What a sweet heart !

[tj3006]

I went to eastern Oregon this weekend, just to tag along on a bow hunt.
  Of course i brought along My  new to me NM Blackhawk .357 6.5 inch.  I loaded up some 158 grain SWC, over 14.5 grains of 2400. I pulled off the highway on my way out there. and fired a shot at rotting log about 50 yards away.  I could see windage was decent elevation was quite low. So i made some quick adjustments and got back on the road.  I fired off about 20 rounds during the weekend, and slowly dialed  it in.  Just before I left for home i set mty box on a log at about 25 yards. drilled it twice about 1 inch under point of aim, and holes about an inch apart.
   A previous owner installed a dragoon style SBH Frame and a SBH hammer on this revolver, so it is sort of heavy, but recoil, is absorbed very nicely. 
I received a shipment of 175 grain Bullets from GT, while i was gone, and  i plan to load them up with 2400 to. 
  I think this revolver will be fun, and i like the 6.5 inch barrel length in this caliber. 
     It is to much for packing as a side arm, but if you are not carrying anything else it is just right, plenty of power for most anything in Oregon, with the right load and good shot placement, not so long as to get in the way much.
    With my Bearcat in a cross Draw on the other hip for Grouse , and rabbits, ( If i could shoot it well enough) A guy could feed himself pretty well !  ...tj

[leadhound]

Glad to here she's working out, sounds like a keeper?!

Could load up some light weight 38 spcl loads for the small stuff.

[Encore64]

This might not go over great, but I'm not a huge 357 Magnum fan.

I started out with one in 1979 as my first Centerfire Revolver. I guess when I moved on, I never went back.

It's a fine and well proven cartridge without doubt. Today, I only own two. A 4.2" SP-101 and a 7.5" FA-97. Both are super accurate.

Interestingly enough, I love the cartridge in a carbine. Also, have enjoyed reading your posts about your new guns.

Keep up the gun stuff and please keep sharing. Kudos...

[ChiefTJS]

I have two 6.5" .357 Blackhawks, mine is a stainless one and my Father-In-Law recently gave me a blued one. I'm pretty partial to the 180gr. Pugnose from Missouri Bullet over 2400. A Contender Carbine barrel in .357 is on the way as well. .357 has always been a round that can handle anything I need handled with a handgun. I think that Dragoon grip frame on yours might be a good addition, maybe I need another Blackhawk.

[gsp7]

This thread is no good without pictures of the gun

[Robster]

+1

[tj3006]

i would send cell phone pics to anyone who wants them. But i do not use hosting sights, I have done so in the past and the frustration level involved takes all the fun out me the next hour or two ! ...tj

[leadhound]

Sept 6, 2020 16:39:39 GMT -5 Encore64 said:

This might not go over great, but I'm not a huge 357 Magnum fan.

I started out with one in 1979 as my first Centerfire Revolver. I guess when I moved on, I never went back.

It's a fine and well proven cartridge without doubt. Today, I only own two. A 4.2" SP-101 and a 7.5" FA-97. Both are super accurate.

Interestingly enough, I love the cartridge in a carbine. Also, have enjoyed reading your posts about your new guns.

Keep up the gun stuff and please keep sharing. Kudos...

I understand someone's like for this cartridge, I see the potential in it, I even believe it is capable of hunting up to deer and perhaps larger. But i cannot stand to shoot it! I dont know why, i just dont like it, I own half a dozen and then a lever in it, all were bought with intentions to convert. Might save the lever for my daughters, for a deer rifle.

[tj3006]

Leadhound,
Sure does not bother me that you don,t like the .357.
Hell lot of guys don't like the 30,06. And a few don,t like the Beatles !
And to me the two rounds are very like cousins. Not much You cant do with either. When i go after a big elk, i might like a bigger boar, Rifle or revolver, but if all i had was a 06 or a .357 i would still go hunting.
As for lighter loads, i also bought 250, 148 grain Wad cutters for just just that purpose. I put 50 on top of 4.6 grains of universal, But that,s more for my OM. With a single action. , i think it somewhat impracticable To carry 2 loads in hopes of switching them out and hitting something small like a grouse using Kentucky windage. It can be done for sure, but when i get my Bearcat back from Tyler gun works, I am going to try and shoot that thing every weekend. I bought a Simply Rugged pancake for it, so i can Carry it on either side. But the factory trigger was not good at all, but it has adjustable sights and a Garza Patridge front.
It shoots pretty well when i rest it. When it has had a good trigger and action job , i should be able to hit things better with it off hand.
...tj3006

[Encore64]

It actually interests me more to read about stuff I don't load for and your gun sounds awesome.

Especially with those long nosed, heavy bullets.

Even more interesting the fact that different folks like different calibers.

I'm at the top of the minority list of liking the old hyphenated cartridges. Some of my threads are on life support from day one. But, I don't let that bother me. We all like what we like.

[wheelguns]

I have 3- .357’s, two gp100’s and a bisley blackhawk. The 5” half lug gp100 gets a self defense load of 6.5 grains of unique under a 158gn cast and coated hollow point. This is a great, accurate load. The gun has iron sights with a bowen rough country with a target blade. I keep the sights adjusted for the load. The 6” gp100 wears an ultradot with a weigand rail. This is my hunting 357. The load that I shoot in this is either 15.0 grains of H110 with a 173gn cast and coated wfn or 13.5gns of 2400 with the same bullet. I am not sure what I will do with the blackhawk. It has been customized by Bobby Tyler. It looks good and shoots even better. It will probably end up wearing a red dot, and be used for hunting also. It shoots the heavy loads easier than the gp100. I am a believer in one gun one load. This way the sights are always on and I have too many guns to remember kentucky windage.

The 357 is a wonderful round, and is a great one for experimentation. I am still trying different loads and bullets. When I get a 357 lever gun, I will probably work up a jacketed bullet load for it and the blackhawk. I love my big bores, but I also love my 357’s and 327’s.

[domino300]

I own 357 Max in 10.5" SBH and a 14" TC, but have never had a 357 mag only chambered gun. Just never wanted one and had disdain for them for some unknown reason. I do love the 41 Mag and also the 327 Federal, so I guess I'm covered there. Had an LCR in 38, but traded it for the 327.

[x101airborne]

I love the 357 for its versatility and its flat trajectory but distain it also for its sharp muzzle blast. I have made my longest kill on a coyote with a handgun and even in the open field I remembered my ear plugs after pulling the trigger. Driving through the ranch I saw a hog and stuck the 357 out the window and fired. The side mirror put every bit of that blast straight into my ears causing permanent damage to my hearing. (I did kill the hog by the way.)
Even with 38-44 loads it has a crack to it but its accuracy in my firearm is stellar. I just wish it didn't blast me so bad. Yet I shoot full power 44 magnum rounds and do not notice it as much.

[tj3006]

The .357 is loud, And more than load is the tone. Hard to explain ,but it seems to me bigger bore guns have a lower pitched bark. The Bright sound of a .357 magnum , is tough on the ears. I do think Barrel length helps somewhat.
I have still not put any optical sighting system on any of my Revolvers. But i am tempted to trade my 4" model 29-2 for a Hunter model ruger in 41 44 or 45, if the opportunity ever comes up...

[Encore64]

The expansion ratio definitely changes the sound. The 327 Federal and 30 Carbine are very loud.