Advice needed on ammo for 357 lever rifle

ursavus.elemensis · Post by **ursavus.elemensis** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:49 am

What kind of target ammo can I use (what kind should I use) for a 357 Magnum Winchester model 94 lever rifle (which is what I've decided to get). Can i use the Blazer aluminum cased ammo? will it cycle properly? What about hollow points, round-nose-flat-points, what about semi-W-C?

Should I be shooting the 158 grain bullets or the 125 grain bullets?

also, any good sources for inexpensive ammo?

thanks in advance for the advice.

I have decided to get a 357 Winchester model 94 lever rifle to shoot at the range. I may eventually get into reloading, for 44 and 357, but for now I need to get caught up with some stuff at work before taking on a new hobby. Maybe someday I'll get a .22 Magnum Winchester 9422, but they are kind of pricey and I need to wait on that.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:58 am

For just target shooting you should be able to use 38 Spl. Some lever actions will baulk at semi wadcutters. Round nose or round/flat nose usually feed the smoothest. Search around the web for deal on buying bulk ammo. Cabela's sell some in bulk, probably other places around that do too. As far as bullet weight, I can only tell you what my rifle likes. It has a preference for heavier bullets, 158/180 gr. Others report good luck with 125's though.

cecil · Post by **cecil** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:28 am

Need to be very careful about using aluminum cased rounds in levers, as the extraction power offered by a lever can tear off the rim. Unless my memory has lapsed (very possible) Marlin says not to use aluminum cased rounds in their levers.

bsaride · Post by **bsaride** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:17 am

I just bought some 30-30 from chestnutridge.com for the best price
I found online.

GANJIRO · Post by **GANJIRO** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 11:58 am

I believe on the box of Blazer ammo itself it states not for use in rifles though they do work fine in "Shorty" and have account for a couple wild goats.

ursavus.elemensis · Post by **ursavus.elemensis** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:08 pm

Thanks, guys, for the great advice on this forum!

I have shot the Blazer aluminum cased .44 Special ammo through my Henry .44 Mag lever rifle, and have not really had any issues, and I think I remember reading over the text on the box and did not see the warning about not using it in rifles, but I will look again at the boxes I have left. In any event, I have taken the advice of someone on this forum to check out Georgia Arms, and they do seem to have the best bulk prices for ammo (.38 Special, .357 Mag, .44 Special) that I can find online, but I'm wondering if anyone knows of a place that is even less expensive. I ordered 50 rounds of .357 RNFP 158 gr ammo, 50 rounds of .38 Special RNFP 125 gr ammo, and 50 rounds of .44 Special RNFP ammo. If it all cycles nicely and fires relatively cleanly (whatever that means), I will then order a few thousand rounds here and there.

Thanks!

J Miller · Post by **J Miller** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:42 pm

Some years ago, back in the late 80's I guess, not long after getting my Win94AE .45 Colt, I shot most of a box of the aluminum cased Blazer 250gr lead ammo (discontinued), and 200gr JHP (flying ashtray-discontinued) ammo out of my Win 94.
No problems at all. All rounds went bang, and all the cases were extracted intact and ejected far far away.

About 5 or 6 years ago CCI began producing the old .22WRF round. Their first boxes were not marked with a "do not use in" warning. I bought a box and shot them from my Old Model Ruger Super Single-Six convertible. MANY years ago I found that the WRF ammo is usually more accurate in revolvers than the .22 Mag ammo is. Well, this was proven to be true with the new CCI stuff in my OM Ruger as well.
The next box of the CCI .22WRF I bought had a warning on it not to use it in revolvers.
I emailed them and they said it was because revolvers with excessive barrel cylinder gap could have bullets stick in the barrel. Ohhhh Kayyy said I. Then why don't they have "do not use" stamped on their .22 LR target ammo? If a gun has excessive barrel cylinder gap with the mag cylinder it will be the same with the LR cylinder.

Forward to 2006 I think and Speer publishes .45 Colt data for their then new 250 gr GDHP. Right in the standard load section is a warning about bullets sticking in the barrel due to excessive barrel cylinder gap.

SO, WHERE AM I GOING WITH THIS?

Speer is and has been paranoid about things that "MIGHT" happen.
I don't know anybody who has had a Blazer aluminum case separate on them.
I don't know anybody who has reported stuck bullets from CCI ammo or loading data in revolvers with large B/C gaps.

That doesn't mean it won't or hasn't happened, just means you gotta take care with this stuff.

Sorry for being so wordy.

Joe

pharmseller · Post by **pharmseller** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:44 pm

I am curious to find if the shipping charges wipe out any potential savings over local shops.
I have a Sportsman's Warehouse just up the road from me and sometimes they have sales, but not often.

Quinn

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 12:45 pm

Fired them in my 357 rifles - they all worked fine.

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:24 pm

Ignorance is bliss and I tried two boxes (IIRC) of the aluminum cased Blazer ammo through my Rossi/EMF 92 in .45 Colt. I don't do that any more. For one thing it is cheaper to reload and I have a dyed in the wool reloader's aversion to unusable cartridge cases. For another it is the rim SHAPE that is incompatible with some extractors. The cases do grab a bit more (i.e. more friction and less of a return to original dimensions) but it is the rim shape that is the biggest problem.

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:37 pm

I shoot all you mentioned through a Marlin.

Some 357 rifles are fussy about case lenght on bullet profile.

Blazer ammo isnt much cheaper than brass. Remington .38 in RN lead is still pretty cheap

Hill

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 1:42 pm

I have read and heard of almost every "a friend of a friend" had something happen when using the aluminum case ammo story that has been oft repeated. And while those stories were worrysome to a bit, the thing that's kept me from using the "Blazer" ammo is its unreloadability (is that really a word?).

I don't know about you other reloading guys, but it seems that everytime I go to the shop and buy some reloading supplies, primers and powder mostly; the prices seem to steadily climb. Then, I look at the prices for new ammo; and realize that if primers and powder have increased by two-fold, ammo has risen even more. And find myself thanking my lucky stars that I reload. And, if it doesn't actually save me money, it does provide ammo that I can be proud of, fulfil my specific needs, and provides a outlet for experimentation that, on ocassion, will exceed my expectations.

If collecting and shooting are the two biggest parts of gun ownership, reloading is the third part of the pie that provides the home hobbyist with the satisfaction of creating the ultimate in accuracy and efficiency.

Post by **Old Savage** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:08 pm

I agree Griff, at one point I wndered if I was reloading to shoot or shooting to reload.

El Chivo · Post by **El Chivo** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 2:34 pm

When I got started with .357 I tried many brands, although never the CCI Blazer (just by chance, not intent). I found Magtech to be the most consistent and most accurate, and nearly the cheapest.

Here's the .357A variety, which is loaded to the same specs as Remington Green Box. Nickel plated cases, etc.

http://www.midwayusa.com/eproductpage.e ... mid=687746

I got a case of it and now that I've used it up, am reloading the cases. I think Magtech has the best ammo, and not just for the price, either.

Hillbilly · Post by **Hillbilly** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 3:44 pm

shot 9mm 45acp 357 and some .38 specials . That Magtec is good. I found it shot very clean... much better than the yellow box UMC you find in the big box discounters.

I shoot a little Seliors Belloit... too. cheap on sale.n

The Magtec seems cosistant too. What I have tried groups as well or better than the Winchester and UMC Remington

I wish it was made in the US

Blaine · Post by **Blaine** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:16 pm

The only times I've had Blazer problems is with .45acp in the Glock.....mabye 1 in 50 stovepipe. I've shot thousands of other Blazers amd they are reliable and work well......(The .45acp Blazer Brass have not been a problem in the Glock and the Blazer alum. in the Para Ord 1911 have so far not been a problem)

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 5:25 pm

Your Win 94 should swallow everything from full wadcutters to long 180s without hiccup. The Wins are not finnicky.

Tycer · Post by **Tycer** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 6:00 pm

J Miller wrote: Speer is and has been paranoid about things that "MIGHT" happen.

Yep. After Omark Industries bought Speer in the '70s their whole attitude toward loading changed.

TedH · Post by **TedH** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:19 pm

Griff wrote: the thing that's kept me from using the "Blazer" ammo is its unreloadability (is that really a word?).
.

It is now!

Post by **Hobie** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 7:37 pm

Griff,

You can use my name when talking about aluminum Blazer ammo. Rim SHAPE is a problem with SOME extractors.

gundownunder · Post by **gundownunder** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 8:59 pm

I got told once not to use the blazer ammo so I dont.
I couldn't afford to shoot factory ammo for target practice at the price they charge on this side of the big puddle.
I use a handload of 125gr tc and 6.2gr unique.
Different rifles like different things, some will do 38 special without any hiccup others wont and some baulk at SWC ammo but mine doesn't.
I guess if your going to use factory ammo your in the same boat as a .22 shooter, try some till you find one that your particular gun likes then stick with that till you find something better.

Old Ironsights · Post by **Old Ironsights** » Sat Feb 23, 2008 9:09 pm

Yeah, ammo can be ugly expensive any more.

Back when it was "only" $17/bx I bought a case of Magtech 158gr SJSPs and a case of "Independence" SJSPs.

Both shoot well in my gun ans are immenently reloadable.

Federal AE is not as accurate in my gun, and costs more ta boot.

From what I've seen, your best price for OEM ammo seems to be in Magtech these days... just look around.

Advice needed on ammo for 357 lever rifle

Advice needed on ammo for 357 lever rifle

.357 rifle

magtec