« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: Range report: 38/357 cast  (Read 1273 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Jal5

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (13)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1252
  • Gender: Male
Range report: 38/357 cast
« on: February 21, 2011, 01:06:53 PM »
I was really excited to try out my cast boolits for 38 and 357 in the S&W M66-2 with 6" barrel.  35891 mold and homemade lube, Darr type.

I literally had a blast shooting my own rounds! I was looking forward to it like I had never shot a pistol before. 15 yd. paper targets, worked up a load first for Titegroup= a 3 shot group 1.87" plus one flyer. Second load workup was for Bullseye, which I shoot a lot of in other pistols= 1.04" 4 shot group all within the 3" stick on target.

No leading with any of these, barrel is pretty clean Darr Lube used on all of these.

I also shot 357 mag loads using 358429 168gr LSWC boolits with Darr lube. used alliant 2400= 4 shot group 1.96" again at 15 yds. That is a pretty snappy load in this gun but very manageable. No leading at all. All in all I am happy with the results. Thanks to all who have given me advice on these.
 I think I am really hooked on casting now.  Good thing I shot those over the weekend thaw...back to snow storms today!
Oh yeah- I brought home a large size coffee can 1/3 full of scrap lead too- always try to bring home more than I shoot!

Joe

Logged
S. G. G. = Sons of the Greatest Generation. Too old to run, too proud to hide; we will stand our ground and take as many as we can with us

Offline Old Fart

  • Intergalactic Moderator
  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (77)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3851
  • Gender: Male
Re: Range report: 38/357 cast
« Reply #1 on: February 22, 2011, 03:48:45 AM »
The 357/38 was one of the first rounds I casted for.
Always seemed to me it was made for cast as everyone I ever had liked them.
Logged
"All my life I've had a bad case of the Fred's. Fredrick Vanderbilt taste on a Fred Sanford budget." CR
Lifetime/Endowment/Patron NRA Member.
Second Amendment Foundation, www.saf.org - Life Member

Offline revbc

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (94)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1156
  • Gender: Male
    • NewLife Worship Center
Re: Range report: 38/357 cast
« Reply #2 on: February 28, 2011, 11:34:07 AM »
Just shot my first cast loads in the maxi.  Using a Ranch Dog mold 190 gr GC, I got the best group so far out of 20.5 grs. Lil Gun.  Two touching at 50yds.  Worked up from 19.5 grs in .5 increments.  I got a fair amount of spread in weight of the first rds I dropped, but I sorted them and they seem to do Ok.

Bobby
Logged
Pastor, NewLife Worship Center
(Retired) Automotive Technology Instructor, West Feliciana High School
Avid Shooter, Hunter, Fisherman and owner of Handi Rifles

Offline Jal5

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (13)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1252
  • Gender: Male
Re: Range report: 38/357 cast
« Reply #3 on: March 01, 2011, 04:39:55 AM »
I tested some 358156 without GC using 2400 in 357 mag last weekend but they were sized to 357.  Not a great fit for this gun and resulting groups were not good. I will retry the load combination using the same boolit sized 358 and see how they work.

And I filled up that coffee can to the top with range scrap too!

Joe
Logged
S. G. G. = Sons of the Greatest Generation. Too old to run, too proud to hide; we will stand our ground and take as many as we can with us

Offline GH1

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 939
  • Gender: Male
Re: Range report: 38/357 cast
« Reply #4 on: March 01, 2011, 01:19:54 PM »
Quote from: Jal5 on March 01, 2011, 04:39:55 AM
I tested some 358156 without GC using 2400 in 357 mag last weekend but they were sized to 357.  Not a great fit for this gun and resulting groups were not good. I will retry the load combination using the same boolit sized 358 and see how they work.

And I filled up that coffee can to the top with range scrap too!

Joe

How bad was your leading?
GH1 :)
Logged
I owe my life to an organ donor

Offline Jal5

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (13)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1252
  • Gender: Male
Re: Range report: 38/357 cast
« Reply #5 on: March 02, 2011, 01:26:20 AM »
I haven't cleaned it yet, but looked down the barrel with a light. Slight leading strips at the base of the barrel. I shot another boolit load test cast at .358 and it seemed to clear it away.  At .357 though the accuracy definitely suffered, so I will make sure to size everything to .358 for this gun.

Joe
Logged
S. G. G. = Sons of the Greatest Generation. Too old to run, too proud to hide; we will stand our ground and take as many as we can with us

Offline GH1

  • Trade Count: (1)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 939
  • Gender: Male
Re: Range report: 38/357 cast
« Reply #6 on: March 04, 2011, 12:36:03 AM »
I went through the same thing with my revolver. .358 isdefinately the way to go.
GH1 :)
Logged
I owe my life to an organ donor
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »