357 mag handi bullit

[ratdog]

i bought a handi in 357 shoots 38 special's real good 158 smc .357 jacketed are grouping poorly. what is the longest bullet that will work in this rifle not a maxy would like to try a heaver bullet to see if it would shoot better possibly a lead bullet. and witch mold would work.thanks.

[Land_Owner]

I had been shooting 45-70.gov's 185 grain gas check cast lead boolits with better than adequate results.  When 45-70.gov checks in, maybe he will grace us with his mould manufacturer...might be an LBT mould.  Real aggressive profile, like a Keith.

[Nobade]

I get VERY good results out of Ranch Dog's 190gr. in all my 357 rifles. Plain base for light loads, gas checked for heavier, and paper patched for loads well above SAAMI spec, all with great accuracy.

[ratdog]

i think i found what i want with out buying a mold on montana bullet works.

[geezerbiker]

have you slugged the bore yet? My .44 Handi has an oversize bore and your .357 may have the same issue...

Tony

[ratdog]

i was thinking the same thing about an over size bore that is one of my next steps i have been sizing them at 357 dia. just ordered a heavier bullet in 358 dia.my mold is making the 158 gr 358 dia be fore sizing .going to try the 158 grn wth out sizing the just going to mike them see if the accuracy improves.thanks for your reply's

[ratdog]

i slugged my handi 357 today it slugged at 357 dia a might big thats what my bullet mike at. so i will be shooting 358 dia bullets got some 170 grn coming.most the jacketed bullets run 357 dia they don't shoot good in my gun.had the same problem with a marlin lever gun but my rossi liked lead cast bullets real accurate.

[ratdog]

finally got some 358 dia's loaded 170 grn also some 158 grns not sized will see what shoot good this week.hope this cures the problem.

[anachronism]

The only way you'll know for sure is to experiment with different bullet seating depths until you determine where you need to be. This does pose a problem with slow powders, and especially crimping. Once you know how long your rifles throat is, and its true throat & barrel dimensions, you can decide which bullet will best fir your needs. You could just cut to the chase & slug the throat area of your rifle to see what the dimensions actually are.

[45-70.gov]

mine are sized  358



my  mould is from veral smith  it is 3 pb cavities and  one for gas checks
LBT....he has a section  here
they  are  185 grains


tried different powders
went  with and without gas checks


all shot the same........stout  but  not  hot  loads
so  i will not waste money on the checks  or  expensive powder
just keep trying to burn up the free bullseye


i now have a 359 sizer  to experiment  with  soon [and for my 35 remington]

[ratdog]

made it to the range today with my 357 handi i reloaded some 170 grn and 158 grn smwc lee mold not sized 358 dia same with the 170 grain smwc the 170's shot 2'' higher than the 158's the 158's shot the best this thing shots real good now. no need to buy 170 grainer's now it doesn't like the jacketed bullet they are 357 dia i am satisfied with the gun now.it can even get better with a better scope but for what i use it for is good enough sorry about being so slow getting back with the results

[av-doctor]

  .357 is normal dia,you should always run cast at +.001 or.002 above. still not shooting jacketed very well what load are you using you might need to push them faster.
 
  geezerbiker you say your 44 is oversize,what size? i'd bet .431 or .432 which is normal for rifles not sure why two different specs for same cartridge

[ratdog]

av doctor my barrel slugs out at 357 dia most jacketed bullets are running 357 it is over size.

[av-doctor]

you measuring the lands or the grooves

[ratdog]

i posted my answer earlier i guess it didn't work. i slugged the barrel then measured the slug slug was 357 dia.now i don't size my bullets 357 cured the problem nice shooter with 38 special and 357 mag loads.