My wimpy scandium snubby load

[Ohio Rusty]

Today I had the opportunity to run thru my new scandium snubby some handloaded .357 ammo. I keep hearing from guys words like 'brutal' and 'punishing' when describing .357's shot from a scanduim snubby.

I've settled on shooting from this gun 125 grainers. I had some 125 grain remington SJHP's. I loaded them over top of 7 grains of Unique, the recommended starting load. I set up my targets loaded the cylinder with 5 rounds, cocked back the hammer (it's a S&W model 360), and touched off the primer. Hmmmm .... somewhere, the word brutal got lost in this shot ... so I fired 4 more. They felt about like a 38 +p maybe and actually felt winpy. After several cylinders I fired some Lee cast RNFP boolits that weighed about 132 grains, cast from straight WW's. They shot about the same, maybe a tad more recoil, but I did notice some leading when I finished shooting. I'll need to make a harder alloy for .357 and that should cure the leading issue.

All in all ... it was fun shooting my new .357 scanduim snubby, and I need more practice to get a better group. I'm also going to increase the powder charges and work up a stronger 125 grain load as 7.0 grains of Unique is pretty wimpy in my snubby. There is a point where a good load will match good accuracy. That is my goal to find it and carry that load all the time. I'm confident this gun will save my life if I need it.
Ohio Rusty ><>

[redneckdan]

7.0 in a .357 case is equivalent to a 38 special +p load.

Work yer way up to 20.0gr of H110 with the same bullet....then we'll talk.:bigsmyl2:

[dk17hmr]

......Work yer way up to 20.0gr of H110 with the same bullet....

I use a bit more than 20grs of H110 with 125gr but its a fire breathing monster in my 4" 357

[MGySgt]

If you are going to carry it - stay away from H110 and 296. You touch one of those off in a semi dark area and you will be blind for the next several seconds, all you will see is a bright light while the bad guy either beats you over the head or stabs you or shoots you.

One shoot one Perp - maybe OK - 2 perps and you are in trouble.

Stick with Unique or better yet 231 or even better Bulls Eye.

It is not the biggest, baddest load that wins fights - accurate, well aimed shots (plural).

I carry a Ruger LCR in 38 +P - loaded with a 133 grain hollow point (358477 HPed by Buckshot) 40-1 mix, with BE - I get close to 900 FPS and an acceptable muzzel flash. I tested them after dark on my range. Unique was ok, but BE was much better.

FWIW

[subsonic]

If you want to spice things up, work your way toward 17gr of AA9 w/a SPM primer. I was getting 1500fps out of a 2" gun with a 125XTP.

I have read that AA9 is flash suppressed, but have never verified it myself.

[Beau Cassidy]

Glad to hear my 327 isn't the only one to lead. I load mine with 5.0 grains of Unique and a Keith bullet. Haven't chronographed it yet.