Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 15

Thread: 357 mag Heavy Loads

  1. #1
    Paper Puncher
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    4

    Default 357 mag Heavy Loads

    I am looking for some ideas with loading for a Smith Model 27.

    I want to push the Saeco # 353, 180gr Flat Point boolit as fast as possible. I want to reach out and touch something at 200 yards - that is touch it with some authroity.

    I have used max loads with 296 @ 1400fps and 2400 @ 1350fps and some slightly reduced ones also. My problem is these loads open up the grouping some. I would like to have a tighter group while going FAST.

  2. #2
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,854

    Default

    If you are even HITTING THE PAPER @ 200yds with a revolver, you're doing better than 99% of the revolver shooters out there, me included.

    I'm going to assume that the revolver likes that bullet. It must if you can shoot it at that range. As you know, each powder will (hopefully) tighten up groups at a particular charge level, but where on the table that occurs is different for every gun. All I can suggest of a practical nature is to continue trying appropriate powders to see if you can find one that tightens up in the velocity range you're looking for. You may or may not find what you want, but will likely still come up with something you can use. I have had very good luck with BDOT in .357mag loads with heavy bullets, but I shoot them in a 10" Contender, so that may not help you much in your search as the loads I use are way overpowered for your revolver, even if it is a m27. (And BDOT is NOT a very consistant powder in varying temperatures, but it's fine in warm weather.)
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  3. #3
    300winmag 300winmag's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    Ohio
    Posts
    13

    Smile 357 s&w 686 6"

    357 S&W 686 6"
    I load 12 gr. 2400 1125 fps 180gr. Xtp 150yrds. anything after that is not consistence. no need in taking the risk of getting hurt or damaging the pistol for something they are not designed for.
    be careful
    speed and accuracy is not alway on the same page.
    300winmag
    Last edited by 300winmag; 12-09-2010 at 12:30 AM.
    As I was told when I was a child; your elders will make you smarter if you listen. Then when you are older your edlers will teach you WISDOM.
    Thanks
    300winmag

  4. #4
    Paper Puncher
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Thanks for your help. I will try some of the shotgun powders, i have some bdot.
    I do shoot well at distance, always have with a handgun. 50% of the time i can hit a 3 foot square steel plate with s&w model 39 9mm with 148gr flat point - standing with both hands holding the pistol. i want to shot the 357 at that distance becase it shoots flatter than the 9mm and besides the 9mm is not as much fun as the 357 plus i think i can improve my hit percentage to 90% with a 2 foot square.

  5. #5
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,854

    Default

    It's easy when you want to do what everyone else is doing. All the experiments and related data are readily available for shooting at 25 & 50yds. But when you want to do something DIFFERENT, then you have to get creative.

    I would put in a call to Sierra's tech dept and ask for opinions from them. The whole topic of 200yd revolver shooting ought to get some interesting responses from them. I have discussed some fairly off-the-wall ideas with them several times and they have either brought me back down to earth or pointed me in the right direction with ideas that had not occurred to me.

    800-223-8799 or email sierra@sierrabullets.com

    Where are you located?
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

  6. #6
    Refillin' for 36 years
    Join Date
    Nov 2009
    Location
    Colorado - now...
    Posts
    15

    Default

    Also bear in mind that the twist rate for your revolver is optimized for 125 to 158 grain bullets. Those 180's will spread more because they are not fully stabilized in that barrel.

  7. #7
    GunLoad Trainee
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Posts
    2

    Default

    I also shoot the 180's but in a RNFP cast. They shoot well in all my guns from a 2 inch Smith 38 spl to my 4 and 6 inch 686's and my 10 inch Encore. I sit them all over the appropriate dose of Unique. Just ordered 500 more of them.

  8. #8
    Paper Puncher
    Join Date
    Sep 2010
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    4

    Default

    Thanks to all in responding all of this is great information. I will contact Sierra - i wonder if they are interested in cast boolits or just their jacketed - i would shoot jacketed but just cannot afford them. I do admit i found the last dealer with a supply of Nosler 180gr partition jacket boolits and bought a box, may get another because Nosler says they do not intend on bringing them back to market. I have a good supply of wheelweights and like to cast, it is theraputic for my mind (cheaper than a shrink).

    Hope everyone has a great New Years and properous new year, i will, i finally got a job again in October.

  9. #9
    Pegasus1
    Join Date
    Dec 2010
    Location
    Missouri
    Posts
    13

    Default

    You guys need friends like mine. I was given over 200 of the 175 gr. flat points another 150 of 180 gr. round point bullets. I has debating on what I was going to do with these, but now I have a plan. I have a Rossi 6" stainless revolver that I will start working some loads up for. I have a good supply of Blue Dot and for safety sake I will start light and work my way up to some lethal hunting loads. I have harvested deer with a Contender pistol and it is challenging, but a revolver should make it even more fun

  10. #10
    Dogs Like Him versifier's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New Hampshire
    Posts
    1,854

    Default

    Just keep in mind that BDOT gets erratic when the temperture drops below 50*, so unless you have a holster that keeps the gun next to your body and nice and warm, it can be a problem for deer hunting loads. Velocities can be all over the place and accuracy can go from nice tight groups to shotgun patterns without warning. For me, it's not worth the chance of wounding an animal. I think 2400 would be a much better choice for deer hunting.
    "Stand your ground.
    Do not fire unless fired upon.
    But if they mean to have a war let it begin here."
    - Capt. Parker, Lexington Militia, April 19, 1775

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check        

Gunloads.com Sponsored Links