Top 357 magnum loads in 10 inch barrel

[rickt300]

I see in several books that I can safely get a 200 grain jacketed bullet up to near 1400 fps with several powders, the 180 grain bullets get pretty close to 1600 fps.  Those being jacketed bullets can I expect another 100 fps using a cast gas checked bullet like the 200 gr. RCBS flat nose made for the 35 Remington? Using top loads and 158 gr. jacketed soft points the round seem pretty peppy and the coyote I took last nite sure had a big hole in him.  Actually I am impressed with the round out of the Contenders 10 inch barrel.

[kynardsj]

When I had my 10 " Contender in 357 mag my best load was a 158gr JHP over 16.4 gr of Lilgun. Velocity was in the 1600 fps range because of the lack of a cylinder gap. All I had at the time was a set of the Lee dippers and a set of electronic scales to measure powder with. A combination of the .5 and the .7 dippers leveled off gave me the 16.4 gr. This load also shoots well in my friends 8" Dan Wesson. One day at the range I hung a piece of 1/4 inch steel plate up at 100 yards for my wife and me to use as a dinger. After a couple of shots I thought my Contender sights were off as there was no "ding". A closer look showed me that the 158's were shooting thru it. Plenty of power even at 100 yards to take a whitetail or other critter. A JSP would work well too.

[rickt300]

Well I have 200 Sierra 158 gr. JSP's to fool with, maybe I will just go ahead and shoot them up just for general principals.

[shot1]

13.5 grs H-110 with the 180 Hornady XTP is a tack driver and a deer thumper from my 10" Contender. I killed one at 107 yards that was right shoulder angled toward me. Bullet went through the center of the scapula across the chest cavity through the liver into the guts and was found just under the hide right at the starting edge of the left ham. Text book mushroom.

[rickt300]

I have to say that for the mild recoil the 357 seems to put out a good punch. I am loading some Remington 200 gr. Corelokts because I have them and want to see how well they shoot. I have some other light 35 caliber bullets but don't really want to "waste" them as I know they won't expand. Need to cast some of the RCBS 200 gr. flat noses when I get time.

[Mopar512]

My favorite bullet in my 10" 357 contender is the rcbs 200 grain gas check bullet. I have had these bullets up to 1500 fps using H110. Can't remember the powder charge though. However, I can easily get 3 shot groups under 1.5" at 100 yards with these. I used to shoot the 100 meter rams with these when I shot silhouette.


I have recently got into hog hunting and I plan on shooting some hogs with these loads. I am thinking they would be very good hog killers.


Roger




 

[rickt300]

I may have the same mould and when I get around to doing some casting they are first up but I have three other moulds I have to warm up also.