.357 loads

[Star1pup]

Still working on loads for my 1894C in .357.  So far it seems that the lighter bullets do not work well.  The 125 gr. Hornady HP-XTP bullets are all over the place at 50 yards.  The best at 50 yards so far are the 158 gr. Hornady HP-XTP over W296.

[Aardvark]

 The 158gr lead semi wad cutter would probably do well and they are cheap to use for plinking.

[Jerry Lester]

The 125's should straighten out considerably if you'll back way off on the velocity. I've found that with these 357 rifles accuracy with 125g bullets starts falling off quickly once they pass the 1400-1500 fps mark.

If you're wanting the best accuracy with full house loads, stick with 158g or heavier.

You may also try 140g XTP-HP's. I've had pretty good luck with them up to around 2000 fps with some combo's, with excellent accuracy, and absolutely awsome terminal performance.

[Star1pup]

Jerry: Thanks for the info.  I plan to stick with the heavier bullets and my friend who's helping with searching for the right load plans to load some 140 gr. he has on hand.  I had another friend who is darn good on loads recommend even 180 gr.

Since we are limited to shotguns in Ohio, I will use this neat little gun to carry when i walk around my property in case I get a shot at a groundhog or coyote.  I eat the groundhogs so don't want to blow them to turtle bait.

[HAMMERHEAD]

My 1894 CP likes the heavies too.

158's and 180's.

158 XTP's for handloading and the Winchester 180 Nosler JHP load is the most accurate factory load.

[Jerry Lester]

Jerry: Thanks for the info.  I plan to stick with the heavier bullets and my friend who's helping with searching for the right load plans to load some 140 gr. he has on hand.  I had another friend who is darn good on loads recommend even 180 gr.

Since we are limited to shotguns in Ohio, I will use this neat little gun to carry when i walk around my property in case I get a shot at a groundhog or coyote.  I eat the groundhogs so don't want to blow them to turtle bait.

If you're wanting to eat the groundhogs, but still want enough thump for an occasional coyote, try this combination.

125g Rem. SP's
7.5g of Unique
CCI 550 primers

Your velocity will be between 1400 or 1500 fps. At least that's what it's averaged in several 1894C's I've shot it in. Accuracy will be good to excellent, and it'll drop a groundhog like a bad habit up to 100+ yards with a chest shot. Unless you shoot him through both shoulders, it usually doesn't blow'em up too bad even at fairly close ranges. It'll drop a coyote up to 100 yards too, but make sure to try to take out a shoulder if he's past 75 yards in case he's a particularly tough one.

[Star1pup]

The best accuracy so far has been a 158 gr Hornady HP-XTP over 13.5 gr of W-296.  I have not put it over a chrony yet, but I'll be it's a bit slow.  Still, at 50 yards it was covered by a quarter.

There is a service near here that will work up an accurate load for your rifle for $!25.  That's not too bad when you consider all of the components they have in stock and it's included in the $125.

[Jerry Lester]

The best accuracy so far has been a 158 gr Hornady HP-XTP over 13.5 gr of W-296.  I have not put it over a chrony yet, but I'll be it's a bit slow.  Still, at 50 yards it was covered by a quarter.

There is a service near here that will work up an accurate load for your rifle for $!25.  That's not too bad when you consider all of the components they have in stock and it's included in the $125.

I can see where a service like that could be benificial in some rifles, but honestly, I've worked up loads in quite a few 1894C's, and it's rarely hard to find a good combination in these guns. The key is in your brass prepping. Trim at every loading, get a consistent chamfer inside, and out, and you're well on the way from that point. A consistent crimp is absolutely "critical" if you're trying for excellent accuracy in these rifles. If your cases vary by a couple thousandths or more, your crimp tension will vary drastically. This doesn't show up at normal pistol ranges, but when you start shooting groups at 50, 100, or 150 yards, it'll definately make or break a good group. I've learned that the crimp is more important to accuracy than primers, powder variations(within reason), or anything else.

Another rule of thumb in the 1894C is matching the right velocity ranges with the proper bullet weights(jacketed anyway). For 125g bullets stay from 1000-1500 fps. With bullets from 140-160 grains keep the velocity between 1400-1800 fps. I've found that on average, these rifles group the very best with 125g bullets at roughly 1400 fps, and with 158g bullets at around 1700 fps. of course this is from experiences with several 1894C's, and you could very well have one that doesn't act like the ones I've loaded for.

13.5g of 296 is positively too light for a 158g bullet. A maximum load falls in at around 16.5g of 296 for the 158g XTP's, and when you drop below about 16g ignition becomes somewhat erratic, and accuracy falls off quickly. I doubt you're getting over about 1300-1400 fps with that load right now. Try bumping your charge weight up to 15.5g, and then work up from there. If you're getting any sort of decent accuracy right now with 13.5g, I'm pretty sure you'll start getting some extremely tight groups.

Keep us posted on your progress.

[papajohn428]

My best tip for accuracy in any 357 rifle is simple........try Remington bullets!  The 125's shoot fairly well in my guns, both a 35 Remington and an 1894C.  I buy tons of the 158's, both soft and hollow points, and the only change I make is the powder and charge.  I've used Unique, AA-7, and Lil Gun with good results, as well as Power Pistol and Blue Dot.  I've settled on the 158 Remingtons for use in every 38 or 357 I own, and they all shoot them well, usually better than anything else.  I have had horrible luck with W-W bullets, and Noslers, even the Sierra's were outshot by the Remington slugs.  The soft points are good for any game up to and including deer, and the hollow points are instant death on smaller critters.  I buy in bulk thru Midway, and even with the recent price hikes, they're still the best bargain in bullets.

Papajohn

[Jerry Lester]

My best tip for accuracy in any 357 rifle is simple........try Remington bullets!  The 125's shoot fairly well in my guns, both a 35 Remington and an 1894C.  I buy tons of the 158's, both soft and hollow points, and the only change I make is the powder and charge.  I've used Unique, AA-7, and Lil Gun with good results, as well as Power Pistol and Blue Dot.  I've settled on the 158 Remingtons for use in every 38 or 357 I own, and they all shoot them well, usually better than anything else.  I have had horrible luck with W-W bullets, and Noslers, even the Sierra's were outshot by the Remington slugs.  The soft points are good for any game up to and including deer, and the hollow points are instant death on smaller critters.  I buy in bulk thru Midway, and even with the recent price hikes, they're still the best bargain in bullets.

Papajohn

This is absolutely sound advice.

[Star1pup]

With all of the talk about case length I decided to measure mine.  I don't have the figures here, but all of my cases were shorter than the recommended maximum length.  They also varied in length.  I have a Lee tool to cut my cases, but the pilot that determines the case length will not let the cutter contact the case.  Therefore, I have no way to cut the cases to the same length.

Since my cases are all shorter than maximum do I cut them all to match the shortest case?  If so I will have to buy a new tool.

[Jerry Lester]

Yes, if you want the best accuracy, you'll need to trim them all to the same length. I know it's a pain, but trust me, you'll see the results, and be glad you did. A consistent crimp is more important to accuracy, and consistent velocity than all the other variables combined in my opinion.