Alloy for Plain base 357 mag?

[retread]

I have been loading 38 Special for years and use equal parts lead and COWW and add 1 percent tin. I powder coat all my pistol boolits. I am now getting ready to load for a 357 Magnum Smith & Wesson. Lyman book shows linotype as their test alloy but I think that is probably overkill. What do you all used for plain base 357 loads?

[quack1]

Clip on wheel weights, air cooled, has always worked for me. I lube mine, but I wouldn't think powder coating would make any difference.

[Mal Paso]

3-4% antimony + 1% tin or clip on wheel weights and tin works fine for 44 Mag. I water drop supersonic loads.

[lightman]

The alloy that you are using for 38's should work fine in your 357's.

[Conditor22]

Depends on how hot and what you want to do with it

https://i.imgur.com/4XDVJT5.png

[Outpost75]

Can't speak to powder coat.

Keith did all his .357 work with 1:16 or 1:20 tin-lead.

I do likewise with conventional lube. No issues.

[retread]

Thanks guys. I have a better feeling for it now. Conditor 22, your chart is great. Saved it for future use. Thanks again all.

[475BH]

You can get that and more right here-->http://www.lasc.us/

[6bg6ga]

Been using wheel weights for years with no problems. I just keep below 1000fps.

[WRideout]

Air cooled COWW with "some" tin added and soft homemade lube is all I have ever used. I don't push the 357 to maximum pressures, due to shooting them in a Mod 19 which won't handle full-house loads all day.

Wayne

[Kraschenbirn]

The alloy that you are using for 38's should work fine in your 357's.

Yup...'specially if you powder coat. For the last year or so, I've been shooting a PC'd 162 gr. RNFP (Arsenal mold) cast 50/50 from COWW and range scrap (+1% Sn) not only from my .357 wheelguns but also from a Rossi '92. Around 1150 fps from a 4" GP100; no leading, good accuracy. Haven't chrono'd this load from the Rossi but I'm guessing somewhere in the neighborhood of 1400 fps.

Bill

[243winxb]

Hardball Bullet Casting Alloy consists of 2% tin, 6% antimony and 92% lead. https://www.rotometals.com/hardball-bullet-casting-alloy-ingot-5-pounds-2-tin-6-antimony-and-92-lead/

[FISH4BUGS]

5 lbs ww to 1 lb linotype. Supposedly Lyman #2 alloy....works very well even at magnum velocities. Been shooting it for 40 years.

[Cherokee]

WW + some tin does it for me @ mag levels as well as plinking use.

[Rich/WIS]

Bore and throat dimensions may matter, not sure as I never checked any when I shot 38/357 revolvers. Normal alloy was 2 parts range lead to one of Lino or just plain range lead sized .357+ in either S&W M14, M15, M27, or M686. On the other hand I never tried for anything near max loads.

[RED BEAR]

I agree with above i use 50/50 mix lead ww and that works just fine.

[mattw]

I really like 94/3/3 for things that go fast. Lately I have been working with 98% old COWW and 2% pewter. Seems to work very well also, only had one issue and that was light 9mm's with the bullet mistakenly sized small... leaded like nobodies business.

[curioushooter]

For full power go with 16:1 or something harder. I really like the alloy of 91-6-3...91 pb, 6 sn, 3 sb. It's harder than 16:1 but doesn't fracture on impact. It's the alloy I use, especially in rifles.

[murf205]

242620This is a 158gr from Accurate Molds cast with about 97-3 lead to tin. I run it 1280 fps from a 6" no dash 686 and it is very accurate with no lead at all. Boolit fit is the key. The cylinder throats are .357 and that's what I size these to. Good luck and keep us posted on your results.

[Tom W.]

I use COWW and just a small amount of Ni Babbitt for the tin content. I do this for all of my cast boolits and lube w/ WLL Carnauba Red. Works for me!

[Winger Ed.]

I use wheel weights and about 10' of 95/5 Plumbers solder.
Never had any issues with full house loads out of a Marlin.