Home Forums Lever Action Central Cowboy Levers Loads for Marlin 1894 CB in 357?

I acquired a 94 in 357 with 24 inch barrel. I wanted to shoot silhouette next spring season, so now is the time to try out some loads. I have cast 158s, and Hornady 158 JHP. I also have a bunch of Accurate #9, and Unique. I was looking up #9 loads, and 12.5 - 13 grain seems to work with a 158 JHP. Naturally I can use Unique, but I prefer to use up the #9.
So that is a warmer load, and I was leaning to JHP. Is that the right direction? What is a "good group" at 50 yards with peep sights?

Lil Gun is the magic fairy dust in the .357 with 158gr bullets, jacketed anyway, I’ve not tried it with lead. Pressure is low, well below max. My Henry SS likes it as does my S&W. 18gr is what Hodgdon maxes out at, but Brian Pearce goes to 19 and says the pressure is within spec. CCI 550s, Starline brass.

#9 does have a reputation for being less “blasty”, but I haven’t tried it yet.

I bought 32 pounds of #9S many years ago. I got about 7 pounds left. It was super inexpensive because it is a little slower than regular #9. It is super fine and meters really well. I converted the Dillon 550 to 38 special and then 357. I loaded hundreds of 38 special with 4.6 grains of Unique with a Speer 158 Swaged LHP. I ran the 357s with 13.0 #9S, and 158 Hornady JHP.
My Wild West trigger is in the mail, so I'll wait for it before going to the range.
So I'll test the 38s first, they may be good enough to get the feel of it.

Terryk - just a suggestion - you do not have to think max or near max loads in the .357 to topple any of the pistol cartridge silhouettes to 100m. Now if your thinking of using it for the centerfire course out to 200m - max is where you’ll need to be and maybe even 180s or more. I haven’t shot for a few years now but the pistol cartridge I used was a .32-20 in an original 1873 Winchester - loaded with 95 grain cast bullets around 900 fps. Never had an issue knocking down the rams (other than hitting them of course😄). The load you have for your .38 maybe just fine, if the accuracy is there - accuracy (5 shots around an 1” at 50 yds should be doable with your Marlin) is what I strive for - the less blast and recoil make the whole event that much more pleasant (to me anyway) good luck in your load search and hopefully I’ll get back at it and maybe see you in Ridgway?!

PennDog