.357 loads

[ihmsa70]

Anybody care to share .357 loads for silhouettes?  Model 83.
Clyde

[WL44]

I don't shoot them, so I don't know how much punch they need. I'd suggest you try the Silhouette forum on Greybeard - someone there should be able to help you out!

[Graybeard]

Back when I was using the .357 Magnum on NRA metallic silhouettes in competition I used a Sierra 170 grain FMJ silhouette bullet primarily but there was another FMJ silhouette bullet someone put out that weight 160 grains that worked well. I eventually bought an RCBS mould that dropped a round nose bullet of same contour as the Sierra bullet which weight around 175 grains. I switched to it as it was a lot cheaper than buying the jacketed bullets and shot just as accurately.

I won't give my specific load as load manuals no longer suggest using that much powder but the powder of choice was 2400 and it was the book max in those long ago days when the SAAMI standard if there was such a thing back then pushed a 158 grain to 1550 fps rather than the current standard which pushes a 125 to less velocity.

By today's standards my loads were seriously hot but they'd certainly be safe in the FA83. Look in an old Sierra manual from 20-30 years ago for their load data with that 170 Silhouette bullet of theirs. A finer bullet and load you will not find.

The RCBS 175 RN is a GC bullet and in my guns tends to shoot about the same as the old Sierra 170. Another GC bullet I've used successfully is the Lyman 358156. It always gives superb accuracy and knocks over the NRA half size rams at 100 meters with authority. I dunno how it would do on IHMSA tho.

[Ken ONeill]

Depends what kinds of silhouettes. For Field Pistol / Hunter Pistol, I always used 16.5 gr. 296, CCI 550's and a Sierra, Hornady or Speer 158. This load is much heavier than what is necessary for that game but was always accurate in my guns, and is my .357 hunting load, so it served as good practice for that venue.
The same load will also work for chickens and properly set pigs and maybe tukeys on the Big Bore Long Range Course, but a person will be better served using 180's or 200's for those further targets, and that bullet weight is really required for any dependability on rams.
So, on the shorter course the .357 has plenty of extra power. For the long range course, it requires some special loading of heavy bullets with accurate maximum charges - a game best suited to International Class shooters and skilled reloaders who just want to use a .357. Most will use 296 or H-110. Some will use the 200 Hornady Spire point in .38 Special cases, etc.
For the novice shooter using 158-170's, it's a good cartridge to learn to hit the long range targets with...but you'll lose some that don't fall.

[FAStevo]

Clyde,
I sent you a PM..... Regards, Steve