SPL case is asking for trouble.

[milotrain]

I had problems running SWC in a lever gun and like you switched to FNRounds. My 92 likes heavier bullets than the revolver, so I run a 180gr cast. I use .357 cases only, tossed all my .38sp cases, but I run them with .38+p loads.

I love N110, bullseye, and IMR 4795 (which meters for crap)

[Colt562]

I had problems running SWC in a lever gun and like you switched to FNRounds. My 92 likes heavier bullets than the revolver, so I run a 180gr cast. I use .357 cases only, tossed all my .38sp cases, but I run them with .38+p loads.

I love N110, bullseye, and IMR 4795 (which meters for crap)

I don't even have the rifle yet. Pick it up on the 19th. Just trying to get the ammo, I bought some RN bullets to test as well. But If I can keep going with the SWC thats what I will do.

[thenodnarb]

The bullets are the same. The difference is in the casings, 38 SPL case has less internal volume than a 357 case. Putting a 357 load in a 38 SPL case is asking for trouble.

That is easily solved by either running a lighter/shorter bullet, or just loading the bullets longer. I've seen some heavy 357 loads that look like they have less case volume than a 38. Its certainly not just about case volume.

That's not a reason to do it though.

[JagerDog]

My Marlin really likes 158gr SWC w/4.8gr Unique in 38 case. It shoots most things well.

[357magnum]

Marlin Lever Gun

I used to have a Marlin lever action rifle, very fine rifle.
Favorite load = .357 Mag-158gr JSP-14.0gr H110-magnum primer-COAL 1.585"