Lever Rifle Loads: .357 Magnum is not just for revolvers. Encyclopedia of weapons Weapons chambered for the 357 Magnum revolver cartridge
The photo on the right shows a nickel plated version of the Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” Mod revolver. 27.
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum "Hand Ejector"
The world-famous arms manufacturer Smith & Wesson has always been famous for its revolvers. And revolvers were and now remain the company’s highest priority area of work.
The Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” revolver model was developed in the USA by Smith & Wesson together with the Winchester company under the .357 Magnum cartridge. In this caliber, the 38 Special cartridge held one of the leading places for a long time, but with the advent of the .357 Magnum cartridge, the situation changed: most shooters prefer the .357 Magnum cartridge over all other options for nine-millimeter cartridges. The reason is simple - the 357 is a very powerful and long-range cartridge, created as if “on the brink”. This means that a weapon in caliber .357 Magnum has a strong recoil, but is quite controllable, and the destructive effect of the bullet of this cartridge and the accuracy of the battle are “top five”. The words “Hand Ejector” in the name of the revolver meant the manual extraction of spent cartridges or whole cartridges from the drum.
"Magnum" means a cartridge with an increased charge of gunpowder. At first, .357 Magnum cartridges, developed by Remington and Winchester, with the assistance of a specialist in reloading (loading cartridges for rifled weapons by hand), were produced exclusively by order, but the cartridge was immediately recognized by gunsmiths, and its serial production soon began production. Until the early 1950s, revolvers chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge remained a monopoly of Smith & Wesson. The bullet speed of this cartridge at the exit from a six-inch revolver barrel is 450-460 m/s with a bullet weight of 10.2 g. Then a lot of different variants of this ammunition appeared.
357 Magnum cartridges with different cartridges and different bullets.
The S&W .357 Magnum was made in 1935 based on the previous production model of the S&W .38-44 “Outdoorsman” revolver, but the Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum was made from stronger steel, which is not surprising given the pressure differences between the .357 Magnum cartridge and its predecessor. - .38 Special.
Revolver Smith & Wesson .38-44 “Outdoorsman”
The creation of a model chambered for the .357 Magnum cartridge was preceded by less commercially successful modifications of the old revolver, adapted for the .38 caliber cartridge with an increased powder charge. However, despite the considerable age of the weapon, the success of this revolver deserves attention - for almost 80 years, modern police and citizens of different countries have been using various modifications of the Smith and Wesson .357 Magnum revolver.
This revolver model has a self-cocking trigger, which allows firing both self-cocking and with pre-cocking for a shorter and easier movement of the trigger, which contributes to a more accurate shot compared to a self-cocking shot. The revolver is built on the basis of a solid N-size frame with an under-barrel case where the extractor rod is located; this case also helps stabilize recoil. A non-ventilated rib runs along the entire length of the barrel. The drum tilts to the left, giving the shooter access to all six chambers at once. The drum latch is located on the left side of the frame and is operated by the movement of the thumb without changing the position of the hand holding the handle.
The main advantage of the S&W .357 Magnum Hand Ejector revolver is the high stopping power of the cartridge used and good accuracy. The disadvantages include the rather sensitive recoil when fired from a revolver.
The revolver was and remains popular among the police of the United States and other Western countries, and is also widely used in civilian circles.
Known modifications of the Smith-Wesson.357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” are represented by the following models:
S&W .357 Magnum, Mod.27 - a more modern model with adjustable sights, available with a nickel plated or blued finish. The revolver handle had rhombic corrugation on the sides.
S&W .357 Magnum, Mod.28 “Highway Patrolman” - a convenient and practical version of the S&W 27. It features a 4- or 6-inch barrel, an adjustable rear sight and a front sight on a flat base, facilitating faster and smoother extraction of the weapon; the front sight does not cling to the elements of the holster or clothes.
S&W .357, Mod.19 “Combat Magnum” - modification with a medium K-frame. In this model, the under-barrel case is shortened and does not reach the muzzle. The Combat Magnum also has a thick handle. The sights are adjustable, the rear sight can be changed to several fixed positions, the shape of the front sight can be different, depending on the length of the revolver barrel.
S&W .357 Mod.66 “Combat Magnum” - differs from Mod.19 only in the material of manufacture, which is stainless steel.
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum “Hand Ejector” is a convenient and time-tested weapon for a confident hand, characterized by a high-energy cartridge and having only one drawback - relatively strong recoil, but quite normal for an experienced shooter.
Guns Magazine, December 2004
The history of the 357 Magnum began in 1935, at the height of the Great Depression. Of course, at that time not everyone could afford such a six-shooter. Six years later we entered the war and production of the excellent first model Smith & Wesson revolver in .357 magnum ceased. And even after the end of the war, it took some time before shooters saw the 357 magnum again, already in the fifties. Smith & Wesson resumed production of the first model and added a Highway Patrolman variant with simpler trim, and also launched a new Combat Magnum model. Great Western came on the scene with the Frontier single-action revolver in .357 magnum, and the relatively new gun company Sturm Ruger offered the .357 Blackhawk, a thoroughly modernized single-action model.
Although this seems very reasonable now, at the time no company made a lever rifle in 357 magnum. Such a rifle could be obtained by converting the 92nd model Winchester in caliber 25-20 or 32-20. A certain Ward Kooser, a gunsmith from Arizona, was then running a very brisk business, remaking these models for 357 magnum. With the advent of the 44 Magnum caliber, both Winchesters and El Tigris, Spanish replicas of the Winchester, in caliber 44-40, began to be converted to it.
I really wanted to have a .357 magnum revolver and a lever-action rifle to go with it. However, I had to finish my education, look for a job and earn money. It wasn’t until ’57 that I acquired two revolvers in this caliber – a Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman and a Ruger Blackhawk. The lever rifle was still an elusive dream. As time went. Marriage. College. Children. There was no money even for a factory rifle, if one existed, not to mention a modification. When I was in college, Marlin saw fit to start making a lever rifle in revolver caliber, but the '63 model was in .44, not .357. The Marlin 336 I purchased to supplement my revolvers after college still works great today. Finally, in 1969, Marlin complied with my wishes and released a simple and unpretentious 1894C in 357 magnum caliber - and to this day this model remains one of the most popular.
For me, the ten-shot 1894C in 357 magnum is the most grippy and most attractive rifle, even if you choose from all calibers and systems. This little marlin is capable of almost everything you could ask for in a rifle in general. Of course, this is not the best (or even recommended) weapon for hunting big game. However, I am confident that I could feed my family, and feed it well, if I had nothing but minnows and a .357 mag marlin.
So-called assault rifles are very popular among those who believe they need them for self-defense. However, a small rifle in .357 caliber fits perfectly here, and at the same time it is easier to transport, it is much easier to shoot, it is less troublesome to load cartridges, and, most importantly, the ammunition for it weighs much less. Add to this the very mild recoil for such a muzzle energy and greater than required accuracy, and it becomes clear why I prefer this rifle to all others.
Other gun manufacturers followed Marlin's example and also began producing lever guns in 357 magnum. Browning for some time produced the Model B92, a ten-shot Winchester replica, in both 44 and 357 calibers. And although both versions have been out of production for a long time, experts are still persistently looking for them at arms fairs. Winchester released the Model 94 Trapper in 357 caliber, and Rossi did the same with the Puma, a replica of the Winchester 92. Nowadays, lever rifles in 357 caliber are produced by Marlin and Winchester, you can also find imported replicas of the Winchester 92, both in black metal and in stainless steel. For my first Marlin 357, I bought another one, model 1894C, which I was lucky enough to find in a gun shop. On one of them I left the sight open, and on the other there is a four-power optic. In addition, I sometimes shoot a Browning B92, a Trapper Winchester, and a Model 92 Rossi. All these rifles will someday be passed down to my grandchildren.
Although it would seem that the caliber is the same, choosing a good cartridge option for a rifle is more difficult than for a revolver. It is not difficult to choose gunpowder; the gunpowder used is the same as in revolvers. These are 2400, N4227, AA No9 and W296 for cast lead bullets, you can also use VV N110. For shell bullets, Enforcer and Lil'gun will work. If you need to collect a large number of cartridges, it is convenient to use the RCBS Pro-2000 Progressive Reloader press with Redding dies of 357 magnum caliber. I like the capsule strips of the Pro-2000 press better than capsule tubes, and besides, their use eliminates error more reliably. Redding dies are held to very tight tolerances, and therefore cartridges loaded with their help fit every revolver and rifle I tried them on. This was not always the case with other matrix manufacturers.
Most .357 magnum revolvers shoot well with any cartridge as long as it fits in the cylinder. But this is not the case with rifles. For decades, the Elmer Keith-designed 358429 Lyman semi-target bullet has been one of my favorites for homemade .357 magnum loads, as has its snub-nose version, the 38-150KT from RCBS. For my alloy, their weight is 173 and 155 grains (11.21 and 10.04 grams), respectively. However, both of these bullets have a flat base without a gas check, and so while they work well in a revolver, trying to get decent accuracy out of them in a lever-action rifle is simply a waste of time. Believe me, I've tried and gotten results ranging from "decent" three-inch groups at 50 yards to bullets that simply miss the mark at that range.
Another issue has to do with the overall length of the cartridge. Keith designed his bullet for heavy loads in 38 Special, before the advent of 357 magnum. If you load this bullet into a 357 case and crimp it into a crimping channel, the length of the cartridge will exceed the size of the cylinder of an early Smith & Wesson 357 magnum revolver, and the nose of the bullet will stick out. However, all modern 357 magnum revolvers will accept the Keith bullet. This is not the case with lever-action rifles. This cartridge will fire well in a Winchester 94, so-so in a Marlin 1894C, and will not work at all in replicas of the 92 model. All RCBS 38-150KT cartridges feed excellently in all lever rifles in 357 magnum, however, unless the muzzle velocity is reduced to non-magnum levels, the accuracy of both bullets is terrible. You can shoot cast bullets from both Marlin and Browning rifles, however, for minimally acceptable results they must have gas checks.
One of the most popular 357 magnum bullets of all time is the 358156 Lyman gas-check bullet designed by Ray Thompson. 38 caliber Thompson bullet (for those readers who are not very comfortable with American calibers, we remind you that 38 caliber bullets have the same diameter as 357 magnum bullets, about 0.36 inches or 9.14 mm - approx. transl.) has two flutes. Skeeter Skelton (Charles Skelton, nicknamed Skeeter, a famous American gun journalist of the 60s - 80s of the 20th century - approx. transl.) highly appreciated this bullet, especially in reinforced 38-caliber charges, when it was crimped into the lower cannel. This gives approximately the same powder capacity as a .357 magnum when crimped into the top chamber.
It is not only an excellent bullet for revolvers, but also one of the best bullets for lever-action rifles. I prefer to use it with a 357 magnum case, creaming into the top channel. At 16 grains (1.04g) of 2400 powder with a CCI 550 Magnum Pistol primer, this produces a muzzle velocity of 1900 feet per second (579 m/s) from an 18 and a half inch (470mm) Marlin barrel. For comparison, let me remind you that initially the standard load in the 30-30 caliber was considered in 1895 to be a cartridge with a 160-grain bullet (10.37 g) and a muzzle velocity of 1950 feet per second (594.4 m/s). The cartridge turns out to be very accurate. However, although this load appears in older reload manuals, when using the modern version of Alliant 2400 powder it may be too hot for revolvers. We can offer two slightly weaker loads that will give an excellent shot from a rifle, while remaining acceptable for revolvers. This is 14.5 grains (0.94g) of H4227 powder, which will give a muzzle velocity of 1600 feet per second (488 m/s), and 14 grains (0.91g) of AA9 powder, which will give a muzzle velocity of 1750 feet per second (533 m/s).
A commercial version of this bullet with gas check and single flute is produced by BRP under the name 155SWCGC. If you load this bullet with a standard 2400 15 grain (0.97g) load of powder, you will get a muzzle velocity of over 1800 feet per second (549 m/s) and a group of three less than 2 inches (51mm) at a distance of 50 yards (46m). It is not easy to find a cartridge with a lead bullet better than this, suitable for both a revolver and a rifle, unless you are shooting some special bullets of your own design.
Like revolvers, lever rifles perform best with heavy bullets from 180 to 190 grains (11.66 - 12.31g). There are two commercial bullets available in this category: BRP's 180-grain (11.66g) SWCGC and Cast Performance Bullet's 187-grain (12.12g) LBTGC. Both of these bullets are phenomenally accurate in my 1894C Marlin when loaded with 13 grains of WW296 powder, resulting in a muzzle velocity of just under 1,500 fps. These are not the maximum loads, but they are my preferred loads because they also provide excellent accuracy and low recoil in my two Ruger 357 Flat-Top Blackhawk revolvers, one of which is the original version with a 4 and 5/8 inch (143mm) barrel. , and the other is long-range, with a custom-made 10 and a half inches (267mm) barrel. I'm a big believer in the "don't fix what ain't broke" theory, and this charge definitely doesn't need fixing.
Either of these bullets gives deep penetration and is therefore suitable for me when hunting wild boar. It would also be suitable for a deer, but here I am more inclined to a half-shell, preferably with a hollow nose. I believe Hodgdon's Lil'Gun powder produces outstanding quality cartridges in 357 magnum. Hornady's 158-grain XTP bullet with eighteen grains of this powder leaves the barrel at 1,825 feet per second (556 m/s) and produces a three-group of less than one inch (25 mm) at fifty yards (46 m). ). I often hunt in Texas, in places where you can shoot a whitetail deer, a collared peccary, or a wild turkey from the same stand on the same morning, and the load is accurate enough to hit the gobbler in the head without ruining the meat.
The Speer 158 grain (10.24 g) Jacketed Flat Nose (JFP) cartridge with 15.5 grains (1.00 g) of 2400 powder, long considered the standard in the 357 magnum, is somewhat slower, about 1750 fps (533 m/s). c), but just as accurate. Speer also has semi-jacketed lead core bullets in 160 and 146 grains (10.37 and 9.46g). The first of these bullets, loaded with 18 grains (1.17 g) of Lil'Gun powder, produces a muzzle velocity of just under 1,900 fps (579 m/s) from the 18.5-inch marlin barrel and also groups three shots within an inch (25.4 mm). at a distance of 50 yards (46m). It is an excellent choice for a wide variety of hunting applications on deer-sized game, with expansion equal to or better than hollow nose bullets.
357 Magnum revolvers have been produced for about 70 years. Almost all this time, the debate continues about whether they are suitable for deer hunting. But there is no arguing about lever-action rifles of the same caliber: they are certainly suitable.
Browning B21, 20 inch (508mm) barrel
Jacket bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | |
| Speer 140 JHP | 19.5gr (1.26g) WW296 | 1902fps (580m/s) | 1.38 inches (35.1mm) = 2.64 arcmin |
| Hornady 140 JHP | 17.5gr (1.13g) 2400 | 2020fps (616m/s) | |
| Speer 158 JHP | 15.5gr (1.00g) 2400 | 1745fps (532m/s) | 1.75 inches (44.5mm) = 3.07 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 JHP | 15.5gr (1.00g) 2400 | 1816fps (554m/s) | 1.88 inches (47.8mm) = 3.59 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 JHP | 17.5gr (1.13g) WW296 | 1802fps (549m/s) |
Marlin 1984C, 18 and a half inches (470mm) barrel
Cast lead bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | Accuracy of three at 50 yards (46m) |
| Lyman 358156GC | 16.0gr (1.04g) 2400 | 1902fps (580m/s) | |
| Lyman 358156GC | 14.5gr (0.94g) H4227 | 1588fps (484m/s) | |
| Lyman 358156GC | 14.0gr (0.91g) AA9 | 1744fps (532m/s) | |
| BRP 155 SWCGC | 15.0gr (0.97g) 2400 | 1834fps (559m/s) | 1.50 inches (38.1mm) = 2.86 arcmin. |
| BRP 180 SWCGC | 13.0gr (0.84g) WW296 | 1469fps (448m/s) | 0.38 inches (9.5mm) = 0.72 arcmin. |
| CPB 187 LBT | 13.0gr (0.84g) WW296 | 1490fps (454m/s) | 0.88 inches (22.2mm) = 1.67 arcmin. |
Jacket bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | Accuracy of three at 50 yards (46m) |
| Hornady 140 XPT | 15.0gr (0.97g) AA9 | 1882fps (574m/s) | 1.38 inches (35.1mm) = 2.64 arcmin. |
| Hornady 140 XPT | 19.5gr (1.26g) WW296 | 1962fps (598m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 14.0gr (0.91g) 2400 | 1677fps (511m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 18.0gr (1.17g) L"IL GUN | 1828fps (557m/s) | 0.75 inches (19.1mm) = 1.43 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 17.5gr (1.13g) WW296 | 1858fps (566m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Nosler 158 JHP | 14.0gr (0.91g) 2400 | 1760fps (536m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 140 JHC | 15.0gr (0.97g) AA9 | 1842fps (561m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 158 JHC | 13.0gr (0.84g) Enforcer | 1688fps (515m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 170 JHC | 14.0gr (0.91g) 2400 | 1657fps (505m/s) | 2.00 inches (50.8mm) = 3.82 arcmin. |
| Speer 140 JHP | 17.5gr (1.13g) 2400 | 1995fps (608m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Speer 158 GD-HP | 18.0gr (1.17g) L"IL GUN | 1845fps (562m/s) | 1.25 inches (31.8mm) = 2.39 arcmin. |
| Speer 158 JFP | 15.5gr (1.00g) 2400 | 1742fps (531m/s) | 0.75 inches (19.1 mm) = 1.42 arcmin. |
| Speer 160 JFP | 18.0gr (1.17g) L"il Gun | 1888fps (575m/s) | 0.88 inches (22.4mm) = 1.68 arcmin. |
| Speer 170 GD-HP | 14.0gr (0.91g) 2400 | 1597fps (487m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
Today, in this review, I will tell you about box mod from the famous Philippine company Projectile Ops under a formidable and proud name Magnum 357.
A small lyrical digression for those who are far from weapons topics: in general, .357 Magnum- this is originally a revolver cartridge, which the company Smith&Wesson introduced in 1934. The emergence of this insanely powerful cartridge was due to the rise of organized crime in the United States during Prohibition. Bootleggers acquired armored cars and automatic weapons, and the police had to somehow fight them. But the standard cartridge for police weapons at that time .38 Special did not have enough power to penetrate the armor of the bootleggers' armored vehicles. With the advent of the cartridge .357 Magnum the problem was solved... and solved, perhaps, with a margin.
This crazy cartridge is also associated with the world's most powerful revolver of one famous movie character - Dirty Harry. Although this is not entirely true - Harry's revolver S&W Model 29 used cartridges of caliber .44 Magnum, which in fact are not far from .357 Magnum(.357 is somewhat more compact, has a smaller diameter, and therefore a slightly smaller amount of gunpowder than .44, but they are similar in length, and it is still not entirely clear which of them is more powerful).
A .357 Magnum used in another equally famous pistol, one might say, brother S&W M29 - Colt Python.
Both pistols were introduced at the same time, in 1955.
Projectile Ops, in turn, are actively exploiting this idea; on the device’s page there is even a video with Dirty Harry’s famous speech “Do you feel lucky, punk?”
Well, enough of the weapons-grade lyrics, I hope you found it interesting.
Now let's get down to business, consider the box mod Magnum 357 more details.
Appearance:
The entire design of the device is imbued with a weapons theme. The manufacturer initially conceived its device as an insanely powerful device for sub-ohm vaping and cloud chasing, as well as an ideal complement to the previously released and no less insane
In the photo above we can see the connector Magnum 357, it is completely custom and made in the shape of a revolving drum.
The voltage supply button also continues the weapon theme - it is made in the form of a cartridge case capsule on which are engraved P.O. Magnum 357. "P.O." in this case it is, I believe, "Projectile Ops". This has nothing to do with the marking of real cartridges, but it looks pretty cool.
By the way, the button has a locking mechanism against accidental pressing - just slightly unscrew the outer ring and the button will not be pressed in your pocket. The button is magnetic, the button stroke is soft and silent. There is a rod inside, which, when the button is pressed, is pressed against the connector and closes the circuit. This stock is customizable. In the video review from the manufacturer you will see how it can be removed and configured. When adjusting the rod, the stroke of the button changes, so everyone can choose a comfortable operating option for themselves.
The device body itself is made of delrin, which is famous for its resistance to high temperatures, as well as excellent insulating properties. The shape of the body (as conceived by the manufacturer) resembles the handle of those famous revolvers and fits perfectly in the hand. On the sides there are inserts made of “iron wood” (in fact, this name applies to almost three dozen different types of wood, but the manufacturer does not specify which one was used here, however, all these types have one important quality in common - excellent strength, hardness and wear resistance).
Connector:
(pictured is a prototype)
As I already said, the connector is completely custom. In addition to its intricate shape, it has a number of other advantages. Firstly, the convector is entirely made of brass, which ensures maximum current conductivity, and secondly, the central contact is adjustable, which will allow you to adjust it to your atomizer with the highest quality possible. Together with a contact system that does not use not a single one wires, this provides the device with the minimum possible drawdowns and allows you to use the battery’s potential by 99.9%. By the way, all other contacts are copper.
(and again the prototype is in the photo, there are no photographs of the insides of the serial device, in it the wire coming from the button is replaced with a movable rod, which, when the button is pressed, is pressed against the contact on the connector and closes the circuit)
Battery compartment:
The battery compartment of the device is also made as thoughtfully as possible - the sliding compartment cover itself is made of pure copper, as well as its fastening bolt, as well as adjustable contact bolts.
The cover has a hole for venting battery gases, and there is also an engraving on it, telling us that the device was made in the Philippines, as well as an engraving with the serial number of the device.
The device is designed to operate from a pair battery format 18650 , the battery connection here is parallel (the current is summed).
Characteristics:
- Body material: delrin with ironwood inserts
- Connector: 510, brass, with adjustable center contact
- Battery: 2x18650
- Battery connection diagram: parallel
- Wiring: copper, no wires
Contents of delivery:
There is no information or photo of the box, but it is known that in addition to the device itself, the kit includes a case from Projectile Ops.
Video review:
Conclusions:
Magnum 357- definitely a unique device. A very well made and very charismatic box mod that will appeal not only to fans of weapons themes, but also to all fans of bulk mods with excellent conductivity. Such a device can easily fire up the most powerful and “fat” windings. This device is definitely not for beginners, like any mech mod, but for an experienced vaper it will be an excellent choice.Price:
At the time of publication, there is no information about the price of the mod, but you can follow the website of the official distributor, Vape Naked, he is locatedThe history of the .357 magnum began in 1935, at the height of the Great Depression. Of course, at that time not everyone could afford such a six-shooter. Six years later we entered the war and production of the excellent first model Smith & Wesson revolver in .357 magnum ceased. And even after the end of the war, it took some time before shooters saw the .357 magnum again, already in the fifties. Smith & Wesson resumed production of the first model and added a Highway Patrolman variant with simpler trim, and also launched a new Combat Magnum model. Great Western came on the scene with the Frontier single-action revolver in .357 magnum, and the relatively new gun company Sturm Ruger offered the .357 Blackhawk, a thoroughly modernized single-action model.
While this seems very reasonable now, at the time no company made a lever rifle in .357 magnum. Such a rifle could be obtained by converting the 92nd model Winchester in caliber .25-20 or .32-20. A certain Ward Kooser, a gunsmith from Arizona, was then running a very brisk business, remaking these models for the .357 Magnum. With the advent of the .44 magnum caliber, both hard drives and El Tigris, Spanish replicas of the hard drive, in caliber .44-40, began to be converted to it.
I really wanted to have a .357 magnum revolver and a lever-action rifle to go with it. However, I had to finish my education, look for a job and earn money. It wasn’t until ’57 that I acquired two revolvers in this caliber – a Smith & Wesson Highway Patrolman and a Ruger Blackhawk. The lever rifle was still an elusive dream. As time went. Marriage. College. Children. There was no money even for a factory rifle, if one existed, not to mention a modification. When I was in college, Marlin saw fit to start making a lever rifle in revolver caliber, but the '63 model was in .44, not .357. The Marlin 336 that I purchased to supplement my revolvers after college still works great today. Finally, in 1969, Marlin complied with my wishes and released a simple and unpretentious 1894C in .357 magnum caliber - and to this day this model remains one of the most popular.
For me, the ten-shot 1894C in .357 magnum is the most grippy and most attractive rifle, even if you choose from all calibers and systems. This little marlin is capable of almost everything you could ask for in a rifle in general. Of course, this is not the best (or even recommended) weapon for hunting big game. However, I am confident that I could feed my family, and feed it well, if I had nothing but minnows and a .357 magnum marlin.
So-called assault rifles are very popular among those who believe they need them for self-defense. However, a small rifle in .357 caliber fits perfectly here, and at the same time it is easier to transport, it is much easier to shoot, it is less troublesome to load cartridges, and, most importantly, the ammunition for it weighs much less. Add to this the very mild recoil for such a muzzle energy and greater than required accuracy, and it becomes clear why I prefer this rifle to all others.
Other gun manufacturers followed Marlin's lead and began producing lever guns in .357 magnum. Browning for some time produced the Model B92, a ten-shot Winchester replica, in both 44 and 357 calibers. And although both versions have been out of production for a long time, experts are still persistently looking for them at arms fairs. Winchester released the Model 94 Trapper in .357 caliber, and Rossi did the same with the Puma, a replica of the 92 Winchester. Nowadays, lever-action rifles in .357 caliber are produced by Marlin and Winchester, you can also find imported replicas of the 92 Winchester, both in black metal, and in stainless steel. For my first Marlin 357, I bought another one, model 1894C, which I was lucky enough to find in a gun shop. On one of them I left the sight open, and on the other there is a four-power optic. In addition, I sometimes shoot a Browning B92, a Trapper Winchester, and a Model 92 Rossi. All these rifles will someday be passed down to my grandchildren.
Although it would seem that the caliber is the same, choosing a good cartridge option for a rifle is more difficult than for a revolver. It is not difficult to choose gunpowder; the gunpowder used is the same as in revolvers. These are 2400, N4227, AA No9 and W296 for cast lead bullets, you can also use VV N110. For shell bullets, Enforcer and Lil'gun will work. If you need to collect a large number of cartridges, it is convenient to use the RCBS Pro-2000 Progressive Reloader press with Redding 357 magnum caliber dies. I like the capsule strips of the Pro-2000 press better than capsule tubes, and besides, their use eliminates error more reliably. Redding dies are held to very tight tolerances, and therefore cartridges loaded with their help fit every revolver and rifle I tried them on. This was not always the case with other matrix manufacturers.
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Most .357 magnum revolvers shoot well with any cartridge as long as it fits in the cylinder. But this is not the case with rifles. For decades, the Elmer Keith-designed 358429 Lyman semi-target was one of my favorite .357 magnum homemade rounds, as was RCBS's snub-nose version, the 38-150KT. For my alloy, their weight is 173 and 155 grains (11.21 and 10.04 grams), respectively. However, both of these bullets have a flat base without a gas check, and so while they work well in a revolver, trying to get decent accuracy out of them in a lever-action rifle is simply a waste of time. Believe me, I've tried and gotten results ranging from "decent" three-inch groups at 50 yards to bullets that simply miss the mark at that range.
Another issue has to do with the overall length of the cartridge. Keith designed his bullet for enhanced loads in the .38 Special, before the advent of the .357 magnum. If you load this bullet into a .357 case and crimp it into a crimping channel, the length of the cartridge will exceed the size of the cylinder of a Smith-Wesson revolver in the .357 magnum of the first issues, and the nose of the bullet will stick out. However, all modern .357 magnum revolvers will accept the Keith bullet cartridge. This is not the case with lever-action rifles. This cartridge will fire well in a Winchester 94, so-so in a Marlin 1894C, and will not work at all in replicas of the 92 model. All cartridges with the RCBS 38-150KT bullet feed perfectly in all lever rifles in .357 magnum, however, unless the muzzle velocity is reduced to non-magnum levels, the accuracy of both bullets is terrible. You can shoot cast bullets from both Marlin and Browning rifles, however, for minimally acceptable results they must have gas checks.
One of the most popular .357 magnum bullets of all time is the 358156 Lyman gas-check bullet designed by Ray Thompson. 38-caliber Thompson bullet (for those readers who are not very hard on American calibers, we remind you that .38-caliber bullets have the same diameter as .357 magnum bullets, about 0.36 inches or 9.14 mm - approx. transl.) has two flutes. Skeeter Skelton (Charles Skelton, nicknamed Skeeter, a famous American gun journalist of the 60s-80s of the 20th century - approx. transl.) praised this bullet, especially in reinforced .38-caliber loads, when it is crimped into the lower flute. This gives approximately the same powder capacity as a .357 magnum when crimped into the top chamber.
It is not only an excellent bullet for revolvers, but also one of the best bullets for lever-action rifles. I prefer to use it with a .357 magnum case, creaming into the top channel. At 16 grains (1.04 g) of 2400 powder with a CCI 550 Magnum Pistol primer, this produces a muzzle velocity of 1900 feet per second (579 m/s) from an 18 and a half inch (470 mm) Marlin barrel. For comparison, let me remind you that initially the standard load in caliber .30-30 was considered in 1895 to be a cartridge with a 160-grain (10.37 g) bullet and a muzzle velocity of 1950 feet per second (594.4 m/s). The cartridge turns out to be very accurate. However, although this load appears in older reload manuals, when using the modern version of Alliant 2400 powder it may be too hot for revolvers. We can offer two slightly weaker loads that will give an excellent shot from a rifle, while remaining acceptable for revolvers. This is 14.5 grains (0.94 g) of H4227 powder, which will give a muzzle velocity of 1600 fps (488 m/s), and 14 grains (0.91 g) of AA9 powder, which will give a muzzle velocity of 1750 fps (533 m/s).
A commercial version of this bullet with gas check and single flute is produced by BRP under the name 155SWCGC. If you load this bullet with a standard 2400 15 grain (0.97 g) powder load, you will get a muzzle velocity of more than 1800 feet per second (549 m/s) and a group of three less than 2 inches (51 mm) at a distance of 50 yards (46 m). It is not easy to find a cartridge with a lead bullet better than this, suitable for both a revolver and a rifle, unless you are shooting some special bullets of your own design.
Like revolvers, lever rifles perform best with heavy bullets from 180 to 190 grains (11.66 - 12.31 g). There are two commercial bullets available in this category: BRP's 180-grain (11.66 g) SWCGC and Cast Performance Bullet's 187-grain (12.12 g) LBTGC. Both of these bullets are phenomenally accurate in my 1894C Marlin when loaded with 13 grains (0.84 g) of WW296 powder, resulting in a muzzle velocity of just under 1,500 fps (457 m/s). These are not the maximum loads, but they are my preferred loads because they also provide excellent accuracy and little recoil in my two Ruger 357 Flat-Top Blackhawk revolvers, one of which is the original version with a 4 and 5/8 inch (143 mm) barrel ), and the other is long-range, with a custom-made 10 and a half inches (267 mm) barrel. I'm a big believer in the "don't fix what ain't broke" theory, and this charge definitely doesn't need fixing.
Either of these bullets gives deep penetration and is therefore suitable for me when hunting wild boar. It would also be suitable for a deer, but here I am more inclined to a half-shell, preferably with a hollow nose. I believe Hodgdon's Lil'Gun powder produces outstanding quality cartridges in 357 magnum. Hornady's 158 grain (10.24 g) XTP bullet with eighteen grains (1.17 g) of this powder exits the barrel at 1825 feet per second (556 m/s) and produces a group of three under one inch (25 mm) at fifty yards (46 m). I often hunt in Texas, in places where you can shoot a whitetail deer, a collared peccary, or a wild turkey from the same stand on the same morning, and the load is accurate enough to hit the gobbler in the head without ruining the meat.
The 158-grain (10.24 g) Speer jacketed flat-nose (JFP) bullet with 15.5 grains (1.00 g) of 2400 powder, long considered the standard in the .357 magnum, is somewhat slower at about 1,750 fps (533 m/s), but just as accurate. Speer also has semi-jacketed lead core bullets in 160 and 146 grains (10.37 and 9.46 g). The first of these bullets, loaded with 18 grains (1.17 g) of Lil'Gun powder, produces a muzzle velocity of just under 1,900 fps (579 m/s) from the 18.5-inch marlin barrel and also groups three shots within an inch (25.4 mm). at a distance of 50 yards (46 m). It is an excellent choice for a wide variety of hunting applications on deer-sized game, with expansion equal to or better than hollow nose bullets.
.357 Magnum caliber revolvers have been produced for about 70 years. Almost all this time, the debate continues about whether they are suitable for deer hunting. But there is no arguing about lever-action rifles of the same caliber: they are certainly suitable.
Browning B21, 20 inch (508mm) barrel
Jacket bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | |
| Speer 140 JHP | 19.5 gr (1.26 g) WW296 | 1902 fps (580 m/s) | 1.38 inches (35.1 mm) = 2.64 arcmin |
| Hornady 140 JHP | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) 2400 | 2020 fps (616 m/s) | |
| Speer 158 JHP | 15.5 gr (1.00 g) 2400 | 1745 fps (532 m/s) | 1.75 inches (44.5 mm) = 3.07 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 JHP | 15.5 gr (1.00 g) 2400 | 1816 fps (554 m/s) | 1.88 inches (47.8 mm) = 3.59 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 JHP | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) WW296 | 1802 fps (549 m/s) |
Marlin 1984C, barrel 18.5 inches (470mm)
Cast lead bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | Accuracy of three at 50 yards (46 m) |
| Lyman 358156GC | 16.0 gr (1.04 g) 2400 | 1902 fps (580 m/s) | |
| Lyman 358156GC | 14.5 gr (0.94 g) H4227 | 1588 fps (484 m/s) | |
| Lyman 358156GC | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) AA9 | 1744 fps (532 m/s) | |
| BRP 155 SWCGC | 15.0gr (0.97 g) 2400 | 1834 fps (559 m/s) | 1.50 inches (38.1 mm) = 2.86 arcmin. |
| BRP 180 SWCGC | 13.0 gr (0.84 g) WW296 | 1469 fps (448 m/s) | 0.38 inches (9.5 mm) = 0.72 arcmin. |
| CPB 187 LBT | 13.0 gr (0.84 g) WW296 | 1490 fps (454 m/s) | 0.88 inches (22.2 mm) = 1.67 arcmin. |
Jacket bullets
| Bullet | Weight and grade of gunpowder | Muzzle velocity | Accuracy of three at 50 yards (46 m) |
| Hornady 140 XPT | 15.0 gr (0.97 g) AA9 | 1882 fps (574 m/s) | 1.38 inches (35.1 mm) = 2.64 arcmin. |
| Hornady 140 XPT | 19.5 gr (1.26 g) WW296 | 1962 fps (598 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1677 fps (511 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 18.0 gr (1.17 g) L"IL GUN | 1828 fps (557 m/s) | 0.75 inches (19.1 mm) = 1.43 arcmin. |
| Hornady 158 XPT | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) WW296 | 1858 fps (566 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Nosler 158 JHP | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1760 fps (536 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 140 JHC | 15.0 gr (0.97 g) AA9 | 1842 fps (561 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 158 JHC | 13.0 gr (0.84 g) Enforcer | 1688 fps (515 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Sierra 170 JHC | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1657 fps (505 m/s) | 2.00 inches (50.8 mm) = 3.82 arcmin. |
| Speer 140 JHP | 17.5 gr (1.13 g) 2400 | 1995 fps (608 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
| Speer 158 GD-HP | 18.0 gr (1.17 g) L"IL GUN | 1845 fps (562 m/s) | 1.25 inches (31.8 mm) = 2.39 arcmin. |
| Speer 158 JFP | 15.5 gr (1.00 g) 2400 | 1742 fps (531 m/s) | 0.75 inches (19.1 mm) = 1.42 arcmin. |
| Speer 160 JFP | 18.0 gr (1.17 g) L"il Gun | 1888 fps (575 m/s) | 0.88 inches (22.4 mm) = 1.68 arcmin. |
| Speer 170 GD-HP | 14.0 gr (0.91 g) 2400 | 1597 fps (487 m/s) | 1.00 inches (25.4 mm) = 1.91 arcmin. |
John Taffin, SevAmerStrelok
Guns Magazine, December 2004
- Articles » Cartridges
- Mercenary 8371 0
The .357 Magnum cartridge was designed in the early 1930s by Elmer Keith Phillip Sharp and Douglas Wesson. In 1935, this cartridge was introduced to the US arms market by Smith & Wesson. The .357 Magnum was developed as an improved police ammunition to replace the now somewhat obsolete .38 Special, developed by the same company thirty years earlier. To avoid confusion with the regular police cartridge .38 Special, the new cartridge was called .357 Magnum. The .357 Magnum cartridge of 9x32 mm caliber is designated .357 S&W Magnum and 9x32 R. However, the calibers of both cartridges are identical, while the cartridge case of the .357 Magnum cartridge is 3.4 mm longer, so it cannot be loaded into revolvers chambered for the .38 Special cartridge.
Increasing the volume of the .357 Magnum case made it possible to increase the powder charge. The .38 Special cartridge of factory equipment with a bullet weighing 10.7 grams gives it an initial speed of about 230 m/s with a muzzle energy of about 270 Joules, and the .357 Magnum cartridge with a bullet of the same weight accelerates the bullet to 370-380 m/s with a muzzle energy energy about 730 Joules. With lighter bullets, the initial velocity can reach 430 m/s with a muzzle energy of about 800 Joules. In the 1950s, the .357 Magnum cartridge became standard for many US police departments, and also began to gain popularity as a hunting cartridge. Today, almost all ammunition manufacturers produce .357 Magnum cartridges. Most gun manufacturers that have revolvers in their lineup produce weapons chambered for this cartridge. Even despite the enormous popularity of self-loading pistols, many police officers in the United States still trust their lives to .357 Magnum caliber revolvers, which are still one of the most popular in the civilian weapons market.
One cartridge of this caliber holds a special place in the history of US law enforcement. This is a cartridge with an 8.1 g (125-grain) semi-jacketed bullet with an expansive cavity and a muzzle velocity of 426 m/s when fired from a 102 mm barrel. A shot with this cartridge usually creates a wound channel 22 to 27 cm deep, very wide, with significant damage to the flesh along its entire length. In addition, such a shot creates a bright muzzle flash and sharp recoil. When the .357 Magnum with an 8.1 g bullet was in service with such structures as the Indianapolis Police Department, as well as the police departments of the states of Kentucky and Indiana, the number of “bad guys” sent to waste by their employees was literally in the tons, and most of them fell immediately after receiving the “magic pill.”
Among Texas Department of Public Safety employees, the impact of this cartridge is compared to the “ball lightning effect.” Even if you use this round in a weapon with a barrel shorter than 102 mm, as plainclothes Indianapolis Police officers or Indiana State Police detectives do, the bad guys will go down just as quickly when hit. The 8.1g hollow point bullet has truly earned the title of "King of the Street" awarded by expert Ed Sanow, and it remains the first choice in the .357 Magnum. This bullet works equally well regardless of the manufacturer, be it Federal or Remington.