So, Lookin' at 357mag Levergun Plinkin' Loads With Lil'Gun

[COSteve]

Done

[piller]

I haven't tried L'iL Gun for reduced loads in anything. I get great results with IMR 4227 when making easier to handle loads for calibers that can use L'iL Gun. 4227 gives an easier on the shoulder or hands recoil for me.

[OldWin]

I know it's not what you're looking for, Steve, but I like 6.5gr of Unique behind a 158gr plated RN.
I get 1350fps out of my 20" Rossi and 950fps from my 4" S&W model 66.
The accuracy from both guns is outstanding.

[crs]

CO Steve,
Years ago, I backed off to 125 and 110 grain bullets for plinking in my 20 inch 1892 .357.
In my rifle, these loads shoot flat and accurate with less recoil that heavier bullets.
Most loading manuals will have suggested loads for these bullet weights.

[J Miller]

It's been a verrrryyyyyyyy long time since I owned a .357 lever gun. When I had one, a Marlin 1894, my favorite plinking load was a bit different from most. It was 17.5 grs of 2400 behind the Rem 125 SJHP. A really fun screaming fast load right out of the Hercules data manual.

Fun, fun, fun.

Joe

[GunnyMack]

When I started to work up a load for my 41 I tried CFEPistol, it shot well but not the velocity I was looking for. I settled on a lilgun load with 210s right at 1800.
Might want to try cfe pistol for your plinkin loads.

[JerryB]

Like Old Win says try some Uninque 5 or 6 grains with 158 grain swc , they are real nice in my 20 inch Rossi. Probably not a 500 yard load but real fun plinking and fast shooting.

[OldWin]

Thanks for reminding me JerryB.
I can stretch about 100yds out of the load with the carbine. There is some drop, but nothing too difficult to deal with.

[COSteve]

Done

[earlmck]

I haven't tried a plinking level load of Lil' Gun in the 357 but I would bet it would be useful for such. My 32/20 load I have been shooting for a while is 8.5 grains of the Lil'Gun behind a 117 grain bullet for very mild pressures and nice (1450 fps with low spread) cast velocity. I'm thinking I got this load from a jnyork post, and was the first time I realized that Lil' Gun might be useful for reduced loads.

Let us know what you come up with Steve -- I think you might be trail-blazing here.

And by the way, QuickLoad thinks 13.5 grains would get you 1600 fps from the rifle, with rather low (19k psi) pressure.

[GunnyMack]

Ah-ha! Then lilgun should fit the bill just fine!
I'm really liking it in my 41 mag Henry. Very accurate and has plenty of zip!

[JerryB]

Steve, some of us live in the woods and a 100 yard shot would be a rare thing. Enjoy your open spaces, my daughter lives in Yuma and tells me of her long range handgun shooting. That is for plinking and hunting.

[retmech]

I'm not sure Lil Gun is a good idea if you want to go slower. If you want a nice comfortable accurate plinker look no further than a 125 rnfp and 4.5-5 grs of Bullseye. That will give you 1250- 1300 fps and sub 3moa accuracy@100 yds out of your Rossi. Why would you want to use 14-16 grs of powder to do what 4-5 can do just as well if not better. Good luck however you go.

[GunnyMack]

I guess that I forgot to mention that my definition of of a 'plinkin' load is likely different than most. For me, my 20" carbine has to reach out to 200yds and my 24" rifle has to reach out to 300yds.

I believe COSteve has a different definition on a 'plinking' load.
Correct me if I'm wrong but you are looking at high velocity loads, lilgun can deliver.

[mickbr]

whats the most power anyone has got out of their 357 with powder loads under 10 grains?

[gundownunder]

I found Lil'Gun was way too hot for shooting 10 shot strings, so I settled for 14 grains of 296 behind Accurate's 36-175B which casts at 180 gr from ww+2%tin. That load is my 200 meter ram load for CLAS. The other powder that works well is 2400, but here on the west coast of Oz you can't get that any more. I did use about 14 grains of Lil'Gun, and it shot well, but I didn't like the extra heat.
If you want to stretch it out to 300 yds, I would think you would need a bullet with better ballistics, like maybe the RCBS 180 SIL, but for that I think you need to trim brass or use 38 spl cases.

[COSteve]

Done

[JerryB]

Steve, I know now that you are considerably younger than I am because I can't even see a bowling pin at 300 yards. I might hit one with my 30-40 Krag rifle if they were in a pile.

[COSteve]

Done

[JerryB]

Steve, I hit 80 a month ago, but I can still see the deer in the woods behind the house. Maybe I'll eat good meat this winter.

[COSteve]

Done