Ammo recommendations for .357/.38 Special BB

[iceman-cometh]

Hi guys.
I have a new Henry BB coming in, the "X" model, and I'll use it for target and fun shooting with .357 and with a suppressor with .38 special ammo. I don't reload and I have no interest or patience to learn that skill, as I am somewhat of a klutz and would likely blow up the house and infuriate my wife.
So I need some recommendations, specific recommendations, for manufactured ammo in .38 special and.357, that will work smoothly in my new rifle and be accurate.
What do you suggest that you've used successfully?

[Hatchdog]

I believe Henry recommends to use 158 grain bullets. This is what I use in my Big Boy Steel and have great success with them. You should find plenty of factory ammo offerings in .357 with 158 bullets. 38 special I’m not too sure about but in the past I have used the 130 gr metal case from Federal. Not in the Henry but in other 38’s, mostly revolvers. But due the bullet profile of this 130 MC it should feed great in your X.

Nice find on the X-Model by the way.

[Headhog]

+ 1 for what Hatch said. I reload my own with Missouri Bullets 158 gr RNFP lead. They feed well and shoot well out of my BBS. I've reloaded 38 Spl. with the same bullet and the also feed & shoot well in the BBS, but not in my Rossi R92. The Rossi will misfeed about 1 in 15 rounds of 38 Spl. Not a major problem, just a pain in the rear to clear.

Paul

[Vaquero]

+ 1 for what Hatch said. I reload my own with Missouri Bullets 158 gr RNFP lead. They feed well and shoot well out of my BBS. I've reloaded 38 Spl. with the same bullet and the also feed & shoot well in the BBS, but not in my Rossi R92. The Rossi will misfeed about 1 in 15 rounds of 38 Spl. Not a major problem, just a pain in the rear to clear.

Paul

I've never had an issue with my Rossi feeding the 38's.
When I first got it, if I filled completely with 357's it would jam on the first couple of rounds.
I removed almost half of the mag spring, and haven't had a problem since with either.
I love that rifle, could literally shoot the thing all day.

Not much help on the factory ammo as I load my own, my favorite is the 180 gr. Pugnose bullet from Missouri bullet co.
I haven't seen but very little 357's on the shelf, but quite a bit of 38.
Not sure why that is.

RP

[BigAl52]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new Henry. Ammoseek will be your friend when it comes to buying 357 and 38 special. Get ready to pay around .70 ea for 357 and about .40 for 38 special. Im not a fan of a steady diet of 38 special in guns chambered for 357. Others do it and like it. To each there own.

[Vaquero]

I agree with Al on the 38's in the 357.
Like I said though I load my own so it's all 357, I see no since in loading the 38's, and
I no longer own any 38 spl. firearms, and now just the one rifle and one revolver in 357.

RP

[DsGrouse]

I'm loading 148 grain wadcutters in my 38 spl brass. I don't shoot a lot of 357, what i do is usually 180 grain JSP/HP rounds. Shooting 148 grn wc's out of the henry big boy x is crazy amounts of fun and quiet.

[markiver54]

I shoot only factory ammo as well. Do not reload, and have no use for 38's. 357, 158 gr is ideal.
BTW, welcome to the forum.

[Hatchdog]

I'm loading 148 grain wadcutters in my 38 spl brass. I don't shoot a lot of 357, what i do is usually 180 grain JSP/HP rounds. Shooting 148 grn wc's out of the henry big boy x is crazy amounts of fun and quiet.

Incredible that the wad cutters will cycle in your big boy. Thumbs up Henry.

[DsGrouse]

I only have problems when i slow-stroke it. I'm not one for treating guns agressively.

[Vaquero]

I'm loading 148 grain wadcutters in my 38 spl brass. I don't shoot a lot of 357, what i do is usually 180 grain JSP/HP rounds. Shooting 148 grn wc's out of the henry big boy x is crazy amounts of fun and quiet.

Incredible that the wad cutters will cycle in your big boy. Thumbs up Henry.

My 44 BBB & 41 BBS both feeds/cycles them just fine.

RP

[JVogler]

I'm loading 148 grain wadcutters in my 38 spl brass. I don't shoot a lot of 357, what i do is usually 180 grain JSP/HP rounds. Shooting 148 grn wc's out of the henry big boy x is crazy amounts of fun and quiet.

I Have a Big Boy steel in 357magnum that will cycle 148 grain wadcutter in a 38 special shell. Same cartridge won't cycle in my Big Boy Brass.

[Not_Invented_Here]

bumping this thread - I've been shooting only Federal 357 and 38 in 158 grain. No cycling issues, seem fairly clean and I've only been buying when Midway has their free shipping deals.

I see a lot of other cheaper options (Fiocchi CCI Blazer etc) also in 158 grain. Any of them worth a look to save a few bucks?

[DsGrouse]

I have tried some ppu and wolf,both were terrible.

Ive had good luck with remington,pmc, fiocchi, sig

[GunnyGene]

Strictly a manufacturer recommendation based on my own experience with the superior quality, performance, and consistency of their ammo in a couple different calibers. This is not bargain basement ammo, so expect to pay a premium price.

https://underwoodammo.com/

[Not_Invented_Here]

Thx all. To be clear, not trying to cheap out - mostly was asking about other manufacturers of .38

If I can save $5/box here and there for solid ammo that cycles well, I'll take that deal. Trying to get to the range as often as possible but it'll get cost prohibitive real quick buying the Federal, both 38 and 357

[Rifletom]

Hi guys.
I have a new Henry BB coming in, the "X" model, and I'll use it for target and fun shooting with .357 and with a suppressor with .38 special ammo. I don't reload and I have no interest or patience to learn that skill, as I am somewhat of a klutz and would likely blow up the house and infuriate my wife.
So I need some recommendations, specific recommendations, for manufactured ammo in .38 special and.357, that will work smoothly in my new rifle and be accurate.
What do you suggest that you've used successfully?

First, welcome to the forum here. Like Vaquero, I load my own, but, early on used some Fed American Eagle ammo in .357[158gr JSP] that work very well. You'll need to search for ammo and hopefully, get shipped to your place. Or, find it locally. Good luck in your search and enjoy that Henry.

Edit: Your user name, get that from "The Hunters" with Robert Mitchum?

[Not_Invented_Here]

Hi guys.
I have a new Henry BB coming in, the "X" model, and I'll use it for target and fun shooting with .357 and with a suppressor with .38 special ammo. I don't reload and I have no interest or patience to learn that skill, as I am somewhat of a klutz and would likely blow up the house and infuriate my wife.
So I need some recommendations, specific recommendations, for manufactured ammo in .38 special and.357, that will work smoothly in my new rifle and be accurate.
What do you suggest that you've used successfully?

Sorry to hijack your thread buddy! As I mentioned in my post, I really like Federal 158gr in both 357 and 38sp. I've not run any others yet, but those have run flawlessly in my BB steel

[Luv the lever]

Welcome to the forum and congrats on the new Henry. Ammoseek will be your friend when it comes to buying 357 and 38 special. Get ready to pay around .70 ea for 357 and about .40 for 38 special. Im not a fan of a steady diet of 38 special in guns chambered for 357. Others do it and like it. To each there own.

Wanting and waiting for a BB in 357 I found PMC 158g brass ammo for $25.98 per 50ct box.

Does anyone run steel case rounds on any pistol caliber rifles? I usually avoid it but self defense rounds in 9mm are but I only use brass for practice.

[Travlin]

Not a rifle but when I still had a Colt 1917 revolver I was given a large ammo box full of empty .45 ACP brass. Only the "brass" were all steel cases. They were all clean once fired so using a carbide sizer die, I loaded them and shot them. They worked fine. If you can get some practice ammo with steel cases for a good price, go for it.