Budget 38 / 357mag lever gun.
- Thread starter hammo
- Start date
Ive had good success with Hornady American Gunner XTP .38s and .357s, personally Im not sure the Leverevolution stuff is worth the extra cost, but if I was wanting to shoot further out and accuracy was more of a concern I would probably firm it.
I have gifted away my 22 hornet, so planning to use the lil'gun powder to reload, got a few tubs of it. Ready to order some HP bullets once I get my renewal back. Will buy a couple of boxes of factory, then use that brass to reload. I should think the small rifle primers i have aplenty will be fine reoading 357?
Already got hold of a set of dies, looking forward to enjoying a new caliber and rifle action! Will get a pic up of the new Gat once I have it.
Already got hold of a set of dies, looking forward to enjoying a new caliber and rifle action! Will get a pic up of the new Gat once I have it.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
I would love to hunt with a 6" 357 revolver.
I could fill a sack with one easily.
Just my luck to be born on this stoopid island....
My black powder .44 revolver would be a handy thing at sensible range, sadly will never be. Whatever has been taken away, we will never get back.I would love to hunt with a 6" 357 revolver.
I could fill a sack with one easily.
Just my luck to be born on this stoopid island....
Lil Gun is a great powder in the .357. i use it in my 8 .375" s&w. -Muir
Looks a nice one that.
How far did you shoot it?
Was that target offhand?
What's the trigger like?
We fired at 25m roughly paced out. Tidy group above from my daughter off sticks. The earlier group was off hand. Peepsight didn't need adjusting. Trigger is good and breaks predictably, certainly not heavy. I don't know if its been fettled?
We rattled off 50 rounds between us, mostly fiocchi 38 special - £18 a box! And a few 357 mag from an old part full box the gunshop had.
Love mine. sorry @hammo that I didn’t reply, decided to keep it now I have the marlin 30-30 for a scoped option.
Managed to pick up 12000 bullets roughly 60:40 cast to jacketed from a literal fire sale. Will keep mine fed for a day or 2.
16.5 gr of lil gun behind a 158 gr jacketed bullet is a real thumper and puts a big grin on anyone’s face that shoots it.
Tried my first homeloads today.
18gr of Lil gun with 158gr JHP.
Gave 1955fps accuracy seemed OK but need to shoot groups again as it started chucking it down and my cardboard target collapsed in a sodden mess.
Will try some with less powder too, 18gr is max I believe. No pressure signs at 18gr.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Yep, at those level that wee cartridge is entering the domain of 3030 and will kill any deer in the UK. The law makers got it wrong...again.
I don't remember what mine was doing. I used h110 and a2400. I know I made a few successful shots at more than 100 yards a few times.
I used herco for rabbit loads.
I don't remember what mine was doing. I used h110 and a2400. I know I made a few successful shots at more than 100 yards a few times.
I used herco for rabbit loads.
The only reason I stopped at 16.5 is I also have a .357 LBR so I only load to pistol data, in case the ammunition ever gets mixed up.
simgre
Well-Known Member
We have a stainless Rossi in our club. Used by many and over the last 10 years has had over 40,000 rounds through it and with no breakages!
I know this because I hold the club FAC.
We also had a blued version. Scrapped it as just wasn’t reliable and timing all out of kilter. Seems if you get a good Rossi, you get a really good gun.
We also have two Henry rifles in .357. Blued, with gate loading and 20” barrels. They are lovely! But broke two firing pins already. And were 1300 quid each.
The new Ruger made Marlins and the Smith & Wesson’s, we have a smattering amongst members. But, at nearly £2K a pop, no.
I was a fairly heavy Marlin collector for a number of years. At my height, I had 27. Pre 2011 or Ruger are the only way to go. They’re still not perfect but will fill the niche very, very well.
And if you reload, the perfect calibre of the UK is .30-30, to my mind. Lead bullets and Unique give gallery loads around 1000fps, and with a change of recipe, you have a cracking fox gun with 110gn bullets, then with 150’s nicely passed 1700ft/lbs.
I know this because I hold the club FAC.
We also had a blued version. Scrapped it as just wasn’t reliable and timing all out of kilter. Seems if you get a good Rossi, you get a really good gun.
We also have two Henry rifles in .357. Blued, with gate loading and 20” barrels. They are lovely! But broke two firing pins already. And were 1300 quid each.
The new Ruger made Marlins and the Smith & Wesson’s, we have a smattering amongst members. But, at nearly £2K a pop, no.
I was a fairly heavy Marlin collector for a number of years. At my height, I had 27. Pre 2011 or Ruger are the only way to go. They’re still not perfect but will fill the niche very, very well.
And if you reload, the perfect calibre of the UK is .30-30, to my mind. Lead bullets and Unique give gallery loads around 1000fps, and with a change of recipe, you have a cracking fox gun with 110gn bullets, then with 150’s nicely passed 1700ft/lbs.
Smellydog
Well-Known Member
Makes a lot of sense. At 18gr they certainly have some 'pzazz!' To them, I think they will group ok but will try some lower charge weights to find the best. My first five round group had a vertical string, typical off quadsticks as i can rock back and forth a bit. Very little lateral spread though, so looking promising.
Sierra 158gr JHC have a lovely deep hollowpoint, should be just the ticket.
