Reliable 360 Buckhammer reloading data can be found in the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center and official manufacturer load sheets. Published data typically includes the specific .358-inch bullet, powder charge, velocity, and overall length specifications.Common bullet weights covered by published data range from 180-grain soft points to 220-grain heavy hunting projectiles. Results will naturally vary between sources due to differences in bullet profile, case capacity, powder lot, and test barrel length.
360 Buckhammer Reloading Data
| Bullet | Bullet Weight | Powder | Published Starting Load | Published Maximum Load | Published Velocity | Pressure (Max) | Primer & Case | Cartridge Overall Length (COL) | Barrel Length / Firearm | Source |
| Remington Core-Lokt SP | 180 grain | Hodgdon CFE BLK | Not Listed | 35.0 gr | 2,399 fps | 50,000 PSI | Large Rifle / Remington | 2.500″ | 20.00″ / Lever Action | Hodgdon |
| Remington Core-Lokt SP | 200 grain | Accurate 1680 | Not Listed | Not Listed | 2,217 fps | 50,000 PSI | Large Rifle / Remington | 2.500″ | 20.00″ / Lever Action | Remington Factory Data |
| Federal Power-Shok JSP | 180 grain | Factory Proprietary | Not Listed | Not Listed | 2,374 fps | 50,000 PSI | Large Rifle / Federal | 2.500″ | 20.00″ / Universal | Federal Ammunition |
| Federal Power-Shok JSP | 200 grain | Factory Proprietary | Not Listed | Not Listed | 2,155 fps | 50,000 PSI | Large Rifle / Federal | 2.500″ | 20.00″ / Universal | Federal Ammunition |
| Federal HammerDown SP | 220 grain | Factory Proprietary | Not Listed | Not Listed | 2,000 fps | 50,000 PSI | Large Rifle / Federal | 2.500″ | 20.00″ / Universal | Federal Ammunition |
| Hornady RN | 200 grain | Hodgdon Lil’ Gun | Not Listed | 24.0 gr | 2,200 fps | 50,000 PSI | Large Rifle / Remington | 2.500″ | 20.00″ / Henry Rifle | Independent Testing |
Understanding The 360 Buckhammer Reloading Data
To safely develop a 360 Buckhammer load recipe, handloaders must understand the specific variables that govern this modern straight-walled cartridge:
- Starting load: The minimum safe 360 Buckhammer powder charge. Because straight-walled cases are highly sensitive to pressure changes, reloaders must always start at the baseline and work up.
- Maximum published load: The absolute powder limit safely tested by a ballistic laboratory. Exceeding this figure risks severe overpressure.
- Velocity: The bullet speed in feet per second (fps) measured at the muzzle.
- Pressure:The 360 Buckhammer operates at a SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure (MAP) of 50,000 PSI.
- Bullet weight: The mass of the 0.358-inch projectile in grains.
- Powder: The specific propellant chemistry. The cartridge relies on fast-burning rifle powders and slow-burning magnum pistol powders.
- Barrel length: Test barrels for 360 Buckhammer reloading are typically 20 inches, mimicking the standard length of lever-action hunting rifles.
- Firearm used for testing: Universal receiver test barrels or production lever-action rifles.
- Test conditions: Altitude, humidity, and temperature variables present during laboratory pressure testing.
- Cartridge overall length (COL):The 360 Buckhammer has a strict maximum COL of 2.500 inches. Seating a bullet deeper than the published COL drastically reduces internal case capacity and spikes pressure.
Different published sources may produce varying results because they utilize brass cases with different internal volumes, differing primer brands, and varying test chamber tolerances.
360 Buckhammer Bullet Weight Reloading Data
When researching 360 Buckhammer bullet weights, reloaders must strictly use 0.358-inch diameter bullets (the same utilized by the .35 Remington).
- 180 grain: One of the two flagship weights for the cartridge. Bullets like the 180-grain Remington Core-Lokt or Federal Power-Shok are pushed to nearly 2,400 fps, offering a relatively flat trajectory that retains excellent energy out to 200 yards.
- 200 grain: The standard heavy weight for medium-game hunting. The 200-grain Core-Lokt strikes an ideal balance, traveling at approximately 2,200 fps. This weight provides deep penetration and massive kinetic energy transfer on large whitetail deer or black bear.
- 220 grain:Supported by Federal’s HammerDown line, this heavy bullet is designed specifically for lever-action feeding and robust terminal performance, traveling at 2,000 fps from a 20-inch barrel.
Do not assume that 0.355-inch bullets designed for the 350 Legend can be safely or accurately utilized in a 360 Buckhammer load recipe, as the bore diameters are fundamentally different.
360 Buckhammer Powder Reloading Data
The 360 Buckhammer operates on a narrow band of burn rates. Powders that are too fast create pressure spikes, while powders that are too slow cannot generate sufficient 360 Buckhammer velocity before the bullet exits the barrel.
| Powder | Bullet | Bullet Weight | Published Starting Load | Published Maximum Load | Published Velocity | Source |
| Hodgdon CFE BLK | Core-Lokt SP | 180 grain | Not Listed | 35.0 gr | 2,399 fps | Hodgdon |
| Hodgdon Lil’ Gun | Hornady RN | 200 grain | Not Listed | 24.0 gr | 2,200 fps | Independent Testing |
According to Hodgdon’s initial testing, suitable 360 Buckhammer powder selections include Hodgdon CFE BLK, IMR 4227, Accurate 1680, and Accurate 5744. Never assume that a powder charge published for a 180-grain lead-core bullet can automatically be used for a 180-grain solid copper bullet, as the monolithic copper bullet will create significantly more bore friction.
360 Buckhammer Bullet And Powder Combinations
The exact component combinations dictate the safety and feeding reliability of 360 Buckhammer reloading.
- Case capacity and seating depth:The 360 Buckhammer is based on a blown-out .30-30 Winchester case trimmed to 1.800 inches. Because of the straight walls and limited volume, seating a bullet slightly deeper than the cannelure heavily compresses the powder charge.
- Bullet profile and feeding:The cartridge was tailor-made for tubular-magazine lever-action rifles. Handloaders must exclusively utilize flat-nose or round-nose soft point bullets. Using pointed polymer-tipped or spitzer bullets in a tubular magazine can cause a catastrophic chain-fire detonation under recoil.
- Crimp:The 360 Buckhammer requires a firm roll crimp into the bullet’s cannelure. This heavy crimp prevents the bullet from being pushed back into the case while under spring tension inside the tubular magazine.
360 Buckhammer Velocity From Published Data
Published 360 Buckhammer velocity figures rely primarily on 20-inch test barrels.
| Bullet | Bullet Weight | Powder | Published Load | Muzzle Velocity | Barrel Length | Firearm | Source |
| Core-Lokt SP | 180 grain | CFE BLK | 35.0 gr (Max) | 2,399 fps | 20.00″ | Lever Action | Hodgdon |
| Power-Shok JSP | 200 grain | Factory | Factory Load | 2,155 fps | 20.00″ | Lever Action | Federal |
| HammerDown SP | 220 grain | Factory | Factory Load | 2,000 fps | 20.00″ | Lever Action | Federal |
Shooters must clearly distinguish between 20-inch rifle velocities and those generated by shorter barrels. Do not present a calculated ballistic formula as a measured muzzle velocity.
360 Buckhammer Reloading Data By Barrel Length
Barrel length directly impacts 360 Buckhammer velocity. Because the cartridge was heavily optimized in conjunction with Henry Repeating Arms for 20-inch lever-action platforms, a 20-inch barrel ensures a complete powder burn.
If a reloader fires a maximum 180-grain load from a shorter 16-inch brush gun, the velocity will drop accordingly. While the straight-walled design is relatively efficient, losing 4 inches of barrel will generally scrub off enough velocity to noticeably steepen the bullet’s trajectory past 150 yards. Reloaders must clearly identify the test firearm and barrel length when verifying ballistic drops.
360 Buckhammer Energy And Ballistics
The 360 Buckhammer was engineered to provide superior short-to-medium range energy transfer over existing straight-walled options. Using verified manufacturer data from a 20-inch barrel:
- 180-grain Core-Lokt (at 2,399 fps):
- Muzzle energy: 2,302 ft-lbs
- 100-yard velocity: 1,949 fps
- 200-yard energy: 970 ft-lbs
- 200-grain Core-Lokt (at 2,217 fps):
- Muzzle energy: 2,149 ft-lbs
- 100-yard velocity: 1,779 fps
- 200-yard energy: 898 ft-lbs
With a 100-yard zero, a 180-grain bullet drops less than 8 inches at 200 yards, making it highly capable for Midwestern deer hunters seeking a 200-yard effective range.
Manufacturer Data vs Independent Testing
When researching a 360 Buckhammer load data chart, handloaders will encounter:
- Manufacturer-published factory data: Officially pressure-tested by SAAMI to guarantee loads stay safely under the 50,000 PSI limit.
- Independent chronograph testing: Velocities recorded by handloaders using commercial chronographs over real lever-action rifles. This verifies speed but cannot measure internal chamber pressure.
- User-submitted load reports: Internet forum recipes that often push past published safety margins.
Independently measured results frequently differ from published data because consumer lever-action rifles feature varying chamber tolerances. Priority must always remain with official, pressure-tested manufacturer data to prevent firearm damage.
360 Buckhammer Pressure And Safety
Safety is paramount when utilizing 360 Buckhammer reloading data. The 50,000 PSI SAAMI limit must be strictly respected.
Because the cartridge utilizes a large charge of powder relative to its straight-walled case capacity, any substitution in bullet seating depth can create dangerous overpressure. Furthermore, handloaders must never reduce charges of slow-burning spherical powders below the published starting load. Undervaluing these specific powders can cause erratic ignition or dangerous hang-fires. Always apply a heavy roll crimp, and never load pointed spitzer bullets into a tubular magazine.
Best Sources For 360 Buckhammer Reloading Data
The strongest and most authoritative sources for safe 360 Buckhammer load development include:
- Hodgdon Reloading Data Center:As one of the first powder companies to develop load data for the cartridge, the Hodgdon center is the premier source for 360 Buckhammer reloading data Hodgdon specifications, utilizing powders like CFE BLK and IMR 4227.
- Remington Ammunition / SAAMI:The official SAAMI cartridge specifications provide the baseline standard for overall length, bullet diameter, and 50,000 PSI pressure limits.
- Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading: Upcoming editions are slated to feature comprehensive 360 buckhammer reloading data Hornady recipes for their .358 caliber round-nose bullets.
Common 360 Buckhammer Reloading Data Questions
Where can I find 360 Buckhammer reloading data?
Authoritative 360 Buckhammer reload data is published online via the Hodgdon Reloading Data Center and within the official SAAMI introduction documentation.
What powders are used in published 360 Buckhammer data?
Tested powders include Hodgdon CFE BLK, Accurate 1680, IMR 4227, Accurate 5744, and Hodgdon Lil’ Gun.
What bullet weights have 360 Buckhammer reloading data?
Published factory data heavily covers 180-grain, 200-grain, and 220-grain .358-caliber projectiles.
What is the best source for 360 Buckhammer reloading data Hodgdon?
The official Hodgdon Reloading Data Center and Hodgdon’s published articles on the cartridge provide the most rigorously pressure-tested data for all Hodgdon, IMR, and Accurate brand powders.
Why does 360 Buckhammer reloading data vary between sources?
Variations occur due to differences in bullet profile, differing test chamber tolerances, and differences between 20-inch rifle barrels versus unvented universal receivers.
Does barrel length affect 360 Buckhammer velocity?
Yes. A 20-inch test barrel will consistently yield optimal muzzle velocities compared to shorter 16-inch carbine barrels, which will scrub off velocity and reduce the effective hunting range.
Can the same powder charge be used with a different bullet?
No. Different bullet profiles, materials, and bearing surfaces alter internal case capacity and friction, which dramatically shifts chamber pressures.
What is the difference between starting and maximum published load data?
The starting load is the safe baseline charge to begin load development. The maximum load is the absolute highest pressure limit recorded safely by the ballistic laboratory.
Where can I find pressure-tested 360 Buckhammer data?
Pressure-tested data limits are established by SAAMI at 50,000 PSI, with load recipes available from major powder manufacturers like Hodgdon.
Does Hodgdon publish 360 Buckhammer reloading data?
Yes. Hodgdon provides extensive load data support specifically developed for the cartridge, covering powders like CFE BLK and IMR 4227.
Does Hornady publish 360 Buckhammer reloading data?
Upcoming editions of the Hornady manual are incorporating 360 Buckhammer data, as their .358 caliber round-nose bullets are heavily used by independent handloaders for this caliber.
Does Nosler publish 360 Buckhammer reloading data?
Nosler publishes generic .358 caliber data, but dedicated 360 Buckhammer load data is best sourced from Hodgdon or the cartridge’s originator, Remington.