All my bases covered in .38/357?

[wonderwolf]

I've been experimenting with a lot of .358 molds this year since I got a 77/357 mag bolt action rifle as well as 5" GP100 5". Here is a picture of my partial lineup for I've been trying for that rifle/pistol combination. Some work better than others for feeding in the bolt gun but all seem to shoot about the same. Not shown are the 158 keith style, 148gr and 160gr wadcutter molds, the pointy tip 35893 "Armor piercing" 125gr pill and greatly anticipated 361627 heavy weight Keith style which should cast a 213-220gr bullet. I prefer flat nose bullets greatly over the traditional round nose bullets as they make poor hunting bullets I think. I've shot the little 75gr wadcutter in .38 Short colt brass with 2gr of bullseye that give me 700fps and gone up from there to loads that give me over 2000FPS with the 125gr HP (Have not tried 2000fps yet with the "armor piercing" bullet but plan to on some hard targets). I also have swage dies and lots of jackets for "jugular" type bullets but have yet to sit down and make enough for testing.

Are there any other designs out there I should check out?

I do eventually plan to hunt medium sized game in addition to small game and know I should stick with a 158gr or heavier bullet for that, not sure if HP would be the way to go which makes me think I should try a 158 HP as I'm thinking the 213gr might shoot through something like a deer? wont know till I try.




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[MT Chambers]

I would def. try the RCBS or Saeco 200 gr. bullet.

[wonderwolf]

I like the looks of the RCBS 200gr, I would someday like to get a supressor for the 77/357 and I could see that bullet being great on hogs.

[MT Gianni]

There is rarely any disadvantage in shooting through a deer. It is what most of us try for.

[altheating]

That 77/357 will shoot better with a heavier boolit. I use the NOE 360-180, with gas checks at about 1550 fps and yes it will shoot clean through a deer at 100 yards. I want all my boolits to shoot through a deer. Blood leaking out both sides makes tracking much easier and much shorter. That rifle will shoot great if you lap the barrel, tighten up the bolt and use a heavy Boolit. Without doing those things it will probably be a so so shooter. My rifle did not like the Lyman Boolits. If I remember correctly, Screwbolts told me about butchering a beef cow a few years back and killing it with the NOE 360-180, I think he said it entered the head traveled down the neck and lodged in the beefers shoulder. Something like 32" inches total. Yup it will shoot through a deer, or two.
Although my 35 Remeys, 350 Rem Mag and the 358 Win all love the RCBS 200 the Ruger 77/357 did not. I could get no accuracy at all with it.

[AnthonyB]

altheating:
Please tell me about "tighten up the bolt" on the 77/357?
Tony

[Rustyleee]

I wouldn't try a HP in the rifle. Chances are the bullet will come apart because of the higher velocity.

[dragon813gt]

Get yourself a MP 359640. It's 170 grains in solid form and is a very accurate bullet. It has a double crimp groove so it's easily distinguishable from other molds w/ model numbers that are very close.

[wonderwolf]

altheating:
Please tell me about "tighten up the bolt" on the 77/357?
Tony

The bolt is a two piece bolt you can shim the bolt to tighten up the headspace, although one should be aware there is a very wide range of rim thicknesses between the various brands.

[altheating]

Here is where I get my shims from. http://triggershims.com/ruger_m77.html
there is a video on disassembly of the bolt and how to properly install the shims. I have done five rifles so far, all needed the shim kits. It is the quickest fix to make that rifle shoot better. Lapping will also help, I got my lapping compound from LBT Technologi. http://www.lbtmoulds.com/measurebore.shtml Those Ruger stainless barrels are super hard so it takes a bit to get them smooth, but it is worth it if you want it to shoot and keep the leading away. Here is a link to an old post about the 77/357 rifle. http://castboolits.gunloads.com/archive/index.php/t-123998.html there is a lot more just do a search at the top o this page.