My .357 Henry and Revolver loads

Post by **Renton10x** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 6:41 pm

I have a .357 Big Boy and shoot it often. I also shoot a lot of revolvers and decided to work up a load that works well with both. My dual-purpose loads are:
180 grain cast Round Nose Flat Point bullet with 10.0 grains Alliant 2400 Powder - this one shoots 10 shots into 1.5 inches at 50 yards from the Henry and 10 shots into about 2.5 inches from my Smith & Wesson Model 686 from Clark Custom Guns.

I also have good results with the 180 grain cast bullet over 6.5 Herco.

The most accurate load I have found so far is the 158 grain Berry's plated bullet over 11.0 grains 2400. This load shoots 10 shots into one inch at 50 yards all day long. It is not accurate enough from the revolver.

For full power loads I shoot the max charge of Winchester 296 powder with 158 grain Nosler Jacketed Hollow Point bullets. The Henry just soaks this recoil up, no problems.

I have a Simmons Whitetail Classic scope mounted on my Henry and love it! It is variable from 1 to 5 power and looks/feels great on the carbine.

Post by **runnin n gunnin** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 7:36 pm

Hey 10X welcome to the forum. If you love Henry's this is the place to talk. Lots of experience, and of course opinions.

I also shoot the .357 BB as well as the .45 Colt and love them both, and as you do, shoot them often. I work up two loads, one for rifle, one for revolver ( I also shoot the 686 as well as Python in 4 and 6 inch).

I also shoot 180 grains from the rifle (Missouri bullets Striker) and Hornady XTP for the revolvers (158 grain).

I distinguish the two loads by using brass casings for the Henry and Nickel for the Revolvers.

Post by **fortyshooter** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:15 pm

Welcome 10x to the world of Henry! Yes that 180 cast bullet with 2400 powder is somewhat famous around here!
I also have some good shootin' with the 158 gr MB cast coated bullets with 5.5 Power Pistol in the lowly .38 Special case. Nice accurate plinking load!
Have a good bunch of 38 Special brass and might as well load it and use it. The Henry gobbles them up!

Post by **Rifletom** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:23 pm

Renton10x, have a load you might like to try with those 180's. 11.5gr 2400. It seems to work pretty well. It's the dickens on steel gongs at 75-80 yards.

Post by **Vaquero** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 8:38 pm

What Tom said about that 2400.
My Marlin seems to like 11.4, a tad better.

RP

Post by **CT_Shooter** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 9:09 pm

Welcome to the forum from CT.

Post by **JEBar** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 9:46 pm

Renton10x wrote: ↑
Mon Sep 07, 2020 6:41 pm
For full power loads I shoot the max charge of Winchester 296 powder with 158 grain Nosler Jacketed Hollow Point bullets. The Henry just soaks this recoil up, no problems.

first, welcome to our forum, delighted to have you join us .... that is the load we've used since the 60's and it still serves us well today .... we currently fire it in our Henry BBS 357 and 2 Ruger GP100'S .... be sure to follow the link below to where you can add your Henry to our community's total

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 75#p144775

Post by **BigAl52** » Mon Sep 07, 2020 9:49 pm

Welcome to the forum nice place here and 357 180gr bullet with 2400 is a rather popular load here.

Post by **Renton10x** » Tue Sep 08, 2020 2:52 am

I also own the "American Railroad Tribute" .22 rifle and it is drop dead gorgeous to look at and silky smooth to shoot. I go out of my way to let the young people shoot it at the range.

Post by **John E Davies** » Tue Sep 08, 2020 7:59 am

Renton10x, did you mean a Simmons 1.5-4x20? That scope is well regarded in the UK for air guns. It is super compact, reasonably well built and has bright, crisp optics. Too bad it is no longer made, I guess it is not Tacti-Cool enough.
http://www.airgunbbs.com/showthread.ph ... c-1-5-5x20

I have a Leupold VX1 2-7x32 on my BBX and while it works great, I would not mind a more compact variable in that power range.

John Davies
Spokane WA

Post by **Renton10x** » Tue Sep 08, 2020 7:15 pm

I bought my Simmons Whitetail Special 20 years ago and it goes from 1 to 5 power. Good scope! I originally had it mounted on a Beeman R7 air rifle.

Other favorite loads of mine for the .357 Big Boy:
8.2 grains 800-X and the 158 Berry's plated bullet shoots 1.5 inches at 50 yards
8.5 Blue Dot and the 180 lead bullets shoot 1.5 to 2 inches at 50
13.9 2400 and the 158 Nosler Jacketed Hollow Point shoots 1.5 to 2 inches at 50
I have also had good results shooting the 200 grain Lyman round nose bullets but I don't remember the charge.
The most accurate load so far is the 158 grain Berry's bullets over 11 grains 2400. They really do shoot 10 shots into one inch at 50 yards!

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My .357 Henry and Revolver loads

My .357 Henry and Revolver loads

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Re: My .357 Henry and Revolver loads

Re: My .357 Henry and Revolver loads

Re: My .357 Henry and Revolver loads