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Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Bake
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by Bake » Sun Mar 27, 2022 6:09 pm

[quote=Ceapea post_id=195132 time=1648308551 user_id=3958]
Not often talked about by most, but another solution is to load (heavier is better) bullets long, to 357 lengths, in 38 cases. I do this with several bullets. All feed well in any lever gun I have ever tried them in. John Taffin talks about this technique fairly often.
[/quote

A long time ago, I shot a lot of Center Fire Silollett (NRA Field Pistol). I started with 130 gr. 9mm. cast ( no recoil, but no knockdowns past the pigs) and quickly tried 158 gr. cast ( more recoil,& about50% on the turkeys, and sucked on the rams) and went up to 180gr & 200gr ( both cast )in 38spe cases. The recoil was heavier, but those 200gr'er just killed those 100yd rams [hard]. I got my first "40" using a TC Contender load with 200gr'ser, in 38spe. cases . . .
Last edited by Bake on Tue May 03, 2022 1:14 pm, edited 2 times in total.
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clovishound
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by clovishound » Sat Apr 16, 2022 7:06 pm

Yep, stick to .357. I don't like shooting .38s in my BBS. It feels like I'm shooting a .22. My .357 target loads make it feel like you are shooting a "real" rifle. They cycle easier as well. The only fly in the ointment is it's harder to find .357 cases.

OK, I enjoy shooting .22 as well, but the .357s are more fun in my book.
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Rifletom
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by Rifletom » Sat Apr 16, 2022 9:43 pm

Growlers, if you cannot get any .357 mag brass, you can get some 158gr RNFP, coated preferably, and you should be fine. Just work that lever.
What powders do you have on hand? Missouri Bullets make great bullets.
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Vaquero
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by Vaquero » Sun Apr 17, 2022 12:45 pm

Ceapea wrote:
Sat Mar 26, 2022 11:29 am
Not often talked about by most, but another solution is to load (heavier is better) bullets long, to 357 lengths, in 38 cases. I do this with several bullets. All feed well in any lever gun I have ever tried them in. John Taffin talks about this technique fairly often.
There are several guys here that load 180 gr cast in 357 with no issues cycling or shooting them in their Henry rifles as do I in my Rossi.

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Uncle Goose
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by Uncle Goose » Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:27 pm

Hi all, first post on this forum. Just thinking that by using 357 cases you will have less bullet jump to the rifling , which should aid in accuracy and also in cleaning the chamber.
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by iceman-cometh » Sat Jun 18, 2022 6:07 pm

The only proper ammo I have at the moment is factory loaded PMC Bronze .38 Special 132 grain FMJ's, and they feed fine through my new .358 Mag BB X and suppressor.
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BigAl52
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by BigAl52 » Sat Jun 18, 2022 7:42 pm

Uncle Goose wrote:
Wed Apr 20, 2022 12:27 pm
Hi all, first post on this forum. Just thinking that by using 357 cases you will have less bullet jump to the rifling , which should aid in accuracy and also in cleaning the chamber.
I agree. If Im going to shoot 38 special type loads I just load them in 357 cases. Welcome to the forum.
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by iceman-cometh » Sun Jun 19, 2022 8:48 am

I don't have any "suitable" .357 MAG factory loads at the moment, but I do have lots of factory load PMC Bronze .38 Special rounds l32 grain FMJs and they load, cycle and shoot just fine. I have my suppressor mounted to my Big Boy X and I enjoy the muffled sounds with the .38s. :)
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Bruce545
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by Bruce545 » Wed Jul 06, 2022 8:34 am

Relatively new Henry 357 owner here- but 30 year 38/357 reloader.

I understand that there have been problems when using 38's in 357 lever rifles- especially with some of the other brands. I currently have 400+ rounds through my Henry- probably 75% of them being 38 spc., and have yet to have noticed any issues with feed of the rifle, or with cleaning. My handloads have predominately been 158 grain JSP and JSP loaded to the high end of 38 spc. and finished with a light crimp. I have not used any factory 38's yet this year (2022) as this continues to be an elusive unicorn in my area, however I sent a box of factory FMJ 158 g. 357 mag downrange onto paper targets yesterday. One thing I've not used yet has been any cast bullets- most of what I reload for target and practice with my revolvers.

At the end of the day, I can't say enough good things about my Henry rifles.

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kent5
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Re: Henry 357 side loader shooting 38 special

Post by kent5 » Sat Aug 27, 2022 3:58 am

Hello all… new to the forum!

So, the owners manual for the non-side gate 357 has the warning about shooting only 158 grain 38 special, but the owners manual for the 357 BBX has no such warning on the use of 38 special ammo.

Does that mean that the 357 BBX has no issues with any standard 38 special load, but the old style non-side gate has issues?

I’d like to pick up another (!) Henry to plink 38 special, but if I can’t use the cheap bulk 130 grain commercial stuff, it kind of defeats the purpose. I was all excited to pull the trigger (ha!) on a 357 Mares Leg until I read about this issue :(

Thanks all!
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