Reloading for .357 BBB

[Twotone]

Hi everyone
Being new to this I may be about to ask some stupid questions so my apologies in advance for that.
I have been having all sorts of problems with my Henry BBB , shooting like a scatter gun , I am now trying various bullet shapes, weights etc and am curious. The Henry has a twist rate fo 1:38 which leads me to think a shorter and therefore lighter bullet may be worth trying, I am shooting target by the way as hunting with a lever action is rarely allowed in the UK. I have been working to an OAL of 1:59" using 158 gn SWC and my question is this, if I try a 125 gn bullet which will be shorter, do I seat the bullet shallower to maintain the OAL of 1:59 and should I reduce my powder charge if I do try to main the current OAL and if so by how much.
I am currently using 6.5 gn Unique, I did work up to 7 gns in tenths but saw no difference in groups, or should I say patterns as what I have at the moment are better described a that.
Thanks and sorry if its a dumb question,

[Steve51]

I use 7.5 grains of Unique with 158 grain bullets for Magnum loads in my revolvers but for the rifle, I use a slower burning powder. I was using 14.5 grains of Alliant 2400 and was well satisfied with accuracy and velocity. I have not been able to find 2400 around here for over two years. I am trying Accurate Arms #9 and have found that using 14.2 grains gives me the same POI with my current sight settings.
I do not use lead bullets in my rifles (except for the .45-70). For my .357 rifle, I have had best accuracy with the Hornady 158 grain XTP JHP.

I am not convinced that Unique is the best powder for the Big Boy .357. When I first got my .44 magnum Big Boy, I shot loads that I used in my Super Blackhawk using Unique powder. Accuracy was not the best - even at 25 yds. I made up some ammo using 2400 and my groups became very tight. I am currently working with AA#9 for the .44 mag. and trying to find the amount of grains needed to have the same POI that I have using 2400.

Many shooters like H110 for their magnum loads but I have never tried it. From what I have read, you should strictly follow load amounts given in the loading manual. This powder is not suitable for reduced loads.

I am using iron sights and sight my rifles in at 50yds.

[BigAl52]

If the 125 gr bullet of choice has a crimp groove that is where I would seat the bullet. Ive not either used much unique in 357. For target loads Ive always used 231 or HP 38. If I want some harder hitting loads I agree with Steve 2400 is my powder of choice. Al

[CT_Shooter]

I use HP-38 for 125 grain JHPs and H110 for 158 grain JHPs, both with magnum small pistol primers. I load all of my ammunition for the revolver at the mid-range of Hornady's 9th handbook and then I shoot them in both the revolver and the rifle. When I was loading 130 grain FMJs, I used Unique. I still have a few thousand of those bullets, but I'll only shoot them from the revolver, heeding Henry's advice to avoid them in the Big Boy.

[Twotone]

Thanks all, i will give the 2400 a try next. Bullet wise here in the UK they dont allow any expanding ammo with .357 as its not recognised for hunting. If I have hunting permission over land I have choices of 17hmr, 22wmr, 223,243,270, 308 and so on depending on the quarry but they will not let me use an under lever for hunting in .357 for anything so no JHP or XTP bullets. Therefore it is either lead bullets or a small selection of plated bullets if you can find them.
I have found a custom bullet company that makes a huge variety of shapes and weights in lead so they are sending me some things to try out. Fingers crossed I find aomething better than I am getting at the moment, thanks again for all the helpful advice, its great,
Trev

[JEBar]

looking forward to your results .... thanks for taking us along for the ride

[Mgr2]

My most accurate loads for the .357 BBS are with 9.5 grains Hodgdon HS-6, using 158 grain S&B JSP or Hornady XTP bullets. I seat the bullets to the cannelure. Accuracy is between 1.4" - 2.5" at 100 meters on a good windstill day, from sandbag rest.

[Twotone]

Happy days, new change in UK law has been larified after much confusion. As long as my licence states .357 target shooting I can now use expanding ammo, cant hunt with it but can use it for target so JHP's etc are now on the menu!

[ditto1958]

Don't know if you can get Accurate Powders where you live, but my favorite .357 load is a 158 grain lead semi-wadcutter with 11 grains of Accurate No. 9.