S & W Outdoorsman and light cast bullet loads

[David LaPell]

I worked up some light loads for my Outdoorsman using a 130 grain SWC and 4.7 grains of Win 231. I didn't touch the sights at all since it was already sighted in for my 170 grain Lyman #358429 loads which are pretty hot. These are mild, not sure of the velocity but it feels like I am shooting a .22. This was the very first load I tried.

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/Outdoorsmanmaple.jpg

http://i561.photobucket.com/albums/ss57/Smith29-2/lightloadtarget.jpg

[357Mag]

David -

If you can tolerate a bit more recoil, might I suggest you try 7.0gr I 4756 and
regular SP primer, under any Lyman .357 cal SWC of 158-172 gr ?

For a more full-tilt mag load, 14.5gr WW296 and SP Magnun primer; under Lyman 158-172 SWCs. This latter load, I have assembled by thousands.
It has always shot superbly in all my .357Mag "N"-frames, of 4,5; and 6"
( M-520, M-27; M-28 ).

I has also shot superbly in 2ea custom-barrelled 4" "N"-frames.
One, a M-58 converted to .357Mag; which featured the stock barrel re-lined in
.357"calibre. The other, a former NYSP 4" light-wt barreled' M-520; which sports a custom 4" bull barrel ( which I shoot/carry today ).

Been carryin' a .357Mag "N"-frame of one barrel length or another; for 36+ yr.


With regards,
.357Mag

[Beerd]

David,
nice looking target and nice looking revolver!
..

[rintinglen]

Great looking gun. Those N frame 38's are super neat. I find that the N frame is a hair too large for me to shoot well, but they are still neat guns.

[x101airborne]

Really nice. Those N-frames to me are too much fun. All pop and no kick! Course, I am not really loading all that hot because I have too many light duty 38's and dont want an ammo mixup. Still though, I have killed couple pigs with my 38's with proper shots on proper size animals. My biggest was a 340 pound boar at 5 feet, one shot to the head. Under those circumstances I certainly did not feel under gunned.

Anytime you have a light "squirrel" load shooting close to point of aim to your heavy hunting load you are fortunate. tweak it and be sure to write it down. Good on ya! Feel sorry for that squirrel!