HOW HOT CAN YOU LOAD LEAD .357 FOR A LEVER ACTION RIFLE.

[CWLONGSHOT]

Personally, I very rarely load «max loads». My thinking is, if I feel the need for a super-max load, I probably should have chosen another cartridge. The «middle of the chart» loads give less wear on the gun, and brass. You can do load development in the winter, and the load is still safe on a warmer day. You’ll consume less bullets during load development (which is a factor, with expensive factory hunting bullets).

100%. Today there is really little reason to push things so hard. If ya feel ya need more either get closer or use a bigger gun.

Having said that, often what folks think more power will cure better accuracy and shorter distances will trump.

Another option for a re chamber is the 450 Bushmaster. Its parent cast is 284 Winchester and a .473 case head.
CW

 

[RBHarter]

As far as a Savage barrel swap goes and matched heads .
The 45 Raptor , a rimless 460 S&W , is a 308 blown straight cut to 1.8" it fits fine in a 308 but you can load some long 45-70 class bullets and have plenty to reach 200 yd even with a subsonic over over 500 gr . Most of the 250gr+ 45 pistol bullets would be plenty for your needs . Use 460 data dies and reamer .

You can get a Green Mountain barrel blank for about $80 and fit under 120 depending on your smith or machine availability .

 

[CZ93X62]

Given the Ohio restrictions, I would find a used-but-decent Win 94 or Marlin 336 and send it off to JES Reboring to have it turned into a 38/55. I surely like mine.

OTOH, the 357 Magnum levergun just might be the best coyote rifle ever devised.

 

[Walks]

My Kids 2 Marlin 1894CB's are long gone.
But if I ever need a straight wall case Woods Walking Rifle, it would be that little 1894CS. It always seemed to weigh less then the NM Blackhawk 6 1/2" riding on My Gunbelt.

 

[Ian]

Thank you Allen for mentioning Ohio, I was about to ask Mitty why he doesn't just hunt with his .30-'06.

 

[JonB]

SNIP...

Plus I just love my Junky Plastic, adopted Savage Axis. So much that I am looking into getting a better stock. So drift away.

When I bought an Axis, I strongly disliked the "flexi" stock it came with.
I really like the Boyds stock, that I got off their "Blem" pile for $99.

 

[Bret4207]

Would the 38/55 be considered straight walled enough? I dunno. My question in Mittys scenario would be, "How can I get closer to where the deer are likely to be seen?" We have spots we actually have to back off to avoid being more or less in the deers path. Maybe there's some outcroppings or a gully you can hide in within 50-75 yds?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Im pretty sure the 375 is Ohio Legal the 38/55 is just a touch longer...

But the 38/55 has its own identity problems too...

CW

 

[Will]

I still think the 357 maximum is the best all around cartridge for someone living in a state that requires hunting with straight wall cartridges.
David White has done a lot of testing with 125-140gr bullets on varmints.
The 140gr FTX is a flat shooting bullet that will put coyotes down quick.

 

[RBHarter]

Ohio and Iowa I think also have a 1.8 maximum case length . That's where the "Modern 45-60 " came from . The 45-70 loaded to short correct oal but cases cut back to 1.8 . 38 Short in a 357 . Of course that's why the 460 in a 336 or 1895 would sing and part of the drive for the Raptor .

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I still think the 357 maximum is the best all around cartridge for someone living in a state that requires hunting with straight wall cartridges.
David White has done a lot of testing with 125-140gr bullets on varmints.
The 140gr FTX is a flat shooting bullet that will put coyotes down quick.

Agreed 100%!
The maxi is what the legend wants.
Im reloading the 140 FTX in legend as the fmj are all fudged up. Using same powder and trimmed case eith win prime. Results are 5/8-3/4 moa !!

CW

 

[Walks]

Being from CA. We have no real limits on Rifle Cartridges, except for non-toxec projectiles.
What are these limitations for straight-walled cases ?

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Basically its limitations to rifles that will be allowed in previous shotgun only areas.

CW

 

[Walks]

Shotgun only ? Is that smoothbore only ?
Buckshot only or slugs ?

 

[Winelover]

Southern Michigan was limited to shotguns, then opened it up to straight walled "pistol" cartridges. The snafu was that it was also only handguns, no rifles. Could use my 44 Mag Ruger Redhawk but not my 44 Mag Marlin 1894. It was all about limiting the range in the more densely populated south. Midway in the mitten, you could use anything as long as it was larger than .22 caliber centerfire.

 

[Mitty38]

Being from CA. We have no real limits on Rifle Cartridges, except for non-toxec projectiles.
What are these limitations for straight-walled cases ?

Where I live.In eastern Ohio It is hilly, and has a lot of gullies. Though not high enough above sea level, to be called a mountain,some of the height between the bottoms of the gullies and the summits of the hills, are greater then the distances on many mountains.

But in Western and Northern Ohio, also directly around our Capital, it is Mostly flat prairies and it is highly populated.
A lot of people hunt deer in the prairies and corn fields by walking a line, and jumping them. So years ago It was decided only pistol and shot gun, only. For cartage gun season.
Urban Legendre Story goes,A fellow in Columbus was taken out in 1950 or so that was sitting in his kitchen having his morning coffee. The culprate was a 30-30 and he was related to the Governor. This supposedly happened during deer season, and their was a ban proposed on all rifle hunting, but a compromise was met by just limiting deer season to shot gun and pistol.

As the population pushed most of the deer populating east. Also,i since Ohio has implemented a free mandatory safety and training course in the 80's for first time hunters. this has become not so much an issue.
Now they in a great experiment to increase hunting, they have allowed the influx of straight walled rifles, for deer. It has been successful.

 

[Winelover]

Shotgun only ? Is that smoothbore only ?
Buckshot only or slugs ?

Michigan it didn't matter. All options were open.

 

[fiver]

I don't think it matters as long as it is a shotgun.
they let them use muzzle loaders too which is what I'd choose.
most of those modern in-lines are just big bore rifles that will shoot 300yds as easily as a bottle neck cartridge.

I find it amusing you can shoot varmints all day long with a 243 or 30-06 but not a deer.

 

[Mitty38]

Shotgun only ? Is that smoothbore only ?
Buckshot only or slugs ?

Any thing that could be pushed through a shot gun barrel at the time. The rifle barreled shot gun just kinda snuck past the law, and because there were no instances that called them out, it may have been instrumental to the straight walled allowance we have now. Along with pistols reaching out farther then before. They were never disallowed.

 

[Winelover]

Until I purchased my LH Remington 1100 slug gun. I used front stuffers/muzzleloaders in Southern Michigan. Way more accurate than my Model 12, throwing slugs.