357 mag Handi performance

[bajabill]

What muzzle energies can you get out of the 22 inch barrel.  And, are the heavier weight bullets able to be used in the handi or is there a twist rate issue?  I assume 38 special rounds are able to be used too.

[quickdtoo]

The 2004 Hodgdon Annual shows max velocities of 1381fps with the 180gr Nosler Partition out of an 18½" barrel with the same twist rate of 18¾" as the Handi, to give you an idea.

[bajabill]

Im drawing at straws I think, in search of something to quench my thirst for filling the caliber gap between 30-06 and 45-70 (insert the repititious call for the 35 whelen)

[Paul5388]

All of this data is taken from a 22" Handi rifle .357 Mag with a standard chamber and chronographed with a Shooting Chrony F1 Master at 15', then converted to MV.  The ME was calculated from the ballistic program, Pointblank http://www.huntingnut.com/index.php?name=Content&pa=showpage&pid=2
This chamber will shoot .360 DW, but so far there is very little advantage over a .38 Special.

Using 13.5 gr IMR SR 4756 in .357 brass with CCI 400 and a 125 gr Sierra JHC, I get 1175 ME and 2057 fps MV.

When I switch to an Oregon Trails Laser Cast 158 gr LSWC with 13.5 gr Alliant 2400 in .38 Special brass I get 1643 fps MV and 947 ME.

A 250 gr Beartooth LFNGC with 7.5 gr 800X in .357 brass will yield 796 ME and 1198 fps MV.

a 180 gr XTP/HP in .360 DW brass with 11.0 gr 800X will yield 1081 ME and 1645 fps MV.

However, a 170 gr Dry Creek LSWC Keith with 13.5 gr 2400 in .38 Special brass cranks out 1698 fps MV and 1088 ME.

The standard disclaimer applies.  These loads are safe in my gun.  Use them at your own risk.

[bajabill]

thanks

Looks like about 1000 -1100 ft-lbs.  Kind of what I expected.  I wish we had a 35 option with about 2800 ft-lbs or more