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Author Topic: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast  (Read 636 times)

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Offline kynardsj

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Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« on: December 22, 2009, 02:41:43 AM »
I recently purchased about 400 180 gr cast FP 357's from a guy on another forum. Beautiful bullets and the price was right. I loaded up some in my 357's over 7.2 grains of Unique and some in my 38's over 4.2 grains of Unique. Also loaded a few 357's over 14 grains of Lilgun. My Blackhawk, Dan Wesson and my Smith loved them all but the 16 1/4 inch Contender was having none of it. First shot at 50 yards was about 6 inches left of center and the second keyholed the target. I checked the barrel for leading and found none. Went back to the 158 gr jacketed and it started stacking them back on top of each other. I still want to try some 180 gr Hornady JHP's as soon as Midway gets them back in to see if it's the weight of the bullet or if this gun just won't shoot cast.
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Offline Questor

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #1 on: December 22, 2009, 02:47:03 AM »
It's probably related to the twist rate of the barrel. If you're getting keyholing that is almost certain to be the problem. The only solution is to use a shorter bullet.
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Offline Steve P

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #2 on: December 22, 2009, 06:11:12 AM »
I agree with above post in that you could have a slow twist barrel that doesn't like the longer bullet.  BUT, it could be the length of the barrel and the pistol loads you are loading up.  For a 16" barrel, you want to use a rifle load.  You have a lot of bearing surface and a lot of bore to ride.  You are going to have to push that bullet faster in the longer barrel to get it to stabilize. 

Steve :)
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Offline Hopalong7

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #3 on: December 22, 2009, 11:59:52 AM »
     Most, if not all, TC .357 diameter barrels are the same twist....1:14 if memory serves....whether it be 38spl, mag, max, Herrett or 35Rem reguardless of length.  All of the above are usually known to shoot good with 180's or better and actually prefer them to lighter boolits.  My personal 10" 357Mag and I think all the Max barrels I've ever had shot cast well and loved the Lyman 205gr Lyman 357315 along with some other 180 or bigger cast.  So don't give up here too easy.  Maybe haven't hit on the right load although I'm surprised neither the Unique or Lil'Gun load worked.  I also have no problem shooting cast bullets out of my 21" Max barrel. ???
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Offline Lone Star

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #4 on: December 22, 2009, 12:31:31 PM »
The twist rate is fine at 1:14" (as listed on T/C's site) - as long as the velocity is sufficient.  What is the bullet's measured diameter?  This could be the key, particularly if the barrel's throat is oversized.    How did you check for leading - did you use a tight-fitting jag/brush, or just look down the barrel?    

One problem could be the loads.  Unique is seldom recommended for top-end .357 Mag loads with heavy bullets, and Alliant lists a max load of 6.0 grains of Unique with a 158-grain bullet.  Unique is famous for gas-cutting lead bullets when loaded to high pressures and undersized cast bullets.  If you are getting gas cutting that could cause the problem you are seeing - but if that were the case then you should notice leading.  I suppose shallow grooves or the wrong bullet alloy could cause the problem, it is an interesting issue.....


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Offline kynardsj

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #5 on: December 22, 2009, 01:41:16 PM »
I brushed the bore good over some paper and all I got was some unburned Unique. I've since shot some more 158 JHP's in it and they did great. This isn't the first lead bullets my Contender hasn't liked. I had tried some 173 grain Keith style SWC's over 16.4 grains on Lilgun. No keyholing but scattered them all over the target. I'll try some heavy jacketed bullets later but if it just likes 158 grain JSP's or JHP's I reckon I can live with that. They'll shoot one ragged hole at 50 yards.
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Offline Lager

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #6 on: December 22, 2009, 03:22:38 PM »
kynardsj, If your shooting a ragged hole @50 useing the 158's your doing well. Especially if your using Unique.
The best I can do, using jacketed is a 3/4 inch 5 shot group.
My best load uses 11.5 grains of 2400, seated to 1.630"  Any more or less powder,more or less Over all length, the shot group scatters.
Useing Unique or Power pistol powder just makes the testing worthless.
Im in the process of loading some lead 158's, some friends of mine are into melting and swear they increase accuracy. Im gonna give them a try, free boolit heads? They swear they wont lead the barrel, if they dont? That will be a first for me.
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Offline kynardsj

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #7 on: December 22, 2009, 03:55:48 PM »
The jacketed 158's in this Contender shoot great sitting over Unique or Lilgun. I just had a bunch of Unique I needed to use. I play with Unique but when I'm serious I load Lilgun.
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Offline securitysix

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Re: Contender Doesn't like 180 gr Cast
« Reply #8 on: December 23, 2009, 08:49:09 AM »
Since you know jacketed 158s work, you might try some lead 158 or 160 grain bullets.
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