Author Topic: Range Report 357 Magnum & Beartooth 185 FN GC  (Read 1918 times)

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Offline GrampaMike

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Range Report 357 Magnum & Beartooth 185 FN GC
« on: June 14, 2007, 05:57:13 AM »
Range Report 357 Magnum & Beartooth 185 FN GC

Gun: Handi Rifle 357 Magnum 22” Barrel
Sights: Nikon 4x Fixed
Bullet: Beartooth 185 FN GC .358 dia
Case: Starline Brass 357 Magnum
Trim Length: 1.281”
Primer: Winchester WSPM
C.O.L.: 1.601”
Chronograph: 15 feet
Range Tested: 50 yards

Charges Tested:
Alliant Herco    6.7 to 7.2
Alliant Blue Dot    9.3 to 10.2
Alliant 2400    11.1 to 11.5
Hodgdon LilGun    13.5 to 13.7
Ramshot Enforcer    11.6 to 12.5
VihtaVuori 3N38    8.8 to 9.6
VihtaVuori N105    9.1 to 9.9

I shoot three 3-shot groups of each load, throw out the best and worst and record the size of the middle group.  My thinking is that this lets me get rid of flyers and just bad shots with the worst group.  Throwing out the best group gets rid of maybe the flukes or lucky groups.  Keeping the middle group is closer to the actual measurement of the load tested.

Hit the sweet spot with 9.7 grains of VihtaVuori N105.
Chronograph average: 1502 fps
Group Size: 0.56” at 50 yards.

Others Computed numbers with my software.
Energy: 927
Load Density: 87.0%
Pressure: 30,552 PSI (Max for 357 Magnum is 35,000 PSI)
Recoil: 4.1

Great little rifle...
Grampa Mike
U.S. Army Retired

"Say what you mean, mean what you say"
Father of 2 GREAT sons, and 9 grandchildren.

Offline EVOC ONE

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Re: Range Report 357 Magnum & Beartooth 185 FN GC
« Reply #1 on: June 14, 2007, 09:08:52 AM »
Excellent report, Mike.  Detailed as usual.  I'm just about ready to start working with my .357.  Your information will be very useful.

Take care, Joe.  :D

Offline GrampaMike

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Re: Range Report 357 Magnum & Beartooth 185 FN GC
« Reply #2 on: June 14, 2007, 10:23:37 AM »
Hey Joe,
Really Good to see you on here again...
Grampa Mike
U.S. Army Retired

"Say what you mean, mean what you say"
Father of 2 GREAT sons, and 9 grandchildren.

Offline Datil

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Re: Range Report 357 Magnum & Beartooth 185 FN GC
« Reply #3 on: June 14, 2007, 11:24:22 AM »

 Hello Grandpa mike, Glad see you are back with us, Good report, Sure like
 my 357 after I reamer it to maxie, I think I'll try some of your loads.
 One thing one of the powder you listed, as 3n38 I think it should be 3n37 ?
 Correct if I am wrong.
 We missed you at the P.D. shoot again this year! Had a lot fun, and good eating,
 Dano is cooking pork butts on Friday, they are some good.
 Good Luck Marv.

Offline GrampaMike

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Re: Range Report 357 Magnum & Beartooth 185 FN GC
« Reply #4 on: June 14, 2007, 04:48:01 PM »
Hello Marv,
Good to hear from you, DJ was asking me about you and Clint a couples of days ago.
She really wants to go to another P-Dog Shoot too, maybe next year.
It is VihtaVuori 3N38, I have some of the 3N37 but didn't use it for this test.
Thanks Mike

Grampa Mike
U.S. Army Retired

"Say what you mean, mean what you say"
Father of 2 GREAT sons, and 9 grandchildren.