Author Topic: RCBS-357-180-SIL for cowboy rifle silhouette (Read 707 times)

Sixgun · « **on:** August 16, 2005, 05:18:37 PM »

I shoot Cowboy Rifle Silhouette with a Rossi 92 carbine.

I would like to work up a load that will reliably take down 200 yard rams. These rams are at the Blacks Creek Range at Boise and are usually hard to knock down. I have had good, center hits with my 30-30 using a 150gr jacketed bullet starting out at 1700fps that rang a ram with 3 hits in a row. I have also rang them using the same 30-30 with 190gr bullets going about the same mv.

I have a RCBS-357-180-SIL mold that throws bullets at about 195gr using my alloy. They are a bit heavier using a gc.

I also have some LC 180gr bullets and a few LBT cast bullets that run about 190 gr.

I figure I need a load that will get over 1800fps mv and is reasonably accurate to boot.

I was thinking maybe trying Lil Gun, for the first time. I was also wondering if a slower powder, like 4227 or AA1680 might be a little better from my 20 inch barrel than 296 or H110.

I donÂ’t want to go out and cause cases to separate or ruin my rifle. I just want to kill them rams with a 357 mag. The guys at Blacks Creek claim it canÂ’t be done. Now it is a challenge.

Any ideas???

Let me know your thoughts,
Sixgun

ihmsa70 · « **Reply #1 on:** August 17, 2005, 06:06:29 AM »

Sixgun,
I shot that bullet for years in handgun sil. in an XP .35 Rem. and TC and Merrill .357. Rang some, but not many. One was on a 1" ram at Sweetwater, cost me a 40. (With a Merrill).
I tried that bullet in a Marlin .357 micro-groove recently. Only way it would feed was in .38 cases crimped on the front band. Didn't find any load that would group. Wasn't my gun, so didn't try to lap the barrell.
I have a Win94 legacy in .357 on order. Planning to try Rem. bulk 180 HP.
I'll let you know how that works out.
Clyde

Tycer · « **Reply #2 on:** August 17, 2005, 11:01:54 AM »

I just read that h110 load data can be used as starting loads for Lil'Gun.

Mikey · « **Reply #3 on:** August 18, 2005, 01:52:21 AM »

Sixgun - I used to shoot a 357 mag 200 gn swc over 12.2 of IMR 4227 (at only 1K'/sec or slightly better) and take the ram down using a 4" Model 19 S&W. I now use the Winchester factory load data of 12.4 of WW296 for 1300'/sec from a pistol - should get going faster than that from your carbine or rifle, and will still have more than enough poop to knock over the ram at 200 yds. I think you have to hit them high though - that helps to topple them.

I don't know why the guys at that range say it can't be done with a 357 mag - we have done just that for years in the silly-wet shoots with that caliber.

Are they hangin' some Idaho spuds off the back for extra weight (LOL)

? Mikey.

Steelbanger · « **Reply #4 on:** August 18, 2005, 04:00:49 AM »

Some years back I asked RCBS about that bullet in a levergun and they didn't recommend it for use in a tubular magazine. Maybe a call to their 800 number will confirm this.

Sixgun · « **Reply #5 on:** August 23, 2005, 06:09:25 AM »

I got a pound of lil gun and tried some of it last night. I loaded 15 gr of lil gun with the rcbs sil bullet and a cci std small pistol primer. I had to crimp the 357 cases over the front driving band to get them short enough to cycle. I was not too impressed with the results. I got 1703 avg fps with an extreme spread of 59 fps and a Standard deviation of 25. I didn't shoot for groups because the light was fading fast and I wanted to shoot some over the chrony before the light was all gone.

The was no pressure signs, in fact the cases soot around the very end of the case mouths. I may be able to get 15.5 gr of lil gun into the cases but not much more. I don't think I can get enough lil gun in these cases with this bullet to cause any danger of too much pressure.

Sixgun