Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General 356Winchester Loads???

Just got a Marlin back from JES Reboring that was converted to 356Win and am looking for loads for the 180gr Speer FP or a 200gr RN from Remington, Hornady or Sierra. Please share your best loads with me

Goat

So far, AA2015 with Speer 180. But given current powder supply, you might have to try something else. I tried some FTX but wasn't impressed

http://stevespages.com/358_4_180.html

https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.356+Winchester.html

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/808715/356_Winchester_loads

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...r&topic=0&Search=true#Post568595

The best velocities I have herd of for the .356 in the bullet weights you want come from Ram Shot X-Terminator. But, others use other powders. If you want to search for it "M1Garrand" has load info or you could PM him.

I hear 10X is a good powder for short barreled carbines.

I only hunt Alaska so I want a deep penetrating bullet that will work on moose at 250 yards or a brown bear at under 100 yards. I have some 200 grain Shock Hammer bullets coming from the Hammer Bullet company in Montana. If I was a state side deer hunter I would look at the 175 grain bullet Hammer offers and expect it to shoot through most deer and black bear and do ok on elk. Other then that I stocked up on 220 grain Speer FN bullets, but I am thinking the Shock Hammers will out penetrate them.

The 220 grain Shock Hammers are to long for my Mod. 94 Win. Big Bore action. Before he passed the original owner of Alaska Bullet Works was going to make me up some 220 grain bonded Kodiak bullet's, the new owner is not up and running yet. I feel the 250 gain version is a bit heavy for the little .356 case, but never used them. A friend swears by them.

Dennis at Fury Bullets also sells .bullets you may find to your liking. But, from what I hear the original 180 grain Speer is a pretty tough bullet out of the .356 Win. case and lots cheaper if one can find them.

tag

Interesting topic. At least to some of us.
Im down to just one in a 94 BB but have had a few others. Great round!

Ramshot Xterminator has worked well in my Win 94 BB with the 180 Speer and 200 Hornady RN. Ramshot had emailed me load data for it, I asked about TAC and was told Xterminator was already compressed and with TAC being slower, it would result in lower velocities:

Caliber: .356 Winchester
Barrel length: 24”
Powder: Ramshot- X-TERMINATOR®.
Bullet weight: 180 grains.
Start load: 43.6 grains (2400 – 2500 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 48.5 grains (2675 - 2775 Ft/p/sec).LD ca 106%
Bullet weight: 200 grains.
Start load: 41.0 grains (2200 – 2300 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 45.5 grains (2500 – 2600 Ft/p/sec) LD ca 105%.
Bullet weight: 220 grains.
Start load: 39.2 grains (2175 – 2275 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 43.5 grains (2400 – 2500 Ft/p/sec) LD ca 104%.
Bullet weight: 250 grains.
Start load: 37.4 grains (2050 – 2125 Ft/p/sec)
Maximum load: 41.5 grains (2300 – 2375 Ft/p/sec) LD ca 103%.

Here is real world velocities I chrony'd out of mine (average) with Xterminator and a 20" barrel:

180 Speer FP
46.5 grains - 2452 fps
47.0 grains - 2490 fps
47.3 grains - 2493 fps - this load shot three shots touching at 50 yards and five at about 1.75" at 100; probably shoots better than I did that day.

200 Hornady RN
45.5 grains - 2402 fps

I shot this bullet with IMR4064 too since 've had good luck with it in the 358 Win. It shot well with 47-48 grains, but velocity was around 2260-2300. I'd still use it in the woods where shots are fairly close at deer.

I ain't around my reloading data.

I will post my data ASAP.

In my Marlin, I loaded 42gr H4985 with the Speer 220. It gave 2200fps with 1.5 MOA for 3 shots. Recoil was fairly mild. That rifle is long gone. I’ve got a Win 94 356 but haven’t fired it yet. I know that isn’t a direct answer to your question, but this IS the 24 hr CF 😁. BTW, consider the Lee crimp die. It is marvelous for rounds like this.

I have 6 boxes of Winchester factory ammo if that helps you out at all.

Hawke Bullets makes a bullet for this as well. I have a bunch of the Speer 180 jfp so I am stocked up.

X-Term is one of my fav powders in the .358 Win, which is pretty close to the .356 Win.

It gives full velocity without the compression needed with TAC. RL-7 is another good one with lighter bullets.

Check out Hammer and Cutting Edge for some really unusual bullets. Expensive but accurate with great terminal performance.

DF

Agreed, Xterminator is an underrated powder in these cartridges, typically you hear more about TAC. It's worked better in both for me.

Varget has been as good a fuel for my .356 as it has been for my .308's.
I like temp stable powders.
And I'm not worried one bit about pushing the .356 to max velocity. It simply works well even in factory fodder.

Sometimes, they shoot best at max or near max.

I like Varget, too, use it in other rounds. I tend to choose somewhat faster burners in the .358 Win and would probably do so if I had a .356 Win.

But, what ever works... Varget has a stellar reputation as a temp stable, consistent performer, popular with target shooters.

DF

I don't think I've tried Varget in my 356, I have in my 358. Never a bad choice to go with it. For me, if I'm in the 2300+ fps range with a 200, that'll work fine for deer.

Since our Big Bore .356 is a moose and bear protection weapon I want it giving me the best it has to offer to deal with large or excited critters out to 200 yards. I feel a bullet weight of about 220 grains is about right for the small capacity case. I have some 220 Speers and 203 grain Shock Hammers ready to load up when a friend comes and gives me a can of his X-Terminator powder. I also have a bunch of the old standby WW 748 powder. Which ever bullet looks the best in my informal bullet test will get the nod.

I am also curious as to difference in recoil between the bullet weights. From what I have been able to read the last year it appears as though X-Terminator may be the velocity king for a .356 and a 20" barrel and 200-220 grain bullets. TACC seems to shine with heavier bullets and the higher pressures most .308 actions can handle over the .356 in lever guns. Also, I hear 10X works well in short barrels.

The info from M1Garrand that is direct from Ramshot is good stuff! Several cartridges that are more popular get more attention when it comes to new powders and their use, the .356 Win. is not one of them, so it is stuck in time, but still a good one as is.

Was your Marlin a 30-30? 30-30's are much lower pressure than the 356. I'd not be pushing the pressures.

In other threads it’s been suggested to get a 225 Partition and file the nose to a flat shape for use in a tubular magazine. I suppose this could be done with a 250 gr Partition as well. Crimping could be done with a Lee Taper Crimp die. I’ll bet these would be tough to beat on heavy game. As far as recoil, in my last Marlin the 220 Speer at 2200 was easy to shoot. I recall that 2300fps began to get a bit uncomfortable, at least for me. Not as uncomfortable as I imagine a bear mauling might be, though.

W748 looks decent too and I thought the same. I loaded up some 220s with Xterminator and W748 and can hopefully get to the range later this week and chrony and compare. I noticed there is a pretty big gap ifor the max charge for W748. Speer lists the max of 49.5 yet Hodgdon lists 42.1 on their site at 2015 fps. I started pretty low so I'll work it up from there.

AA2520 powder and 250 grain FNSP Kodiak bullets works great on black bear.