Well, finally got out and was able to play around with some of the Buffalo Bore Heavy .357 Magnum Loads. Ran some other factory ammo over the chrony also for comparison.

Marlin 1894CP 16.25" ported barrel. (Ruger GP-100 6" Barrel)
Chrony 3ft from muzzle.
10 shot averages.

Winchester USA 110gr JHP - 1738fps (1350fps)

Winchester USA 125gr JSP WinClean - 2000fps (1460fps)

UMC 125gr JSP - 2040fps (1540fps)

American Eagle 158gr JSP - 1700fps (1265fps)

Winchester Super-X 158gr JSP - 1765fps (1265fps)

Buffalo Bore 19D 125gr J.H.C. - 2280fps (1700fps) :cool:

Buffalo Bore 19C 158gr J.H.C. - 2100fps (1525fps) :cool:

My rifle favored the 158gr loads for accuracy but only slightly over the 125gr loads. The 110gr load was the least accurate. The Winchester Super-X 158gr produced the best group on this particular day.

Thank you for posting this useful information. There are many shooters of leverguns in 357 mag with Trapper length 16" barrels. They are very handy woods rifles for hunting, and many of us that use these guns know their performance on game is beyond what paper ballistics would indicate. Regardless of this fact many states have minimum power requirements for hunting cartridges used on deer size game with many states requiring a minimum of 1200 fpe (foot pounds energy) There are very few loads that meet this requirement in .357 magnum from a 16" barrel. The 2 Buffalo Bore loads you tested were the only ones on your list that met this requirement. Good information, thanks again. I have attached the energy figure for the 3 hottest loads you tested. Was the Winchester 158 grn. load below that you tested the X3575P?


Winchester Super-X 158gr JSP x 1765fps = 1093 fpe

Buffalo Bore 19D 125gr J.H.C. x 2280fps = 1443 fpe

Buffalo Bore 19C 158gr J.H.C. x 2100fps = 1548 fpe

Here's an article of interest:
http://www.gunblast.com/MilesFortis-AKChurch_BuffaloBore.htm

LoveMyMarlin,

That's a good deal! I've been waiting for your results from the Buffalo Bore ammo. Man, they sure have those rounds smokin'!! That 94'CP sure is a fun gun isn't it, and it'll sure take some game also. Sounds like the Buffalo Bore 158's would be first choice for Deer, looks like a good thumper for the .357 Mag!

Whoa! :eek:

Those Buffalo Bore 158gr. loads aren't too far behind factory 200gr. .35 Rem loads in terms of 'thump', which chronograph about 2,000 fps from the 20" barrel of my 336.

A real eye-opener for sure.

This Marlin 1894CP is the most FUN firearm I have ever owned! A friend of mine got to see it and shoot it for the first time last Sunday after having to hear me talk about it since I got it....didn't think I was going to get him to let go of it! He is looking for one now! :D
That Buffalo Bore Ammo is "SMOKIN'". Touched them off in my 6" Ruger and was surprised at the "report" and the muzzle flip compared to other factory loads. Made the rest of them feel like .38 specials. :D

The Winchester Super-X 158gr JSP load is the X3575P.

Sniff sniff i ordered 3 box's of buffalo bore ammo 2 weeks ago and have yet to get mine .
I keep getting the runaround..Stop using up the ammo
save some for us guy's

Pottsy

Uh Oh, hope there isn't a problem, I need to order some more!

My order was for the 45/70's 500 grain's
I was going to test to see if i was going to take the Gerrett's or buffalo bore with me .
I do love the Gerrett's though the 540 grain hammer head's just plain kick bu^^ the 500 Grain tungstons
just poke holes thay go through 12 inch of sand a sheet of Ply wood and into the dirt bank never to be seen again i shoved the full top of a shove blade in tp the back looking for one never found it.
The buffalo's in 500 grain are just FMJ over lead core's the garrett's are a solid core of tungston.
And let me tell you thay are hard as h e c k to make
i have the tool's to do it but gezz's i am putting atleast 125.000.00 pounds down on the powder to squizze it and that just bug's me to no end
jacketed bullets are real easy to work with
Just form the jackets ahead of time to the right leanth Weigh them out make the core's of lead up
weigh them out then just put the jacket on the lead stick it into the swage and crunch NEW BULLET
Tungston is another whole ball game..
You have to pour it on to the scales to the weight you need ( i use a powder drippler ) take that and pour it in to the swage die tap the die to make sure it all goes to the bottom then lower the handle down
till it touch's and become hard to move then slowly press down ..And it get very hard the last few inch's to chruch it the rest of the way

Man am i rambling sorry guy's

Pottsy

Whoa! :eek:

Those Buffalo Bore 158gr. loads aren't too far behind factory 200gr. .35 Rem loads in terms of 'thump', which chronograph about 2,000 fps from the 20" barrel of my 336.

A real eye-opener for sure.
Let me start out by saying this is NOT a flame or disrespect of the .357 as a hunting load. I've enjoyed the .357 for many years, and consider it one of the best multi purpose rounds ever. However, when comparing a 158 grain bullet to a 200 grainer, even at the same velocity, you need to consider the difference in sectional density and other factors that will ultimately influence the terminal performance. This isn't to say that BB's .357 loads won't kill your game cleanly;, I am simply pointing out that after 75-100 yards, the 200 grain .35 Rem will carry more downrange energy and would be a better selection if such conditions warrant.
Again, this is just food for thought, and as always, shot placement is everything.
Happy hunting!
SFT

Well, he did say "not too far behind" not equal too.