Henry BB 357 steel carbine - ? on cast bullet design

[Ojaileveraction]

Looks like you are quoting all handgun velocities.
Your rifle will add 3-400 fps to that.
Hornady has 9.3g 1200 for 158g xtp at 1200fps.

[Michiganshooter]

Yes - everything I quoted were indeed handgun velocities. I figured that I would probably pick up around 300 fps or so out of the rifle (carbine 16" barrel) so that's why I want to start lower in grain weight (powder) and see if I can't hit a happy medium with a cartridge that will work decently in both the 4 3/4" Uberti Bisley and the henry carbine. I'm planning on using B cast and I don't really want to gas check so I need to keep the fps down to prevent leading in the Henry - the Uberti Bisley I'm not so worried about in regards to the leading. I don't have a chronogrph - I'm shooting PB cast in my Winchester 94 Ranger 30-30 and figure I'm getting about 1200 fps and I have no leading problems and about the same out of my old 1907 GEW98 Mauser in 8 X 57.

Since I'm looking at mild to moderate loads, with the carbine producing the highest velocity, I'm thinking that it will dictate the load pretty much and then it will be a matter of seeing how the Uberti dows with the load. The Uberti Bisley has always shot well with what I've feed it and since I have shot SA for 50 + years, I'm guessing that I can tweak the load to work for both and if anything, I'll have to change my sighting of the SAA for the Poi - some hate it when a handgun doesn't have adjustable sighs but I have always found the sometimes primitive sights on SA revolvers to be part of the fun in learning how the revolver shoots and where to aim for various loads. Windage wise - my Bisley shoots very well (if I do my job) but elevation wise with a new load can be a learning experience.

[BigAl52]

Ive used Red dot in 357 and its been good. I dont shoot much lead just because Im tired of the clean up and I just dont want it around. I use mostly plated and bullets made by Zero for range work. There priced real close to cast and shoot very well. Because I have so much HS-6 my current load is using that with a Zero 158gr HP bullet. There are many powders that will work with 357 it just all depends on what your gun will like.

[Rifletom]

Michiganshooter, in .357, I use 158gr LRNFP coated and either 10.5-11.0gr Alliant 2400. Same bullet, only using Unique, it's 5.0-5.3gr. When I rarely shoot jacketed[Hornady XTP], it's 12.5gr 2400. Usually it's the LRNFP. Check my loads for reference. OAL is 1.580".
In .45 Colt, it's one load: 250gr LRNFP, 8.0gr Unique. OAL is 1.570"-1.575". Again, please check for reference.

[2guns]

I started casting 158 go for my gp100. Pistol has never seen any bullet but cast. For my Henry I ordered a 180 grain mold from NOE. Usually casts out 185 grain at .362 and I size to .360. 9.5 Grains of HS6 with this bullet sure does pack a punch. And super accurate also. I hope to get a deer this fall with this swc. NOE makes some great molds. Stands behind them with a good warranty also. For plinking I do run the 6 cavity Lee 158 mold and lube with Carolina blue. I don’t think my straight wall calibers run anything but cast.