Super Heavies in the 357 Max

[KLR]

I need to start casting again before it warms up and I've got nothing to shoot.

Not only that, but Winchester is counting on you to develop their new heavy bullet hunting load.......

[Moleman-]

I saw this pic leaked online. Looks like they went with someone elses design this time

[KLR]

I saw this pic leaked online. Looks like they went with someone elses design this time

Ahh, yes. The Extreme Penetration Projectile. I heard that they gave up on that due to poor accuracy.

Anyway, today I put a few 35-200 bullets in my milling machine and made the meplat about .280". As pictured, original bullet weighs 219.5gr and milled bullet is 210.0gr. I'm going to load them with 17gr of Lil'Gun and see how they compare. It's windy with gusts to 50 mph, so I won't be able to shoot today.

[Moleman-]

We're getting the same storm. Has to be pretty windy for snow to blow into my barn from under the overhang, but it'd currently snowing on my Sheldon lathe Got a tarp on it now and the diesel generator on the charger waiting for the power to go out.

[KLR]

It's just wind here, but I've had a few shingles blow off my house. Guess I'll work on that tomorrow...

[rockrat]

Will have to try the Hodgdon "BLK" powder as I use 680 with the 35-200 (mine comes close to 220gr) for around 2000fps. 2400 works better with the same boolit @2300fps. Heaviest boolit I have used is the 260gr "hammer", over 680, for 1930fps

[Meatpuppet]

How heavy do you want to go? Left to right were all swaged in BT Snipers Dies:
240gr Swaged from 9mm Brass
260gr Swaged from 9mm Magnum Brass
280gr Swaged and Powdercoated (Smokes John Deere Green)
290gr Swaged and Powdercoated (Smokes Clear)
310gr Swaged and Powdercoated (Smokes John Deere Green)
310gr Swaged and Powdercoated (Smokes John Deere Green)

I shoot them through 357 Maximum 1-10 twist MGM barrels. 10" barrel for suppressed and 16" barrel for velocity. I found the faster twist is necessary with the heavier boolits.






Edited to add 300gr 357 Maximum loaded long. 38 Special next to them for comparison.

[KLR]

I loaded and shot three of the 230gr bullets today. I powder coated them and seated them in 357 Max brass. I loaded them with 16.5 grs of Lil'gun and a CCI small rifle primer. I intended to use the 15.5 gr load that Moleman ran for this bullet, but instead of checking this thread, I was sure that I was remembering correctly and loaded up 16.5 grains. Shame on me for not double checking.



Anyway, nothing bad happened, primers looked fine, and it put three into 1.4" at 100 yards. For my converted shotgun I think I'm pushing my luck and have decided to dial it back to milder loads and lighter bullets.

Maybe some of you with a strong rifle might find this useful.

Moleman - Would you be willing to run this through Quickload with 16.5 gr of Lil'Gun? Thanks.

[Moleman-]

KLR, are you using the same 2.0" col or 2.1"? I ran it both ways.

2.0" col, 360-230fn NOE, 16.5gr Lilgun 18" barrel....39,116 psi, 1640 fps.

2.1" col """""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""""..... 30,293 psi, 1579 fps.

Ran the same with 2400,

2.0" col, 13.0gr...35,868 psi, 1507 fps

2.1", col 14.0gr....35,081 psi, 1546 fps.

Are you using a SB1 frame with the large firing pin or some other type of single shot shotgun? I've got a very old eastern arms 12ga that I've thought about making a 357Max on after putting a smaller dia niedner type firing pin in it. I'd have to make or find a new stock is the only thing holding stopping me.

[KLR]

Moleman - Thanks! I'm using a 2.0" col. I'm using a Pardus (Turkish Folder) 12 ga shotgun. Here is my build thread:

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...-ga-to-357-Mag

The problem I'm running into is that the hammer just isn't hitting hard enough to set off rifle primers consistently. Increasing the hammer spring strength increases trigger pull too so I'm going to have to be happy with pistol loads.

[cwlongshot]

Try a Federal Primer. They are softer.

If using a SRMag or Match primer switch to and try a std SR primer.

CW

[KLR]

I'm using a CCI 400 SR. If my latest "fix" doesn't work I'll find some of those Federals.

[KLR]

2.0" col, 360-230fn NOE, 16.5gr Lilgun 18" barrel....39,116 psi, 1640 fps.

I had one of these rounds left and just now shot it over the chrono. It was 1664 fps. 18.5" barrel.

[Moleman-]

That's pretty close. If you figure if there's no free lunch, you can adjust the case water capacity to 33.0gr so the FPS matches the chrony which bumps your pressure up to about 42,126 psi. The bolt thrust is less than a 12ga and you've put a smaller dia firing pin in it. I wouldn't go higher though on the outside change you pierce a primer.

[KLR]

Thanks for running that. Sounds like I'm at the upper limit of a safe load. I'm going to go back down to a lighter bullet and lower pressure since I'm dealing with an unknown Turkish shotgun.

But those with a strong rifle might find this info useful. I'll bet that 230gr bullet would be a good deer bullet at any distance you could hit it with.

[hc18flyer]

hc18flyer, how long is Bellm making the freebore and what are you going to use as your max chamber pressure? Is that IMR 4227? I have the RCBS 35-200 and the NOE 360-228 molds although I've not used IMR4227 with them. Once you get your barrel back figure out a basic COL and I'll run it through QL with IMR4227.

Moleman- I finally got around to getting my info together for the NOE 35-230 rf in my Henry 357 Max. :Starline Max brass, 1.595 length/ NOE bullet .910 long, sized .357/ 2.220 coal. Henry uses one receiver for their rifles, including .223 and .308. I have both IMR 4227 and Accurate 1680, leaning toward the 1680. Thinking 20 or 21 grains? Not sure where to start on the 4227? Thanks, hc18flyer

[hc18flyer]

Moleman- I finally got around to getting my info together for the NOE 35-230 rf in my Henry 357 Max. :Starline Max brass, 1.595 length/ NOE bullet .910 long, sized .357/ 2.220 coal. Henry uses one receiver for their rifles, including .223 and .308. I have both IMR 4227 and Accurate 1680, leaning toward the 1680. Thinking 20 or 21 grains? Not sure where to start on the 4227? Thanks, hc18flyer

Sorry, bullet weights 235 grains in my soft hunting alloy of 2/3 coww, 1/3 soww. I do have a Forster hollow pointer for my case trimmer, considering lightening them up a little?

[Moleman-]

Ran IMR 4227 and the 1680 using the NOE bullet 2.22" COL and a water capacity of 33.6gr didn't change the bullet weight from 232 to 235 as it only makes a few fps change in the QL guestimate and a 16" barrel.

IMR4227 22.0gr 99% density 46K 1762pfs
21.0gr 40K 1690fps
20.0gr 34.8K 1618fps
19.0gr 85% density 30K 1544fps

1680 25.0gr 99% density 49.8K 1815fps
24.0gr 43K 1741fps
23.0gr 37K 1668fps
22.0gr 87% density 32K 1595fps

*** I haven't loaded very many 357Max with 1680, but have run numbers for others who all have reported similar results. For some reason the QL software doesn't do a good job guessing the speed or pressure at least in 357 straight walled cases 1.6" to 1.8" long. Often giving very high pressure and lower fps guesses. You should always work your loads up, but keep this in mind when using 1680***

[hc18flyer]

Thank you!! Happy to start at 22 grains of Accurate 1680, and chrono as I go up. My 22" barrel should help a bit too. I would be 'tickled pink to get in the 1800 fps range, even 1700 with 1.5 moa accuracy. My Grandson and I have shot the Henry a bunch, but haven't run loads over the chrono yet. hc18flyer

[Dinny]

I use 24.0gr of AA1680 and the Accurate 36-270 and the MP 220 FN (HP). I have yet to chrono the latter but the 270gr LFP chronos at 1755fps in my 22" barrel. Accuracy from both is stellar.

Thanks, Dinny