357 mag too long to fit in snub

[Revolver]

Tonight I loaded up some Lyman 358429 357 mag that I cast recently (see pic here (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=148923)) but they seem very loooong. In-fact, they won't fit in my Ruger SP101. It does fit (with no room to spare) in my S&W model 66 though. The empty case length is 1.28" and the OAL is 1.66". I seated them right up as tight as I could and still crimp.

The boolits weigh out at 274 grain w/lube and have 6.1 grain of Unique under them.

The cases aren't longer than specification, so is this particular boolit mold not intended for 357 mag? Thoughts? Thank you.

[beagle]

That's the one drawback to the 358429...it's too long to fit in some .357 cylinders. The solution is to cut back the powder charge. crimp on the forward edge of the driving band and work the charge back up.

My Marlin M1894 .357 Mag has the same problem and that was my solution until I found a RCBS 38-162-SWC in my stash that I'd forgotton. The nose on this one is shorter and it still gives me the weight that I want.

Of course, one cavity has been hollowpointed and with Pat Marlin's .35PB GCs, it's a shooter and i'm happy with it./beagle

[HangFireW8]

Tonight I loaded up some Lyman 358429 357 mag that I cast recently (see pic here (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=148923)) but they seem very loooong. In-fact, they won't fit in my Ruger SP101. It does fit (with no room to spare) in my S&W model 66 though. The empty case length is 1.28" and the OAL is 1.66". I seated them right up as tight as I could and still crimp.

The boolits weigh out at 274 grain w/lube and have 6.1 grain of Unique under them.

The cases aren't longer than specification, so is this particular boolit mold not intended for 357 mag? Thoughts? Thank you.

As I recall, early SP101's were sold with a warning that they were for 110 and 125 grain loads only. I'm not sure but I think later SP101's fixed this issue with a long cylinder.

Here you go--
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_53/ai_n19313632/

"To stay with the .38-size cylinder window, it would need short cartridges, so the first SP101 .357s were stamped on the barrel "125 grain." Sales immediately took off, and Bill decided it would be worth the six figures of retooling to extend frame and cylinder a 1/10" or so to allow all factory .357 Mag rounds. Turns out it was worth the effort--.357 has been the SP101's best selling caliber ever since."

HF

[GP100man]

Trimm the brass a little but keep it seperated for ya snubbie or get some shorter nosed boolits .

I found out when researching Mr. Keiths R&D that he insisted that the 358429 be the same length as the 429421 !!! & the long oglive has haunted it since .

Cuz has a S&W 28 & we trimmed brass to get em to fit .

Another old design is the 358446 , they`ll fit !

http://i746.photobucket.com/albums/xx110/GP100man/102_0489.jpg

[Revolver]

This is very interesting reading, than you for sharing that. My particular SP101 2.25" was made in 2009 and has no markings that indicate 125 grain. I think I just have a boolit mold that by design exceeds specification lengths for 357 mag. I'm glad I learned this now, before casting 4.3 million boolits from it.

Initially I was glad I found this mold laying around, was going to use it as a plinking boolit since it doesn't require gas checks. Now I guess I need to reconsider that. To keep things simple I would prefer to make boolits that don't discriminate against any of my 357 magnum revolvers.


As I recall, early SP101's were sold with a warning that they were for 110 and 125 grain loads only. I'm not sure but I think later SP101's fixed this issue with a long cylinder.

Here you go--
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_8_53/ai_n19313632/

"To stay with the .38-size cylinder window, it would need short cartridges, so the first SP101 .357s were stamped on the barrel "125 grain." Sales immediately took off, and Bill decided it would be worth the six figures of retooling to extend frame and cylinder a 1/10" or so to allow all factory .357 Mag rounds. Turns out it was worth the effort--.357 has been the SP101's best selling caliber ever since."

HF

[Wolfer]

If I recall in Elmer's book Sixguns the 358-429 was developed for the 38 special before the 357 came out. He was trying to get all the powder room he could in the 38 case.

[TomAM]

SAAMI specs allow only .300" of bullet beyond the case mouth of the 357 mag. Case length=1.29"maximum, Cartridge length=1.59"maximum. Industry standard factory ammo should not exceed this length.
Cast bullet designs often ignore SAAMI specs, especially for revolvers, who's cylinders are usually much longer. And, as Wolfer said, many classic revolver designs pre-date the magnums and were intended for shorter cases in much the same length cylinders that now house magnums.

[Sven]

If I recall in Elmer's book Sixguns the 358-429 was developed for the 38 special before the 357 came out. He was trying to get all the powder room he could in the 38 case.

I believe you are correct. I was under the impression that the 358429 was designed for the S&W .38-44 Heavy Duty and Outdoorsman, both a .38 spl built on the heavy N frame with a longer cylinder. They were the precurser to the .357 mag. IIRC, Elmer was using a good stout load of 2400 to push that ~170 gr boolit to close to 1200 fps.

[Tracy]

If I recall in Elmer's book Sixguns the 358-429 was developed for the 38 special before the 357 came out. He was trying to get all the powder room he could in the 38 case.

That is correct. A lot of people just use .38 Special brass with the 429, effectively recreating the .38-44. You could also do as another poster suggested, and trim .357 Magnum brass until it fits.

All of my .357s will accept the 429 loaded full-length in standard .357 cases, but if I had one that didn't I would use .38 brass. That is not a recommendation; just a description of what I would do.

[Danderdude]

The boolits weigh out at 274 grain w/lube

I think I found your problem. Osmium casts funny like that.

What brand of pot are you using that can handle 5500F?

:kidding:

[Revolver]

I think I found your problem. Osmium casts funny like that.

What brand of pot are you using that can handle 5500F?

:kidding:

Osmium? Dang, I was told these ingots were depleted uranium. Bummer!

[MtGun44]

People forget that this was a .38 Spl boolit, not a .357 Mag boolit. The .357 did not
exist when it was designed.

Some guns have very short cylinders for .357, most amazingly the big N-frame S&W
revolvers, which have a large frame window, and a long extended barrel to reach
back across the gap to the short cylinder. They could have fixed this easily 30-40
yrs ago, but have not bothered. The K frame and L frame guns have cylinders longer
than the big N frame guns. Go figure.

Bill