Rossi 357 Loads
- Thread starter art123
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- Saskatchewan
When I had my Rossi .357 carbine I did not find it fussy at all. It shot about equally well with everything I tried in it. I had to adjust the point of impact between .38 and .357 loads by raising or lowering the slide on my Lyman receiver sight, which was quick and easy and precise with the push button elevation adjustment. You could do a crude adjustment for various ammo the same way by using the step elevator on the factory issued open rear sight.
The only "problem" I had was some very square shoulder semi wad cutter cast lead bullets would hang up on the sharp edge of the lower part of the chamber, so feeding was not smooth. I very carefully put a round radius on that chamber edge and the feeding issues were eliminated.
The only "problem" I had was some very square shoulder semi wad cutter cast lead bullets would hang up on the sharp edge of the lower part of the chamber, so feeding was not smooth. I very carefully put a round radius on that chamber edge and the feeding issues were eliminated.
art123: What powder(s) are you currently using? I've used both Unique/Universal and 231/HP38 with success, in light/medium .38/.357 plinking loads. Same Lee 125/158 (cast)bullets you're using. I felt no need to push the bullets as fast as you, though. As the loads were set up to shoot in both revolver and rifle, rifle loads max'd out around 1000 fps.
No problem feeding semi-wadcutters through my Rossi. Feeds both Lee (cast) 150 gr. and 158 gr. (Cast, from RCBS mold). Though it does show a preference for the 125 gr. RNFP. Smoothest functioning/feeding bullet of those tried.
You may already be familiar with the Hodgdon Reloading site. If not, there is plenty of useful info there for .357.
No problem feeding semi-wadcutters through my Rossi. Feeds both Lee (cast) 150 gr. and 158 gr. (Cast, from RCBS mold). Though it does show a preference for the 125 gr. RNFP. Smoothest functioning/feeding bullet of those tried.
You may already be familiar with the Hodgdon Reloading site. If not, there is plenty of useful info there for .357.
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art123: I've also used Trail Boss in both .38 and .357, too. But thought that its fast burn rate was better suited to .38 case capacity.** So, when loading .357, I generally stick to 231/HP38 with 125 grain bullets. Unique/Universal with 150/158's. I agree though....any of these powders will work well with these bullets.
** Note: Trail Boss consistently delivered the best accuracy in .38 Special. This, at about 80-85% load density.
My experience with the Lee 158 gr. LRNFP was generally good. No stability issues....keyholing, yawing, etc., observed. My only gripe with the Lee bullet is that the bullet's wide-nosed meplat sometimes caused feeding problems. More so in 1866, 1873 and similar rifles. But occasionally in the Rossi, too. Usually when cycling the action fast....but that also could have been operator error. Likely a bit of short-stroking involved.
No issues at all, when using either 150 or 158 gr. semi-wadcutters. Though these feed poorly, or not at all, in 1866/1873 rifles. Best performing swc(in both .38 and .357) for me, was the 158 gr., Keith-type bullet thrown by the RCBS mould. Followed by the Lee 150 gr. swc.
Overall, my experience mirrors yours. I believe the 125 grain RNFP is the most suitable bullet weight/shape, for the Rossi .357 rifle. Function and accuracy always good.
I have used Lee TL bullets in various other calibers....but not in .38/357. Am interested in your observations. I can't see though, why they wouldn't work just as well as the others.
Al
** Note: Trail Boss consistently delivered the best accuracy in .38 Special. This, at about 80-85% load density.
My experience with the Lee 158 gr. LRNFP was generally good. No stability issues....keyholing, yawing, etc., observed. My only gripe with the Lee bullet is that the bullet's wide-nosed meplat sometimes caused feeding problems. More so in 1866, 1873 and similar rifles. But occasionally in the Rossi, too. Usually when cycling the action fast....but that also could have been operator error. Likely a bit of short-stroking involved.
No issues at all, when using either 150 or 158 gr. semi-wadcutters. Though these feed poorly, or not at all, in 1866/1873 rifles. Best performing swc(in both .38 and .357) for me, was the 158 gr., Keith-type bullet thrown by the RCBS mould. Followed by the Lee 150 gr. swc.
Overall, my experience mirrors yours. I believe the 125 grain RNFP is the most suitable bullet weight/shape, for the Rossi .357 rifle. Function and accuracy always good.
I have used Lee TL bullets in various other calibers....but not in .38/357. Am interested in your observations. I can't see though, why they wouldn't work just as well as the others.
Al
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