Author Topic: 357mag Handi Shooters (Read 1026 times)

Joel45acp · « **on:** September 07, 2007, 05:31:08 AM »

Hey folks, I'm sending my action in for one of these barrels, but before I do, I'd like some input from you guys. First, what is the throat dia.(.356, .357,.358)? How would it shoot with light boolits (125-158gr)? Is the chamber cut too deep? What kind of MOA are you getting at 50yds, 100yds? I know this is alot to ask, but I'm just trying to decide if I should get one or go with a 223cal. bull barrel. I'll be hunting deer, yotes, tree rats, with it and keeping shots under 100yds. I cast for 38spl and 357mag already so that might make it easier to decide.

Thanks for your time.

burntmuch · « **Reply #1 on:** September 07, 2007, 05:35:40 AM »

you might wanna call and see if they still have some in stock

Joel45acp · « **Reply #2 on:** September 07, 2007, 06:48:47 AM »

I've called the last two days and both times I was assured they had plenty. But really knows

Thanks.

handi243 · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2007, 08:26:48 AM »

I think the last time Tim checked try had 30 or so they must have gotten in a batch i shot mine about 10 times before it got maxed haven't looked back it is my fav. I don't know about tree rats with a 223 but to each i don't shoot the 125grs in any of my 357's just my thing. I think you will have a wider range of uses with the 357 JMO. Get the 357 heck get 2!!!!!!

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #4 on:** September 07, 2007, 09:49:00 AM »

Mine and I think most everybody else's throat length is looong. I can chamber 360 DW brass in mine and still not reach the lands with a 158 grain bullet seated way out. I have not slugged mine. I do get good results from 158 grain jacketed bullets. not quite so good with 125 grain bullets. I have some 180 grain XTP's that should have arrived today in the mail. The tracking showed that they were in Indy yesterday then it stopped.

I have gotten 3/4" 3 shot groups at 50 yards with 158 grain bullets ahead of Lil Gun with 360 brass, same with 158 grain bullets in a 357 case with a heavy charge of 2400. The 125's do about 1.5", they were some cheap Remingtons I bought. I am still going to ream mine to 357 Max with in the next month. Already have the cases and have some 200 grain Rem round noses and the 180 XTPs to try with it. Plan on using Lil'Gun. I have every reason to believe I can shoot 1.5" or under at 100 yards with it. I am sure I will still not reach the lands after the ream job, but sure would like to. I would rather have no crimp and let the lands hold 'er back just a little rather than a crimp. If I do not give it a taper or regular crimp I get erratic results, stringing vertically. Good luck to you and let us know how it turns out for you. BTW that is my 357 Handi in the avatar to the left (the little picture) I have it mounted on my Ultra frame with a 2.5 X Tasco shotgun scope.

Joel45acp · « **Reply #5 on:** September 07, 2007, 10:03:24 AM »

What is the reason for the throat being so long? How does this affect accuracy? How will 38spl shoot with the throat being so looong? Thanks for your replies.

darat100 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 07, 2007, 10:09:44 AM »

Joel

These are all different, but mine and the one I bought for my dad both shoot 38s horribly. Beautiful with 357 loads, but with 38s, not worth having. Has to do with the jump i am sure. If you load anyway, just shoot light 357 loads and don't bother with the 38s. At least that is what we have to do.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #7 on:** September 07, 2007, 12:17:28 PM »

I have shot some 38 special 158 grain round nose lead bullets in mine. I did not shoot a lot of them and was not too impressed with accuracy. I did not work with it at all to improve them. I bought them very cheaply, they were under $10 a box. I do have a 357 S&W model 66, that seems to like 'em fine, so that is where I am using them. I hand load mostly and just bought them because they were cheap. I think the 357 Mag cases with 158+ grain bullets moving at a good clip is where I get my best accuracy.

Joel45acp · « **Reply #8 on:** September 07, 2007, 01:02:31 PM »

LaOtto222, are you shootin' RN or SWC? I have several 158 SWC mould and one thats a HP with gc. Both shoot great out of my pistolas. Would a 44mag. Handi barrel be any better as far as accuracy? Again, thanks for your replies.

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2007, 01:35:03 PM »

The 158 grain bullets I am using are all semi Jacketed bullets. I really do not know if 158 cast wad cutters will shoot well out of a 357 mag case or not. I think that they would, but I have no personal experience. I am going to be doing some experimenting with some 180 XTP's and 200 grain round nose bullets in the not too far future (both jacketed). I do not have a 44 mag barrel for comparison. From what I have read on this site, the newer 44 mag barrels are much more accurate than the older ones. The groove diameters have been reported at .429 and .430" with a 1 - 38" twist. The older ones were in the .432" range. About the only way to get the older ones to shoot any good at all was to use over sized cast bullets or ream it out to a 445 and push the heck out of them. I think it is a toss up which one is more accurate now (357 vs 44), but like I said I do not have any experience with the new ones, just a few reports I have seen here. I have not seen Paul hanging around here lately. He has done some extensive testing with a 357 barrel. He has not reamed his and has done quite a bit of experimenting with heavy bullets, 357 mag cases and 360 DW cases. He was using both heavy cast and heavy jacketed bullets. Maybe Quick can help us here with this to do a search. I tried but did not get the results I was looking for. Tim has a good memory about this stuff. Paul's handle was paul1157 or some thing like that. If I remember correctly he was getting some where in the 1" range at 100 yards with his best loads and I think he was using a taper crimp, not a roll crimp. I know that Quick (Tim) has recently ordered a 44 mag barrel and I do not think he would unless he was convinced they would shoot straight.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #10 on:** September 07, 2007, 01:45:39 PM »

Here's some 357 threads, I'd have to say if it won't shoot good as a Mag, make it a Max, I've never seen a complaint about any Max, factory or hand reamed. As for the 44mag, current production barrels are all shooting very well with factory or handloaded cast or jacketed bullets, hopefully both my 357 and 44 barrels will be on the way soon.

Tim

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,96426.msg1098239922.html#msg1098239922

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,105758.msg1098298996.html#msg1098298996

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,113066.msg1098352816.html#msg1098352816

http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,102962.msg1098281691.html#msg1098281691

LaOtto222 · « **Reply #11 on:** September 07, 2007, 02:44:39 PM »

Thank You Tim, you always come through to bail me out. The Brown truck pulled into the drive about 7:00 PM tonight with my 180 XTP's and some other goodies.

Joel45acp · « **Reply #12 on:** September 07, 2007, 05:30:01 PM »

I know recoil is all relative, but with full throttle loads what does the 357mag feel like? What about the 44mag. Again, thanks guys for all of your insight and expertise. Later.

quickdtoo · « **Reply #13 on:** September 07, 2007, 05:47:13 PM »

Even the 357Max with 180gr loads is a pussy cat, there's no equating "full throttle" and the recoil, there just isn't any recoil to speak of. For comparison, Chuck Hawks puts the recoil of 357mag 158gr loads at 1650fps in a 7lb rifle at 4.7 lbs, that's in the ball park of 223 recoil. To put it plainly, it's girly recoil!!

It's a pleasure to shoot and nice for the youngsters/ladies tho, there are several members here that have chosen the 357mag as a starter deer rifle for their children.

I haven't shot the 44mag, but he puts the recoil in the 30-30 range.

Tim

http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

EVOC ONE · « **Reply #14 on:** September 07, 2007, 08:31:54 PM »

I've been working with .44 Mag loads using the 240 grain bullet and Win 296. Following the Speer manual, I've reached the max load. Recoil never really changed throughout the load range. I would place it at about what my .30-30 Handi is. Both are rather comfortable.

If I were considering a .44 mag for a young person, as long as they could handle a 20 ga, then the .44 would be fine.

midwayraider · « **Reply #15 on:** September 08, 2007, 05:06:12 PM »

I SHOT SWC IN MY 357 , IT LEADED THE BARREL TERRIBLE . MINE LIKES 158 GRAIN JACKETED BULLETS.....357 IS MY FAVORITE HANDI BY FAR !

HAVE THEY DONE SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO THE 44 MAG TO GET IT TO SHOOT BETTER ?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #16 on:** September 08, 2007, 05:08:49 PM »

Bores are tighter, used to be .432" or so, new ones are slugging .429"-.430".

Tim

midwayraider · « **Reply #17 on:** September 08, 2007, 05:15:25 PM »

HHHMMMMMM !!!! MIGHT HAVE TO GET ME ONE ! WHAT YOU THINK TIM ?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #18 on:** September 08, 2007, 05:18:03 PM »

I just ordered one if that tells ya anything!

Tim

midwayraider · « **Reply #19 on:** September 08, 2007, 05:27:30 PM »

TIM , IF YOU HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A 45 LONG COLT OR THE 44MAG ?

quickdtoo · « **Reply #20 on:** September 08, 2007, 05:38:06 PM »

Heh heh, you know my answer.......BOTH!! The 45Colt carbine barrel is capable of shooting 250gr bullets at over 1900fps in the 20" barrel, the 44mag has a couple inches advantage in a Handi, but Hornady shows 1800fps with a 20" barrel using 240gr bullets for the 44mag.

Tim