Author Topic: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi  (Read 1586 times)

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Offline WILD_WEASEL

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Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« on: August 21, 2008, 04:39:06 AM »
One of the reasons I enjoy my 357 Magnum Handi barrel so much is that it gives me the opportunity to experiment with heavy bullets (180gr-200gr) seated to longer than normal over-all-length (OAL).  Just got in a batch of Lyman 358315 from Western Bullet Co. in Montana.  Lyman shows a starting load of 15.4gr of H110 with the maximum charge being 16.5gr of H110.  The data is for a 10" Contender with velocity being around 1500fps, how much do you think the extra 12" of the Handi barrel will add?  I'm really looking forward to trying these out during my next trip to the Angeles Shooting Range. 

Offline petemi

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2008, 05:07:18 AM »
I would have to guess you'd be pushing 2000, I really don't know for sure.  I'm relatively inexperienced.  I can tell you that I simply love my Handi .357.  It's my "by my side, ready to grab, all day every day" gun.  It is there when I need it, and shoots remakably flat way out past 100 yards.  I was shooting farm varmints, and aiming high and missing.  I soon figured it out and aimed dead on and made clean kills out to almost 200.  I love that little girl!!!
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Offline GrampaMike

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #2 on: August 21, 2008, 08:35:10 AM »
With H110 powder:  1500 fps in 10" equals 1718 fps in 22".
Grampa Mike
U.S. Army Retired

"Say what you mean, mean what you say"
Father of 2 GREAT sons, and 9 grandchildren.

Offline MSP Ret

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #3 on: August 21, 2008, 01:44:16 PM »
And there we have the definitive answer from the man who knows. This is a wonderful site with
great knowledgable and friendly guys willing to help and share. Thanks GrandpaMike...<><....:)
"Giving up your gun to someone else on demand is called surrender. It means that you have given up your ability to protect yourself to a power that is greater than you." - David Yeagley

Offline Don_K

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #4 on: August 21, 2008, 03:03:35 PM »
I have a 357 barrel for my Handy also. Here are a few loads I've used so far:
H&R 22” barrel. Temp +30f 
Winchester brass – CCI large pistol magnum primer  (Oregon Trail load was with Remington brass)
Chronograph 10ft from muzzle

158G XTP                          15.8G H110 1660fps 
180G XTP                          12.8G H110 1350fps   
170G Speer Gold Dot          14.5G H110 1560fps
158 Oregon Trail LSWC       14.5G H110 1600fps

Hope this helps. YMMV. These loads were safe in MY gun with no pressure signs. Use at your own risk etc.
Don_K

Offline WILD_WEASEL

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2008, 04:29:29 AM »
Guys,

Thanks for all the + feedback.  I've had the desire to shooting heavier than normal bullets in a 357 Magnum ever since I saw the .358 180gr Speer Flat Point loading data in the Speer #10 Manual 30 years ago.  The Handi is the first rifle I've owned that allowed me to try.  RCBS even sent me the correct seating stem for the 180gr FP at no charge!  Using the data from the #10 Manual I loaded up and shot x100 at both my local indoor Firing Line and at the outdoor Angeles Shooting Range in SoCal.  While full power 44s are a no no at the Firing Line I've shot the 357 loads without complaint.  My Handi started out as the 45 Colt Carbine but spends most of the time in 357 Magnum guise.  When I sent my carbine in for the 357 barrle I also added a 28” 12GA barrel which I have yet to shoot.  The 12GA barrel may yet be sent out to have a Poly Choke installed, with an overall length of 24” or 26”.  Still not sure about that steel but-plate and 12Ga shells however  :o.

Offline canon6

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #6 on: August 22, 2008, 08:33:22 AM »
Let me jump in here, I shoot a 173grain LBTGC over a stout charge of LilGun and am way north of 1800 in a 16inch Winchester '94, so you can expect  your  Handi to beat that. I have shot a lot of  H110, but I  have gone to LilGun.hth   Doug
a armed man is his own master

Offline woodchukhntr

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #7 on: August 22, 2008, 08:55:07 AM »
Let me jump in here, I shoot a 173grain LBTGC over a stout charge of LilGun and am way north of 1800 in a 16inch Winchester '94, so you can expect  your  Handi to beat that. I have shot a lot of  H110, but I  have gone to LilGun.hth   Doug

How stout of a charge?

Offline Don_K

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #8 on: August 22, 2008, 03:31:02 PM »
 ???

I can't find any published data that would support a 173 "way north of 1800"  out of a 16" barrel. Or any barrel for that matter. Are you sure that is under pressure limits?

Offline Lucky Joe

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #9 on: August 22, 2008, 04:31:50 PM »
I have a pretty wide range of moulds for this caliber. Pictured here is the heaviest and the lightest. The little 74 grain WC is pictured with a  158 grain. The big one weighs 214 gr. as seen on the box, a Keith design.



If and when I get this barrel (.357) it should be pretty versatile with the number of different bullets I can cast.
Lucky Joe

"There's always a way."

Offline canon6

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Re: Heavy Bullet Loads for the 357 Magnum Handi
« Reply #10 on: August 23, 2008, 04:04:11 AM »
Ammoguide . shows a load of 17 grns of LilGun,behind a 170 grain Sierra jacketed, at 1576 out of a 10 inch barrel.
The Handi has a 22 inch barrel.If we assume only 20fps per inch of additional barrel we are at 1796.LilGun has a very slow pressure curve and using a cast bullet it is safe IMHO to  get north of 1800fps.   In addition Buffalo Bore shows a 180gr FNGC at 1800+ out of a 18 1/2 inch Marlin.  Doug
a armed man is his own master