What Say Ye

[paulg]

I'm gonna order Beartooth Bullets 173gr Keith .357 bullet. Anybody use this bullet and what do you push it with? I know some don't like posting your loads, so I consider your response only a suggestion. The gun is a S&W M28. Thanks
-Paul-

[subsonic]

If it's close to the 358429, try 13gr of 2400 or AA9 with a standard pistol primer.

[subsonic]

BUT, it may not fit in the cylinder of your M28.

[Deleted]

You'll need to crimp it over the front driving band for a '28. Deep seating is required with magnum brass.

[paulg]

Beartooth says the bullet has three equal width driving bands. And it's a true Keith bullet. I like the 2400 load as I have that in stock.

[Fowler]

If it has three crimp grooves it's not a "true Kieth bullet". You will have to measure to see how long you loaded shell will be before you load a bunch that stick out of you cylinder. I have the same gun and the Keith mold but I just shoot those loads in 38 brass to avoid the deep crimping issue. Not a big deal to load but I have lot of 38 brass so why bother...

[paulg]

The true Keith bullet is Beartooth's words not mine. Anyway I have a butt load of .38 brass too that's what I would like to load the heavy .357's in. Is 2400 still a viable option if I go that route?

[Deleted]

They said driving bands, not crimping grooves. They're not the same thing. A Keith bullet would have 3 equal driving bands.

[Fowler]

I took a moment and went over to Beartooth bullets website and that does appear to be a true Keith bullet. I misread your post and was thinking 3 crimping grooves, it seems a popular option with heavy .357 cal bullets.

Yes load them in 38 special brass for your M28, the classic Keith load is a standard primer (he typically used CCI although I use Winchester) and 13.5gr of 2400. It is my heavy 38 load for my Highway Patrolman, in fact I dont know if I have ever shot a .357 round in the gun?...

[paulg]

Thanks for the help and info Fowler. I really do appreciate it.
-Paul-

[Fowler]

Here's the source...

www.sixguns.com/range/elmersloads.htm

Well sort Taffin's telling of it but it just about as good...

[bradshaw]

Haven't shot a 27 or 28 in a long time, but I've been thinking about an M-27 8-3/8", which Al Plaas tuned at the factory years ago.

You might try seating the 173 SWC deep into .357 brass; front band .030" or so below case mouth. Crimp over the front band, if the crimp groove makes COL too long for the short cylinder.
David Bradshaw

[jfe]

Just be aware that the formulation for 2400 has changed as Alliant now make the powder, not Hercules. Several of the newer formulations have been different for me and in general have been faster burning. If you are going this way you might want to refer to Alliant's reloading guide and work up your load from what's recommended there.

[sal]

As Per JTaffin's advice to me, Don't shoot a steady diet of 13.5 /2400 under a 173. Then said to use 38 cal. casing. I dropped to 12 grn/2400 in my HPatrolman

[Ken O'Neill]

With that bullet, or even with 158's, I would also suggest 12 / 2400 with the newer Alliant 2400 in a 38 Spec. case. It's still plenty of power for a .357.