.357 range report

[db22]

It stopped raining here just long enough for me to get out to the range and try my new .357 Magnum barrel. The .357 test loads I had made in advance were a disappointment. They were a plain-base 158-gr wheelweight bullet over 6 grains of American Select. This is just below the top charge weight that Alliant lists for the bullet and powder. It produced poor accuracy and some key-holing. My standard .38 Spl load did just as badly (4 gr American Select under the same bullet -- just fine in my two .38 Spl revolvers). Anyone have any ideas why the bullets aren't stable? They seem to perform well enough in my revolvers. FAQ shows the twist rate at 18 3/4"; I'm not sure what twist rate S&W uses. Primers where not flat in any of the three loads tests -- more oomph might stabilize them better. It might also make the leading worse, though.

A somewhat hotter load did a bit better: 125 gr Hornady XTP over 6.2 grains of Hodgdon Universal. No key-holing, better groups.

When I got home and examined the bore, I found a good deal of leading just ahead of the chamber. I did not polish the bore before shooting, only swabbed it out good with Hoppe's and followed with a dry patch. Several applications of Shooter's Choice lead remover took care of most of the lead, and I followed that with mild polishing using a patch wrapped around an old brush and coated with Iosso polish. This is a non-abrasive cleaner, and it may not have done very much to smooth the bore, but it did remove the rest of the lead.

All loads shot low -- that one-piece front sight is too high. I removed the front sight and filed it from 9/16" down to a little less than 1/2". When I tried to replace it, the tiny screw that holds it on stripped. The screw seems to be some oddball size, smaller that the 4-40 screws in my parts box. Rather than send it back to NEF, I think I'm going to have the local smith open the mounting hole to 6-48 and just mount a Marble's orange bead or some other light-gathering front sight.

I realize that this is a completely unscientific report -- it was cold, windy and spitting rain yesterday, but I just had to get out and try my new toy. Hoping for better results after reading your comments.

[quickdtoo]

In my experience and from everything I've read, cast bullets need to be .001-.002" larger than the groove diameter, slug the bore and see what size cast bullets you need to use and go from there,  I'm sure accuracy will improve. A size 9 all lead egg sinker is the correct size to slug the .357 bore.

Sounds like H&R has gone to their old sights as someone reported they would, I think the screw size is 3-56, but I dunno for sure, my .357 Barrel and one of my .45-70 barrels has that small screw on em also.

Good luck with the cast bullets.

Tim

http://7.62x54r.net/MosinID/MosinSlug.htm

[db22]

Tim -- Aha!! I should have thought of bullet diameter as the culprit. These 158 gr SWC bullets are from a commercial supplier who sells at the local gun shows. The box says ".3575" -- way undersized by the standard you noted. I haven't cast my own for 15 years, but am collecting the hardware to get started again. I'll start with .358" when I can cast for myself.

Marble's makes one-piece ramps with light-gathering beads that fit the .75" barrel diameter of the .357. I'll give that front sight a try. The local gunsmith can enlarge and tap the existing hole.  Thank you for the information.

Dave

[quickdtoo]

See the Peep and Firesights link in the FAQs, the Williams ramps will work on the .357 barrels, you just have to pick the right size. I've got one on a .45-70 barrel with a WGRS rear sight. The Williams ramps come with 6-48 screws too, but that wouldn't be hard to change, you could do it yourself with a drill press and a little care if you're the DIY type. The hard part is getting the hole there first, once it's already there, is would be a piece of cake to take it from #3 to #6. But if you have a smithy handy, that would be the best route.

Tim

[Awf Hand]

I've not had much luck with lead bullet loadings that might be considered "normal" in my .357 Handi.  The only way I could get them to shoot was breech-seating them.  i.e. driving the bullet into the rifling just ahead of the throat, and placing a wad-covered and powdered case in behind it.  This yielded consistent sub-inch groups at 50yds.  I don't recommend you do this unless you're familiar with this type of loading procedure as well as the powder types and volumes for breech-seated shooting.
As far as jacketed bullet loading, I've had satisfactory results with the Winchester 158gr JHP bulk bullets and 11 grains of Accurate #9.  I've loaded and fired over 3500 of these rounds and they will have held 1" groups at 50yds if I pay attention to good bench technique (for the Handi this is a bit different than for most other rifles) on my end.  100yd groups were adequate for my purposes, and usually were in the 2-2.5"  This was my standing (Awf Hand:-) practice loading.

[quickdtoo]

I shoot the .358" BTB FNGC in my .35 Rem Handi which is just a rechambered .357, others shoot the same bullet in the .357, that's why I chose it,  it shoots extremely well, right at 1", 100yd 3 shot groups.

Tim

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

[db22]

I've not had much luck with lead bullet loadings that might be considered "normal" in my .357 Handi.  The only way I could get them to shoot was breech-seating them.  i.e. driving the bullet into the rifling just ahead of the throat, and placing a wad-covered and powdered case in behind it.  This yielded consistent sub-inch groups at 50yds.  I don't recommend you do this unless you're familiar with this type of loading procedure as well as the powder types and volumes for breech-seated shooting.
As far as jacketed bullet loading, I've had satisfactory results with the Winchester 158gr JHP bulk bullets and 11 grains of Accurate #9.  I've loaded and fired over 3500 of these rounds and they will have held 1" groups at 50yds if I pay attention to good bench technique (for the Handi this is a bit different than for most other rifles) on my end.  100yd groups were adequate for my purposes, and usually were in the 2-2.5"  This was my standing (Awf Hand:-) practice loading.

AWF Hand -- I have seen Schuetzen shooters breech-seating their bullets, but never thought of using the technique for a Handi. It really sorta defeats the purpose I had in mind for the .357. I will take Quick's advice and be mindful of bullet diameter in the future. SAECO makes some heavier TC gas-check molds that look good -- the 180 gr TC looks about right for my purpose. Have to cadge some wheelweights and get started casting again!