.356 Winchester Single Shot info needed.

[petemi]

I had been thinking about a Handi in .35 Remington when fellow GBO member Dinny did a custom stub Handi in .356.  His post about it sparked my curiosity which led to my own project.  Reading up on it, I found the .356 to be quite a bit more potent than the .35 and was rimmed which lends itself well to break action rifles.  I traded a 7mm-08 barrel with another member for a .357 mag.  That member offered to do the modification and rechamber.  The extractor is a modified .30-30.  The reamer was rented from our H&R forum sponsor 4D Reamers.  The barrel is cut to 18 inches and recess crowned.

Unfortunately, 99 percent of the reloading data for the .356 is for leverguns.  I have data for the 200 gr. FTX, but virtually nothing for the 225 gr. Sierra Gameking or the Hornady 180 gr SSPB Single shot or Hornady 200 gr. SSPB Spirepoint.  Can anyone here shed some light on available .356 pointed bullet data sources.  Thanks,

Pete

[Graybeard]

Use data for the Speer 220 and 180 FN bullets for those two and you should be good to go. You're not gonna get full velocity from an 18" barrel but compared to the length of most lever rifles so chambered you might not be far off.

I bought up a bunch of brass for the round a few years back with intentions of turning a Marlin .35 Remington into one and have yet to make that happen.

[cwlongshot]

Evening Pete,
Personally I would avoid the 180  SSP, even tho yours is a shorter barrel, I would think you will be able to surpass its vel range. (Unless you want to load it down.) At least if your hunting with it...
 
The 180 and 220 Speers are good choices as is the std Hornady 200 Spitzer.
 
As for the shorter barrel, remember the Win and Marlins had 20" barrels... Unless specified, its likely form that length barrel. So altho you will not find spitzer data, the vel is not gonna be as big a difference as you would expect for a std caliber used in a 22-24" barrel. As for spitzer data, simply start at the starting load or even 10% under and work up.
The 225g bullets, I would go carefully looking at 250 and 200g data and find a starting point drop another 10% and begin. Choose a powder middle of the road, maybe even form a source that lists pressures they got.
 
I will see what I can find for data, maybe I have some you have not seen...
 
CW

[petemi]

Thanks Bill and CW.  I know the leverguns are 20 inches, but I stuck with the 18 for the "Handiness".  I figured perhaps any velocity loss might be compensated by a slightly faster burning powder.  For a comparison, my eighteen inch .38-55 throws a 213 gr. bullet at 2275 fps. over RL7 with great accuracy and no pressure signs.  I felt 2 inches wasn't going to make a profound difference.  I'm going to pass on the 180 SSPs and try them in my Maxi.  They may work well.

CW, If I turn up anything interesting, I'll pass it on to you.

Thanks again,

Pete

[cwlongshot]

Any updates yet Peter?

I about to move forward full speed... I should have a 35 Rem this time next week!

CW