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farmer7 wrote:I'll try some Unique this morning at 4.2gr and see how it goes. It certainly shoots well at 1200fps.

As for Trail Boss, many people seem to have great luck with it in .357, including you Christel but I've been up and down between 4.0 and 5.2 and it just won't group! Whether or not it's that velocity range or the powder choice I'm not sure yet!!!

what about overall length?

how much have you tweaked and changed that? when I was developing loads for marlin and LBR etc I found biggest changes were in the COL

my marlin loved 158GR GM hardcast TC bullets, pushed by 4.6gr Vit310 1.590"

farmer7 wrote:Thanks for the input folks. Do Macleods in Tain stock N340 do you know David? Sounds like it's worth a try.

I'm afraid I've not been in there for a number of years -- sourcing Viht pistol powders in Scotland is not easy, I'm afraid.

Okay Unique at 4.2gr - 1045fps is a no go, 50 yard 5 shot group.....11 inches! Can't understand dropping from 1200 to 1045 opens my group by nearly 9 1/2 inches! Do I need to think about a different bullet or powder most likely?

Looking at burn rate charges and quickload Unique isn't that far away from either N340 or HS6. If you guys think it'll pull my groups in though I'll certainly give it a shot.

Maybe I just have a freak that doesn't like slow loads!

P.S. I also slugged the bore and it's pretty well reading 0.356".

DavidRees wrote:

farmer7 wrote:Thanks for the input folks. Do Macleods in Tain stock N340 do you know David? Sounds like it's worth a try.

I'm afraid I've not been in there for a number of years -- sourcing Viht pistol powders in Scotland is not easy, I'm afraid.

By some wonder my local now has a tub of both N340 and HS6!!!

Okay, I got some N340, loaded up 10 at 4.7gr, over the chronograph they're pretty consistent at 980fps ES 14fps. Groups are just the same as the lighter loaded Trail Boss and Unique loads, 9-11" at 50 yards. aaarggh

The 1200 fps load is still bang on though. Seems like I'm going to struggle with subsonic loads for whatever reason. Any bullet casting experts have an opinion? I see some yanks favour .359 and even .360 in some ballard rifled marlins. Worth trying a fatter bullet??? heavier???? softer???

I shoot 357 in my Uberti 1873 Winchester- with 4grn of HP-38 and Henry Kranks 158 grn T/C lead GM bullets. This gives me 950 fps which is very accurate, really pleased with it. I tried the GM 158 RNFP with the same load and they were all over the place, producing a 200mm group at 25m. Following your post I may try them with a hotter load.

Regarding 38 spl in a 357, I have been told that the shorter case can leave a carbon/fouling build up in the chamber that makes it then difficult to chamber 357, however never shot 38 spa in my rifle so don't have firsts hand experience.

River wrote:I shoot 357 in my Uberti 1873 Winchester- with 4grn of HP-38 and Henry Kranks 158 grn T/C lead GM bullets. This gives me 950 fps which is very accurate, really pleased with it. I tried the GM 158 RNFP with the same load and they were all over the place, producing a 200mm group at 25m. Following your post I may try them with a hotter load.

Regarding 38 spl in a 357, I have been told that the shorter case can leave a carbon/fouling build up in the chamber that makes it then difficult to chamber 357, however never shot 38 spa in my rifle so don't have firsts hand experience.

I was actually wondering about trying the TC, hopefully for better results. I don't understand it as I know some get the RNFP shooting great at low speeds, it would be interesting to hear how you get on.
Also I had no intention of using .38 special as I only have .357 brass, must be someone else!

I started using 357 ammo in a S&W Model 27 in 1979. I quickly settled on a 158grn bullet---I had moulds for both round nosed and semi-wadcutter---with 5 grn of Unique. Over the years, the same load was used in a Model 66, a Model 19, two Model 686s a Colt Python and a Colt New Service shooting master. Accuracy was superb in all these handguns and so, after the ban, I bought a Rossi and just carried on with the same load. I estimate that I have fired between 90 and 100 thousand rounds of 357 ammo, but I have still never fired a factory round,
Try 5 grn of Unique---it works.
Fred

FredB wrote: Try 5 grn of Unique---it works.
Fred

Hi Fred, I've been using 5.2 of Unique which is very accurate but it's doing 1200fps so not particularly quiet, I'm looking to find a load that will be accurate at 900-1050 fps. Downloaded with Unique, N340 or Trail Boss has only given huge groups!

farmer7 wrote: Also I had no intention of using .38 special as I only have .357 brass, must be someone else!

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I also only shoot 357, just responding to about the 3rd comment down by Sim G who said no difference between the two. I will let you know how I get on with the hotter loads - will be a few weeks though as I am currently away.