I am new to CLA and was curious as to loads others are using for Center Fire Cartridge
in 357 and 45lc. I see so many loads for the standard 30-30 but was curious if anyone
was having luck with these other 2 calibers.

Dallashdracer wrote:I am new to CLA and was curious as to loads others are using for Center Fire Cartridge
in 357 and 45lc. I see so many loads for the standard 30-30 but was curious if anyone
was having luck with these other 2 calibers.

It's not 100% reliable on rams on every range or day, (but neither is a 30-30)... However the 357Mag can be a good dual purpose PCCLA/CLA rifle, IF it has a tight enough twist rate to shoot a 180-205gr Boolit fast enough for the Rams (meaning it's feasible for a Marlin or Henry with a 1:16 rate, but unlikely with a Winny or Rossi which has a 1:30 rate).

Some very old threads (but still relavent) on the subject of using a 357mag for CLA are within the following links:

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=7547
and
viewtopic.php?f=7&t=5838

My wife's CLA gun (and my backup CLA gun) is a Marlin 1894 in 357 using a 158 or 160gr jacketed projectile with LilGun on Chickens, Pigs, and sometimes Turkeys, and then a 205gr Gas Checked lead Boolit on Rams (and turkeys if there's wind), also with LilGun.

-Tim

PS - I've zero experience using a 45LC, but I do recall a guy used one at the nationals several years back (and shot black powder!) but it took a LONG time for the Boolit to reach the ram and it required the use of a tall vernier tang sight to achieve enough elevation for the Turkey and Ram.

I started shooting with a Rossi .45LC. It will take a 200 meter ram, but you have a rainbow arc trajectory and that is very easily blown off course. A 230gr bullet will work, a 255 even better - and it requires a higher arch to get there.

The Rossi was good for Pistol Cartridge, but the 30-30 is much better for the long range stuff. A .357 is better for Pistol Cartridge than it is for the larger targets - although I have knocked down rams with 158gr bullets moving at 1250fps...it all depends on the club where you shoot.

Michael

You can use Pistol calibers on long targets but it's not a easy path to success. Other day I had my 1894 Marlin 38/40 with me on our clubs HP Silhouette range. 200 meter ram swinger can be hit with some consistency but 200 G short 40 caliber bullet is very wind sensitive. Pistol cartridges are at their best to 100 yards.

Boats