Henry Rifle Forums

Went to the range today with a trio that have been sitting in my gun safe and needed some range exercise. From left to right are my Henry BBS, Rossi R92 and Cimarron Pistolero, all in 38 spa./ 357 Mag. My range set up for plinking at was a paper target at 10 yds and 8" steel plates at 25 and 45 yards.
I brought plenty of reloads and managed to burn through 140 rounds of 357 Mag. loads. These are not full power loads since I'm using cast bullets. I had two different bullets to try out. First up were my 158 gr. Summers Enterprises lead round nose bullets over a healthy charge of Universal. The second loads were my own (see picture below before powder coating) cast 158 gr coated lead round nose bullets over the same charge of Universal. My cast bullet were from a Lee mold, then powder coated and baked.


Both bullets performed excellently on the targets. My cast bullets were a little hard going through the loading gate on the Rossi, but did function and chamber without a problem. I suspect there still is a rough spot, internally in the Rossi, that I missed when I was smoothing the action. The Henry BBS operates like warm butter on hot toast. As for the Cimarron you stuff bullets in and cycle the action. It always performs better that I do.

Overall it was a fun day punching holes in paper and ringing steel.

Paul

Nice trio!

Sounds like a fun day with some nice looking stuff Paul.
Those are some good looking bullets too.

Nice looking trio, I have that same pistol, except in 45 colt.
I like the look of that Lee bullet.
I don't have a mold for 357, I might look for one of those.

RP

Great combination of .357 shooters Paul and that bullet of yours is a tough looking piece of lead too! I was down at the range yesterday enjoying my 357 Henry also.

Triple fun on both the firearms and the target choices.

Any range session shooting 38/357s is a good range session. Some excellent 357 shooting, there.

Over the years I've come to appreciate and use 38/357s more and more. Oh, I love shooting our 44s and 45s, but you can never go wrong with 38 and 357s.

The 357 Mag. are always fun to shoot, but my next range trip will be with my 45 Colt guns. The Marlin 1894, Winchester 94 and Ruger Blackhawk should prove to be a blast of a day. I'll report back on that trip.

This morning It was bothering me that the Rossi R92 was a little stiff loading my cast bullets. So I decided to tear it apart and see if I could identify the problem. Once I got the action apart (which is a chore in itself), I could see where the bullet nose was dragging on the inside of the receiver. The receiver had some sharp edges just behind where the magazine tube seats in the receiver. I was able to get in there with and old cleaning rod with a strip of emory paper taped on the end. 5 minutes of working that emory and that area was smooth and shiny. Then I had to spend 30 minutes reassembling that Winchester type action - always a very fiddely time.

Paul

Oh yeah, sounded like another fine day on the horizon.
And another nice trio, 357's and 45 colts are some serious fun.
Have a few of those myself, Marlin Cowboy, Rossi 92, Ruger BH and Vaquero, and the Pistolero I mentioned above.
I have combos in 41 & 44 mag also, but the 357 and 45's see twice as much range time as they do.
Enjoy your day sir.
Hey, did y'all ever get the 25-20 going?

RP

Vaquero wrote: ↑

Fri May 31, 2024 8:07 am

Hey, did y'all ever get the 25-20 going?

RP

You bet. That is one fun little lever gun. It's a plinker delight.

Paul

Paul, I have a box of those Summers Enterprise bullets also. Except mine are .45 cal., 200gr coated rnfp. They do work as well any others I have and, if I recall, they cost less. Loaded some up yesterday for the Colt. Certainly looks like you had a fun outing! Take care.

Rifletom wrote: ↑

Fri May 31, 2024 3:11 pm

Paul, I have a box of those Summers Enterprise bullets also. Except mine are .45 cal., 200gr coated rnfp. They do work as well any others I have and, if I recall, they cost less. Loaded some up yesterday for the Colt. Certainly looks like you had a fun outing! Take care.

RT - I do believe you will like those Summers bullets. I've use several different bullets from Summers and I'm very pleased. Plus This is a very small operation and Donny Summers is a great guy to deal with. I try to support small businesses whenever I can.

Paul