Range Report - 357 Mag SMOOTH BORE

[trotterlg]

If you measure the rim thickness of that brass I bet you find it much thinner than standard or SAAMI spec.  This will cause the need for double strikes and will allow the primer to raise.  You mostly see these when the loads are not hot enough to drive the brass back over the primer when you have excessive headspace.  When you fire a round the primer is blown back to the breach, then the brass is forced back over it re-seating the primer flush, that is if the load is hot enough to do this.  If you are curious, fire a primed case only and see how high the primer sits over the rear of the case, this is the headspace of your barrel/frame combination.  Larry

[Land_Owner]

trotter...it is as if the ignition of the cartridge was delayed following indention of the primer by the firing pin.  That is one of two ways that this could happen.  

The primer on the left is bulged out (convex) and raised about 0.15" above the cartridge base.  So, the firing pin had to either withdraw BEFORE IGNITION or be blown back to cause the bulge.  Otherwise, the primer should be indented.

[Land_Owner]

Try some of these..
http://www.castperformance.com/Categories.bok?category=Cast+Performance

Mac

Pricey, but I bought 400 of 'em.  Now to reload and off to the range again.  Hope they help.  I believe the higher weight for caliber is better for this gun and the slower velocity is NO PROBLEMO.  I would not want to be on its "business end" regardless of group size.

Are 200 grain bullets (an up) made for the 357?  Need to Google that...

[quickdtoo]

I dunno if this helps or not, but I've shot .359" 200gr FNGC Beartooths and .359" 240gr WLNGC Mt Baldys in my 35 Remington Handi, it started life as a 357mag, was rechambered to 357Max by the previous owner and I had it rechambered to 35 Remington, both shoot very well, 1-1½" at 100yds.

Tim

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

http://mtbaldybullets.com/asp/products.asp

[Land_Owner]

Two very good sources for cast bullets.  I had forgotten about BearTooth.  Thanks Quick!  

I am always looking for good deals on larger quantity (500 - 1000) cast bullets in 357 and 45 LC.

[quickdtoo]

Check out the sticky at the top of the page in the Cast Bullet forum, lots of cast bullet sources, Western Bullet is another that I've used, both Western and Beartooth can be slow to ship sometimes, but they always come thru. 

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/board,45.0.html

http://www.westernbullet.com/castbullets.html

[Lucky Joe]

Land Owner asked:

Are 200 grain bullets (an up) made for the 357?  Need to Google that...


Might want to read this article.

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellLyman358627.htm

I have a double cavity Lyman 358627 mould, it is an amazing bullet.

Hope this helps.