125gr in the Henry .357?

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 4:08 pm

I want to take the Henry out to play this coming Monday and ordered ammo but because of the holiday I wont have my ammo here in time. I have plenty of reloads but wanted to go one more time with Factory rounds to make sure the henry is running.

I keep reading that Henry would like you to use 158gr bullets but I have about 2 boxes of 125 gr .357 I would be ok letting go. Is it just a feed issue or can the lighter bullets hurt the gun?
alex

Mistered · Post by **Mistered** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 4:32 pm

Is it just a feed issue or can the lighter bullets hurt the gun?

If anything it would be a feed issue but again Henry is taking the 'safe' route.

I have shot 100s of 125 gr reloads with no issues.

If they are a typical RNFP or HP they should feed fine.

Blaze away!

Post by **CT_Shooter** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 4:35 pm

I agree. You shouldn't expect any problems, at all... blaze away. Let us know how you make out.

Post by **Cofisher** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:00 pm

I too would like to experiment with the lighter bullets. Let us know how it works for you.

Mistered · Post by **Mistered** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:05 pm

I had pretty good accuracy with some 125 gr. XTPs I had.

Seems like they were some 'freebees' I had and once they were gone I reverted back to 'cheap' 158 gr plated SWCs to use in everything.

The 158s are VERY accurate out of my BBB so I'll just stick with them.

Post by **BigAl52** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 5:12 pm

Ive shot quite a few Montana Gold 125grhp thru mine with no issues.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:07 pm

Thanks everyone .. I have some Remington 158gr JSP but only about 20 rds and I have 2 boxes of 125gr Federal SJHP. I will run some of my 158gr reloads loaded on the soft side but ... since its only my second time out with the gun I want to make sure that if there are any issues that I can attribute it to the gun and not the reloads.

I always run a range visit or 2 with factory ammo when I get a new firearm so if it runs fine and later it doesnt run my reloads then I know its me.

I was spot on with the 158 gr Remington last time out! I will report back how I did with the 125's!

Mistered · Post by **Mistered** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:22 pm

I always run a range visit or 2 with factory ammo

About the only time I remember running factory ammo in a 'new' gun (actually used - two rounds fired) was in a .30-30 Winchester I bought several years ago and had no dies for yet and wanted to shoot it right away so I bought one box of ammo.

Otherwise (other than .22) all of my guns (I can remember anyway) started with reloads.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:28 pm

Mistered wrote: ↑
Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:22 pm

I always run a range visit or 2 with factory ammo
About the only time I remember running factory ammo in a 'new' gun (actually used - two rounds fired) was in a .30-30 Winchester I bought several years ago and had no dies for yet and wanted to shoot it right away so I bought one box of ammo.

Otherwise (other than .22) all of my guns (I can remember anyway) started with reloads.

I have only been reloading a few years and while i have loaded thousands of rounds .. I still don't have the confidence in my reloads that many here who have reloaded for decades have so in trying to give every chance to every gun to shine I start out with factory. Maybe its silly.

I have shot some 4000 of my reloads through my revolvers with not a single issue.

Mistered · Post by **Mistered** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:32 pm

I still don't have the confidence in my reloads

With as many as you have loaded and shot why not?

As long as you are following proper procedures, all is proceeding as it should you should have MORE confidence in your reloads than FACTORY ammo.

Post by **GaHenryFan** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 6:33 pm

I've shot hundreds of Lee 125s that I cast and powder coated. They are plenty accurate for plinking and cycle fine.

Post by **ESquared** » Thu Jan 02, 2020 10:07 pm

I burned up a lot of time, powder and Forum bandwidth last winter messing around with various .357 bullet weights, from 110gr to 145s, 140s and 158s. It was a lot of fun and a very interesting way to start off in the reloading world. Don't know that I learned that much, other than 158s are the sweet spot; but, as noted above by many, 125s are fine for plinking and plunking.
I wouldn't worry about cycling as long as you have your OAL in spec and mind the rest of the recipe.

Post by **KrzHorse** » Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:43 am

Should Have no issue's with 125 gr. I shoot/stock alot of Fiocchi 125 gr SJSP & JSP. Have 4 Henry's & 3 Marlins in 357 Mag.and they all shoot the 125 gr. fine. My BBS H012M loves the SJSP- it's most accurate load. Go for it

Post by **CT_Shooter** » Sat Jan 04, 2020 9:19 am

Welcome to the forum from CT, KrzHorse. Thanks for joining this conversation.

When you get a chance, please consider adding your four Henrys to our running total of Henrys owned by our members:
http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... 80#p118880

KrzHorse wrote: ↑
Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:43 am
Should Have no issue's with 125 gr. I shoot/stock alot of Fiocchi 125 gr SJSP & JSP. Have 4 Henry's & 3 Marlins in 357 Mag.and they all shoot the 125 gr. fine. My BBS H012M loves the SJSP- it's most accurate load. Go for it

Post by **Shakey Jake** » Sat Jan 04, 2020 8:13 pm

Alex wrote: ↑
Thu Jan 02, 2020 4:08 pm
I want to take the Henry out to play this coming Monday and ordered ammo but because of the holiday I wont have my ammo here in time. I have plenty of reloads but wanted to go one more time with Factory rounds to make sure the henry is running.

I keep reading that Henry would like you to use 158gr bullets but I have about 2 boxes of 125 gr .357 I would be ok letting go. Is it just a feed issue or can the lighter bullets hurt the gun?
alex

I've used lots of 125 gr bullets just fine from Xtreme copper plated to XTP's.
Jake

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Mon Jan 06, 2020 4:05 pm

So just got back from the range a couple of hours ago. The 125gr Federal was a pleasure to shoot and I felt more accurate, faster with it. I was at an indoor range so I can only go out to 25 yds but ... while recoil from the Rifle with 158gr Rem HTP is not an issue I felt faster and had a bit more fun with the 125's
but
Goodness .. dont you hate but's

There were a couple of clunky feeds with the 125's and not a single clunky feed with the 158's. Having said that .. I am new to lever actions and maybe have 300 rds under my belt now so it could certainly be me but about 3 rounds out of 40 of the 125 gr I had to kind of double throw the lever. Dont know a better way to explain it but I am sure you guys know what I mean.

Perhaps it will smooth itself out more as I use it but currently if I decided to use the rifle as a home defense Carbine I would stick with the 158's that fed like BUTTER. Oh my I didnt think it could feel so good. What a fun time at the range!!

Oh .. and the wife was killing it at 15 yds no problem .. Just fun.

Mistered · Post by **Mistered** » Mon Jan 06, 2020 4:30 pm

and I felt more accurate,

You have any paper targets to show results? Say compared to the 158s ?

Kinda hard to 'feel' accuracy !

Ojaileveraction · Post by **Ojaileveraction** » Mon Jan 06, 2020 4:40 pm

Alex I think it's the nature of a straight walked pistol caliber rifle averaging the ability to cycle a wide range of cartridge OAL.

Alex · Post by **Alex** » Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:33 pm

Mistered wrote: ↑
Mon Jan 06, 2020 4:30 pm

and I felt more accurate,
You have any paper targets to show results? Say compared to the 158s ?

Kinda hard to 'feel' accuracy !

I was mostly playing today but I have a couple of boxes of 125 around so on my next visit I will try and give photos of a direct comparison. I am still in the honey moon phase and just diggin shooting and cycling my new Henry.

But I promise I will offer a comparison with as good as I can shoot which is the bigger variable since I don't use a rest.

Mistered · Post by **Mistered** » Mon Jan 06, 2020 5:42 pm

I am still in the honey moon phase and just diggin shooting and cycling my new Henry.

This I understand!

However its almost essential we all shoot 'paper' to see what our loads are doing.

Heck I rather be killing pine cones!

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