Shifty Bob Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Hi, New cowboy shooter here. I have not reloaded 357 before. I have loaded for my Vaquero's 38 special, but I just purchased the lever gun. I have several kinds of power on hand, but would like to just pick one and proceed to learn to shoot instead of load development.(sure I need to come up with a load powder weight) I read several posts here on found quite a few recommendations. Just looking for a simple load, no high power needs. I have seen Unique and Trail Boss mentioned. Is there an overall powder that most people use? I have quite a bit of trail Boss, will that be a good choice? Thanks partners. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 38 cases or 357 cases? I don't care for Trail Boss myself. My preference is Clay's 2.7 gr 125 gr bullet 38 case. Then Winchester 231, then real Black Powder. I use Unique for 44 Russian and 44-40; never used it for 38/357. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Captain Bill Burt Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 I use the same Clays load Tyrel does for .38. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Bob Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 357 cases will be used with 158 GR RNFP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jefro, SASS#69420 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Howdy Shifty and welcome. Most of us use the same 38sp 125gr TC in our rifles that we use in our pistols. Just make sure to load it long enough if your rifle is OAL sensitive, 1.423 works for me. However I usually shoot 158gr Big Lubes and real BP, for smokeless powder I use Red Dot. Good Luck JR-E Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Bob Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 Of all the powders I have, Clay's is not one of them.(figures!) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 If you've got any Clay's I'd suggest 3.2-3.4 gr would be a pretty good load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Bob Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 My first day shooting the Uberti was short as the 38 specials jammed in the rifle. The range gunsmith recommended using the 357 cases and 158 GR rnfp bullets. So I stocked up on them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Bob Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 Looks like I need some Clay's! Oh boy another powder to stock! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Maybe @The Original Lumpy Gritz will come along and give you a Unique load. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Bob Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 5 minutes ago, Tyrel Cody said: If you've got any Clay's I'd suggest 3.2-3.4 gr would be a pretty good load. Is this 357 case? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 4 minutes ago, Shifty Bob said: Is this 357 case? Yes http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol Pick .357, 158 gr bullet and it'll give you all kinds of loads. Trail Boss is in there as well; 3.5 gr of that is probably good but stay towards the middle range with TB. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 There are probably dozens of suitable powders. The Trail Boss is fine. There are also powders that are similar to Clays including Clay Dot, Promo, Red Dot, and Bullseye. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 TiteGroup Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snakebite Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 3 grains of any fast powder that you have will work for this game. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Juan Solo Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 3 grains of clean shot under a 125gr bullet in a .38. I actually got this load from Scarlett's website and it works great. If you don't have clean shot, 3.0gr titegroup will do the same as will 3.3 grains of win231. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Three Foot Johnson Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 There are probably well over 20 powders that will work just fine for Cowboy Action loads. Bullseye W231 Red Dot Promo Clays Clay Dot 700X Titegroup American Select Solo 1000 IMR-Red Trail Boss WST Unique Titewad IMR Green Green Dot International Clays HP38 Herco Power Pistol AA#2 AA#5 VV Tin Star Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 I like to know where my bullets are going. Most competitors use 125 grain bullets or less in the .38 Special and .357 Magnum to minimize recoil. Pick a bullet then find the powder that gives small groups close to your point of aim, especially if you are using fixed sight guns. Even with big close targets, accuracy is important. You will shoot more confidently and faster if you don't have to use Kentucky windage. That means practicing with various loads at match speed, because your point of impact when shooting fast is going to be different than when you are shooting more deliberately. (usually the POI will be higher when you are shooting fast because you are not taking time to refine your sight alignment.). If your powder, bullet, and gun combination doesn't give you a small grouping, then you have effectively reduced the size of the target significantly. My rifle and revolvers like Titegroup when shooting smokeless powder, but your mileage may vary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yusta B. Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 A great many shooters shoot .38 brass in their .357 cal '73's. You may need to load the bullet long - crimp between the crimp groove & the lube groove. Many many shooters shoot 105 to 140 gr. bullets loaded to OAL of about 1.45 to 1.50. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garrison Joe, SASS #60708 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Shifty Bob said: The range gunsmith recommended using the 357 cases and 158 GR rnfp bullets. That "range gunsmith" was not knowledgeable about how to load for Cowboy rifles!!! Most of the Uberti 73s in 38 caliber will handle a round with an overall length of 1.46" or more. Very easy to get that length with .38 special cases and lighter bullets. Which gives you a lighter shooting round with cheap components. Sorry you got such expensive advice. For powder for light .38 special loads, I recommend one of Clays, Clay Dot, Red Dot, or 700-X. Clean, easily available, fast enough burn rates to run light loads. Good luck, GJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk James Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 I use 38 cases, but at a length of 1.510-1.515 with a 105 gr. bullet. Use 125 for knockdowns at the same length. Try different loads and find out how the work in your rifle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Creek Jack Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 3.5 grains of Titegroup and 125 gr. Chey Cast bullets with Federal primers in .38 sp. in both my Ruger pistols and 73 rifles, Very accurate dependable loads! SCJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 9 hours ago, Tyrel Cody said: Maybe @The Original Lumpy Gritz will come along and give you a Unique load. I'll take that one! lol. 3.5 to 4.0 grains Unique will do ya just fine. 4.0 of TB is a winner. 3.5 grains Red Dot is good too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Major BS Walker Regulator Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Same load as Mr. Tyrel but I use Clay Dot not Clays. Red Dot works also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shifty Bob Posted April 12, 2019 Author Share Posted April 12, 2019 Gee all great advice. I am stuck with a few things from not so great advice that doesn't match what you all have advised here. (I should have asked here first!) I have a large amount of: 357 brass 158 GR lead RNFP TRAIL BOSS Should I work with this or change one of the components. $ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tyrel Cody Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 1 minute ago, Shifty Bob said: Gee all great advice. I am stuck with a few things from not so great advice that doesn't match what you all have advised here. (I should have asked here first!) I have a large amount of: 357 brass 158 GR lead RNFP TRAIL BOSS Should I work with this or change one of the components. $ Use the Trail Boss and 158gr bullets. When you use up the bullets, don't buy anymore that size; switch to 125gr or lighter. Personally I'd use the Trail Boss up too and never buy any more, but that's just me. I'd probably switch to 38 cases at some point as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Michigan Slim Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 4 minutes ago, Shifty Bob said: Gee all great advice. I am stuck with a few things from not so great advice that doesn't match what you all have advised here. (I should have asked here first!) I have a large amount of: 357 brass 158 GR lead RNFP TRAIL BOSS Should I work with this or change one of the components. $ Use what you have. Because you have it. Your not going to slow yourself down with a very little increase in recoil. TB is good powder, 158 are good bullets, .357 cases run in your guns. All good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
High Spade Mikey Wilson Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 I have and shoot 32-20, 38 Spcl, 45 Schofield, and 45 Colt in various cowboy guns and my first powder choice in all of those calibers is Trail Boss. I even use Trail Boss in my Sharps 45/70. Now my second powder choice is Unique simply because that is what I use to reload my shotgun shells with. All of the Uberti 1873 rifles I observe, including mine, work pretty well with 38 Special cartridges so I don't quite understand why you jam with 38's. You probably just need to experiment a little with cartridge length. Also 125 or 130 grain TC bullets will work just fine and are a lot cheaper on the wallet than 158 gr bullets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
J-BAR #18287 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Time to revisit Pettifogger’s “Toggle Links 101”: http://www.theopenrange.net/articles/togglelink.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rye Miles #13621 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 11 hours ago, John Barleycorn, SASS #76982 said: TiteGroup +1 . Tite-Group Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Original Lumpy Gritz Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 12 hours ago, Tyrel Cody said: Maybe @The Original Lumpy Gritz will come along and give you a Unique load. I would be happy to-- With the 158gn lead bullet in .357 mag case. Try 3.8-4.0gn of Unique and use a firm roll-crimp That load works just as well in a .38 Special case...... OLG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Abe E.S. Corpus SASS #87667 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 2 hours ago, Shifty Bob said: I have a large amount of: 357 brass 158 GR lead RNFP TRAIL BOSS Should I work with this or change one of the components. $ I suggest finding some data for a cowboy action load using these components and loading some test cartridges. I’d roll crimp in the crimp groove assuming the bullets have a crimp groove. You can even start by loading a handful of dummy rounds without primer and powder. Go to the range and see if your rifle will feed them. If not you have to change something. Is so shoot them and confirm that you are getting the desired velocity. If your rifle won’t feed this case/bullet combo you can use it in your revolvers, assuming they are .357s. Most folks use a lighter bullet than the 158s; I usually use a 105 but the 158 grain bullet has its advantages. My fixed sight revolvers shoot pretty much to point of aim with 158s; the popular light bullets tend to print low. If you encounter a tough pistol/rifle knockdown target the 158 gives you a little more oomph. Last, I like the 158s when loading Frontier Cartridge ammo because the longer bullet takes up more room in the case so I use less of that expensive powder. You can make a suitable load with what you have. If you later feel the need to work up an “ideal” load, you can. I am able to achieve the same mediocre score with either one. I’m having fun doing it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grey Beard Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Try this link for Cowboy data http://www.dhicowboy.com/data/CowboyManualHodgdon.pdf Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kirk James Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 Save your 158 for knockdowns. 2.6 grains of clays will do. Save overall length as above. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Edward R S Canby, SASS#59971 Posted April 12, 2019 Share Posted April 12, 2019 3 hours ago, Shifty Bob said: Gee all great advice. I am stuck with a few things from not so great advice that doesn't match what you all have advised here. (I should have asked here first!) I have a large amount of: 357 brass 158 GR lead RNFP TRAIL BOSS Should I work with this or change one of the components. $ ‘I shoot these bullets in 357 brass in a ‘73. While I use Unique, I am sure Trail Boss would would fine. Follow the manufacturer’s loading instructions and go shoot. Your loads should work fine. They will easily take down any rifle knockdown targets. You can experiment with lighter bullets if you dislike your loads. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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