mattri
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 24
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Post by mattri on Aug 2, 2013 9:48:49 GMT -5
First post, tried a search sorry if this has been covered.
Have a 357 NM Blackhawk 6.5" barrel that I bought new in OCT.
Would like to hunt whitetail with it this fall using 173gr Keith-style bullets from a 358-429 mould.
Looking for thoughts on load data as I'm having a hard time finding powders listed in most of my manuals. I currently have H110 and Unique. Can't find 2400 anywhere and not really sure if its worth trying Blue Dot, Herco or some of the otheres I may be able to find. May have a line on some 4227.
Assuming H110 and Unique, any suggestions?
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Post by stevemb on Aug 2, 2013 12:03:28 GMT -5
Howdy and welcome ! I have some of those bullets coming from Matt's Bullets soon, I hope. Mine to be used in a NM BH SS .357. My plan to use the 2400 I have around for now. Someone here should have some 110 data. Ok, my Lyman book shows a starting charge weight of 14.4grs and a MAX of 15grs of H110. Not a wide window to work with, which is why I went back to old school yrs ago, to 2400. No data in the Lyman book for Unique and this bullet in .357. Stay safe. stevemb
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Post by taffin on Aug 2, 2013 16:54:54 GMT -5
First post, tried a search sorry if this has been covered. Have a 357 NM Blackhawk 6.5" barrel that I bought new in OCT. Would like to hunt whitetail with it this fall using 173gr Keith-style bullets from a 358-429 mould. Looking for thoughts on load data as I'm having a hard time finding powders listed in most of my manuals. I currently have H110 and Unique. Can't find 2400 anywhere and not really sure if its worth trying Blue Dot, Herco or some of the otheres I may be able to find. May have a line on some 4227. Assuming H110 and Unique, any suggestions? CHECK THE LYMAN CAST BULLET HANDBOOK OR PISTOL AND REVOLVER HANDBOOK.
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Post by taffin on Aug 2, 2013 17:26:59 GMT -5
ONCE YOU SETTLE ON A LOAD YOU MAY CONSIDER ONLY LOADING A FEW AND CHECKING THEM FOR ACCURACY. THIS BULLET WAS DESIGNED BY ELMER KEITH FOR USE IN THE.38 SPECIAL YEARS BEFORE THE .357 MAGNUM CAME ALONG. I HAVE BEEN USING IT SINCE 1956 FIRST IN A RUGER FLAT-TOP .357 AND A SMITH HIGHWAY PATROLMAN. I HAVE NEVER FOUND IT TO BE GENERALLY VERY ACCURATE IN .357 LOADS. I USED IT AND STILL USE IT MOSTLY IN HEAVY .38 SPECIAL LOADS. IF YOU MUST USE THE .357 MAGNUM FOR DEER A QUALITY JHP WOULD BE A MUCH BETTER CHOICE; A .44 OR .45 WOLD BE EVEN BETTER.
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mattri
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 24
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Post by mattri on Aug 2, 2013 21:57:44 GMT -5
Thanks for the replies. To be honest this Ruger has been difficult to find a load for. I have some Hornady 158gr XTPs HPs that have done ok with Unique, but don't seem to like H110 at all.
I've been trying to find a good hunting load and read that cast bullets can do well on deer etc so I picked up some 158, 173 and 200gr cast bullets but none have them done all that well. I've mic'd the cylinders and everything looks even, I just can't get it to shoot.
Just picked up some Blue-Dot and some IMR4227, maybe I should go back to the 158s, thoughts?
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Post by dougader on Aug 2, 2013 22:08:05 GMT -5
Lyman lists a 10 grain max load with the 173 grain swc and Blue Dot (so work up to it), and I used this to shoot silhouette with a 357 magnum. It was accurate enough to knock down the 200 meter rams. IME, mag primers and Blue Dot don't go well together. I a;ways use standard primers with Blue Dot.
The last OM 357 Ruger BH I had actually shot a lot better with 110's and 125's, which isn't going to help you much with a deer load IMO.
If the XTP doesn't work for you, maybe a Speer Gold Dot, or even their cup and core 158 grain jsp?
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mattri
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 24
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Post by mattri on Aug 2, 2013 22:31:18 GMT -5
Thanks, I shot some Blue-Dot today and it did ok, may need to tweak the load a little and see if it improves some. I'd love to try some Speers if anyone knows where to source them.
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Post by stevemb on Aug 3, 2013 7:45:11 GMT -5
AA#9 is a popular .357 powder for heavier loadings. I've not used it.Maybe worth a try ? I wonder why the this bullet has been found less than willing to play nice ? What might it be, about the bullet, that 3-400 more fps makes it problematic ? Am curious, as I have some heading this way in the mail. I've gotten huntable accuracy with 180gr WFN's and XTP's. This leads me to believe the heavier, more bearing surface, bullets are getting stabilized. Again, curious. stevemb
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Post by subsonic on Aug 3, 2013 8:30:10 GMT -5
Out of my 6" 686, the best accuracy I have seen came with a cast performance 180gr WFNGC over 13gr of AA9 with a cci500 in Winchester brass. Velocity was about 1175fps.
I have not worked with that gun as much as some of my others, but it much preferred this load over any lighter bullets or boolits (including the 358429), shooting into about 2" @50yds. Compared to 3" or more with most everything else I tried.
I want to try some H110 behind this boolit and try some different powder charges with AA9 as I think it may do even better pushed a little harder. Be careful if you go higher with AA9 as there is no loaddata for this combination and 13 is already pretty sporty.
I have only shot paper with these, so I can't say how well they kill.
I would look at something 180gr over a top load of H110/296 if I were you.
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Post by taffin on Aug 3, 2013 9:37:34 GMT -5
Out of my 6" 686, the best accuracy I have seen came with a cast performance 180gr WFNGC over 13gr of AA9 with a cci500 in Winchester brass. Velocity was about 1175fps. I have not worked with that gun as much as some of my others, but it much preferred this load over any lighter bullets or boolits (including the 358429), shooting into about 2" @50yds. Compared to 3" or more with most everything else I tried. I want to try some H110 behind this boolit and try some different powder charges with AA9 as I think it may do even better pushed a little harder. Be careful if you go higher with AA9 as there is no loaddata for this combination and 13 is already pretty sporty. I have only shot paper with these, so I can't say how well they kill. I would look at something 180gr over a top load of H110/296 if I were you. THE KEY IS THE GAS CHECK BULLET. ("BOOLIT? AAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHH)
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Post by subsonic on Aug 3, 2013 9:47:38 GMT -5
Maybe. In larger bores I have plain bases that shoot as well or better than GC. Haven't played with the .357 as much, so maybe it needs the GC.
BOOLIT! :-D
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Post by dougader on Aug 3, 2013 10:24:59 GMT -5
Thanks, I shot some Blue-Dot today and it did ok, may need to tweak the load a little and see if it improves some. I'd love to try some Speers if anyone knows where to source them. Send me your mailing address in a PM and I'll send you 40 Speer 158 grain JSP bullets to try. These are not the Gold Dots, but the UCSP, number 4217 bullets.
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Post by taffin on Aug 3, 2013 12:15:37 GMT -5
Maybe. In larger bores I have plain bases that shoot as well or better than GC. Haven't played with the .357 as much, so maybe it needs the GC. BOOLIT! :-D .44 AND .45 SIXGUNS ONLY RARELY NEED GAS-CHECKED BULLETS.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
Posts: 0
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2013 13:30:40 GMT -5
I've always felt that .357s are a bit rough on their bullets. I've had much better results with gas check or jacketed bullets in the .357. My 44s don't really care that much, as long as the bores are good.
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mattri
.240 Incinerator
Posts: 24
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Post by mattri on Aug 3, 2013 14:43:13 GMT -5
Thanks for all the replies. I'll keep plugging away with it. I've been reloading for a few years for a number of rifle cartridges with excellent results out to 1k, but this is the first straight walled or pistol round I've worked with. Its been a fun new experiment for sure.
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