.356 Winchester 180gr Speers... Anyone loading them?

[coop923]

  I've been hunting around and researching to try to find a direction to go in or at least a starting point for a load for mule deer this year.  I haven't shot my Big Bore 94 much in the last 8-10 years and even thought about selling it at one point, but I think I'd like to try to work up a good load and hunt with it this year.  Long ago I thought the Speer 180 FN would b a good choice for deer around here, but I didn't have a lot of success getting good groups with H335.  I came across half a box that I loaded in 2003 and think I'll take it to the range tomorrow to refresh my memory, but I think I remember not being happy with how they shot.  The factory 200gr rounds that came with the gun did group fairly well, so I know the gun is capable of good groups.
 
 Is anyone using the 180gr Speers in their handloads, and if so, what are you loading them with?
 
 I'm also curious about trying the Hornady Leverevolution 200 grainers. Have any of you loaded them? What load worked for you?  I see that Hornady says to trim your cases .010 under the SAAMI specs when loading the Leverevolution, and with the brass so scarce now I'm a little reluctant to shorten a bunch of them to experiment with.  Any thoughts or experiences?
 
 Thanks,
 -Mark

[petemi]

I guess the first thing that comes to mind with the 200 gr. Hornadys is if the case is trimmed, how are you going to crimp it?  Perhaps I'm wrong in this, but I believe the crimp will be on the bullet instead of the case neck.  Shooting out of a levergun with a stout recoil I would think you'd want a fairly tight crimp.  Again, I may be wrong on this. and there may be a way to do it.

My .356 is a Handi .356/.358.  It shoots both.  My best .356 groups have been with bullets 200 gr. or better.  I think a longer, heavier bullet may stabilize better.  I'm shooting a Hornady 200 gr. PSP over a Hodgdon load for the Sierra 200 gr. RN.  It's not max.  39.4 gr. IMR4198 for a chronyed 2370 fps.  It shoots very well out of my 18 inch barrel.

Pete

[Dinny]

I tried some loads using the Speer 180gr and 220gr FPs. I found the 220gr shot better in my .356 Win Handi rifle. Unfortuantley I'm a long ways away from my load books and can't provide any data.


http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load_print.asp?printnow=1


Thanks, Dinny

[cwlongshot]

I prefer the heavier slugs in my 35's that have the HP to push them...

I use the 180's in my Maxi's, 200's in my 35 Remington's, the 220 g's in my 356 and 250g in my Whelen.

Having said that, when I rechambered my 35 Rem H&R to 356, I loaded a starting load with a Hornady 200G RN... well the dam thing shoots nearly into the same hole!!!  SO.. it gonna be tough accuracy to beat. I may just use the 200g Hornady RN this season!!

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,251376.msg1099481138.html#msg1099481138

CW

[Lloyd Smale]

I allways used the 220 speer in my 356. It shot real well and i guess i allways figured it as a lever gun for bigger game although ive never used it for anything but deer and pigs. I will say though that the few animals i shot with it got the cork knocked out of them. I dont think ive had an pig or deer take a step after a shot. I wish i could remember my exact load but i had a fire a few years back and lost all my loading data and loaded ammo and havent played with that gun since.

[Dave in WV]

I load the 200gr FTX for my 350mag. It's consistantly my most accurate rifle. I down load with a reduced load of IMR4895.

[max1138]

I got a boatload of 220's, hodgson rep said to load em like they were 225 sgk's
call your powder company or bullet provider, there is prolly an equivalent  load for the 180's.  theres lots of data that doesnt get included in the manuals.

[cwlongshot]

I load the 200gr FTX for my 350mag. It's consistantly my most accurate rifle. I down load with a reduced load of IMR4895.

I grabbed a box when they first came out to try in the maxi. They shot really well too! I picked up a couple more boxes along the way. Figured I would try them in the other 35's one day too.

I am bothered by the need to grin brass way back to use some of the FTx line is some calibers. For the most part I will not do it. But so far I'm loading thm in guns who's throats are deep enough that its not yet mattered. Of coarse on repeaters you need to also be sure the OAL will still run thru the action.

I have shot a deer and coyote with the 452/200g and at 2000 fps they are a tad explosive.

I have shot the 160/30-30 in a 30-30 at about 2400 with good results. Still a bit fragile for my tastes.

I have some 225g 452's loaded to about 1450fps to try.
I also loaded some 250g 452's in some 454's for the handi. Should get 2300fps or so from them.
These worry me as they are designed for the top end of Cassull velocities from a hand gun. Now I'm using a 20" H&R re-chambered so ill beat those velocities al lower powder charges. IIRC the bullets made for one of the 45 cals on a AR platform.

Lastly, some of these 200/358's in the Whelen at juat under 3000fps. One day I get the chance again...

CW

[jager]

Coop - I had good luck using H4198 with Speer 180gr in my Win94BB.  When I worked up a load that gave the "best" accuracy, it shot 5" higher than the Factory 200gr load.  I, too, like the 220gr Speer load with H322 best for the .356!

[AtlLaw]

I loaded them in my 35 Whelen and 358 Win.  Ima also gonna give them a shot in my 35 Rem someday.  In the 358 accuracy is so-so, but then that M-99 has never been real accurate...   
 
In the 358 I am becoming partial to TAC.  I'm just in the beginning stage of my experimentation, but it looks promising!