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Thread: Couldn't figure where to put this one - bad factory 357 ammo

  1. #1
    Boolit Master armoredman's Avatar
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    Couldn't figure where to put this one - bad factory 357 ammo

    Needed 357 brass for my new wheelgun, couldn't find any, so lets just buy the cheapest 357 mag ammo out there and voila! Brass and a fun way to get it! Well, no, not fun after all.
    Massive keyholing, plated bullets sized at .356 for a .357, not amused.
    However, it's all been "disposed of", and the newly tumbled, decapped, resized and reprimed brass awaits their first CAST boolits to be loaded tonight
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  2. #2
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    .356 would definitely account for the keyholing. I have a .357 Blackhawk convertible. When I try to shoot 9mm from it, at 15 yds., I get the same results. At least half the bullets keyhole.
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  3. #3
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    I'm in the same boat you are. Just ordered some 357 ammo that was about half the price of the bullet. Guess I will find out if they keyhole also.
    Last edited by MrWolf; 11-13-2023 at 09:32 AM.

  4. #4
    Boolit Master
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    If memory serves, that's the same company that was blowing up. 308's a while back,

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  5. #5
    Boolit Buddy
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    Star Line has .357 brass in stock. As does Midway.

  6. #6
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    Mk42gunner's Avatar
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    With that poor level of QA on the projectiles, I would inspect the brass very carefully.

    Good luck with it,

    Robert

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Sasquatch-1 View Post
    .356 would definitely account for the keyholing. I have a .357 Blackhawk convertible. When I try to shoot 9mm from it, at 15 yds., I get the same results. At least half the bullets keyhole.
    The 9mm cylinders on these guns have the longest and crookedest throats of any Ruger revolver. Egged, and the egged part seems to rotate within the throat. Horrible throats. When I get one of these on the Sunnen hone, the hone tries to snatch it from my hands until I can get it honed enough to control it.

    Knowing what I have seen with these 9mm BH cylinders, it's no surprise to hear an unfavorable range report.

    Honing that cylinder to .3585" throats and you shoot .358" in it, it will group a BUNCH better, with no keyholing and no leading.

    The upside of this is throat diameters are tight enough and Ruger left enough metal to be removed that they will clean up to be round, parallel, consistent throats at .3585"
    Last edited by DougGuy; 11-13-2023 at 09:18 PM.
    Got a .22 .30 .32 .357 .38 .40 .41 .44 .45 .480 or .500 S&W cylinder that needs throats honed? 9mm, 10mm/40S&W, 45 ACP pistol barrel that won't "plunk" your handloads? 480 Ruger or 475 Linebaugh cylinder that needs the "step" reamed to 6° 30min chamfer? Click here to send me a PM You can also find me on Facebook Click Here.

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
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    Ruger comes through again. How do they live with themselves?
    Cognitive Dissident

  9. #9
    Boolit Master Sasquatch-1's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by DougGuy View Post
    The 9mm cylinders on these guns have the longest and crookedest throats of any Ruger revolver. Egged, and the egged part seems to rotate within the throat. Horrible throats. When I get one of these on the Sunnen hone, the hone tries to snatch it from my hands until I can get it honed enough to control it.

    Knowing what I have seen with these 9mm BH cylinders, it's no surprise to hear an unfavorable range report.

    Honing that cylinder to .3585" throats and you shoot .358" in it, it will group a BUNCH better, with no keyholing and no leading.

    The upside of this is throat diameters are tight enough and Ruger left enough metal to be removed that they will clean up to be round, parallel, consistent throats at .3585"
    I have shot 9 mm rounds I have sized to .358 in this gun with very good results. It just seems the .0002 difference in the sizing is the problem.

    This will be my last post about that. I don't want to .
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  10. #10
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    My first though was they were re-purposing some 9mm bullets for 357.. but at that weight.. i doubt it.. my next thought is that they are simply processing their 357 on 9mm designed equipment.. thus the small size..

  11. #11
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    I'd contact the manufacturer and let him know about the results I had. At worst, they might send you some free ammo. Pull it down and reuse the brass and primer.
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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check