357 magnum recommendations for the 358429

[inthebeech]

As most 357 fans who also cast already know, this bullet can not be crimped in the groove and still fit in some 357 cylinders, my Three Screw BH for example :wink:

For this gun I just use Special cases with appropriate loads and I'm fine.

But I am in the market for a new DA 357 anyway so what are my options for Double Actions that have cylinders long enough for this bullet? I wish the Highway Patrolman were long enough but don't know. I like N-Frames. I'd also be fine with a 586, Python, or Trooper.

My BH cylinder is 1.60 inches long which is about .030 too short. Can you guys grab your callipers and shoot ;-) me some dimensions?

Thanks,
Ed

[ColColt]

I don't have a 586/686 or Trooper to give dim's on but the GP100 cylinder is long enough. I've used this bullet a lot and there's no problem with it protruding past the cylinder. You can crimp in the standard crimp groove without having to crimp over it.

9 gr of HS-6 is a good load with that boolit but, it's for my Ruger and may need to be worked up to in another. The S&W M27 is a beautiful revolver but it too will not take the 357429 long nose.

[Love Life]

S&W 586 if you can find one, or an older model 686.

Also you can load the 358429 in the N-frames in 357 mag brass if you crimp over the front driving band or trim your brass back a bit. A small hassel, but well worth it if you love yhe n-frames like I do.

[Beerd]

S & W Model 66 with recessed chambers = 1.675"
It takes 357 brass with the 358429 crimped in the crimp groove just fine.
So does my New Model Blackhawk so maybe I have an oddball Lyman mould.
..

[LUCKYDAWG13]

works just fine in my 686 its in older one well 25 years old

[MtJerry]

GP100 or an older Security Six

[kweidner]

just got back from the range with my dan wesson 8" it fits just fine in there and is probably the most consistent wheel gun I own. Running 12 gr of 2400 with acww chronies at 1224 and will drive tacks if I stay out of the coffee. It also fits in my mid 80's model 19. The 19 doesn't like it like the DW does. Check out Gunbroker can find great deals othe .357 DW there. You can pick up NIB bbls from EWK arms so don't worry. If frame and shroud are in good shape you can make a shooter. I got my gun at gun show. Got a deal cause the bbl wasn't in great shape. Picked up new bbl for $50 and WOW is the word. Boolits come right to the end of the cylinder but don't protrude. I run a .003 gap too. I love Dans.

[Treeman]

Smith K and L frames and Ruger Sixes all work crimped in the groove. Lower the charge and crimp over the front band for N frames. Love that Keith boolit but mostly shoot Lee 160FP for general plinking.

[David LaPell]

If you don't have any .38 Specials that you would worry about putting the loads in (I take a black permanent marker and draw a line over the primer that way I know what ammo is for what) then I say just load the 358429 in .38 +P brass. I do that because I have an Outdoorsman and a Smith 27-2 and that way I can use the same loads in both guns with no problems. The only problem with seating the bullet over the driving band is it raises the pressures and you have to lower your charge. I would rather keep my loads where I have them.

[BLTsandwedge]

If you end up with a Python and want to use the 358429, you'll need to crimp the case over the top of the driving band- crimping at the crimp groove will be too long. Been there and done that- fortunately I only ended up with 50 rounds too long for my Python. They're fine for a Smith 19 though.

[MtGun44]

Runs well in my 586 and Sec Six.

Bill

[fecmech]

Well I have either a long 358429 or a short GP 100. My 358429 is from the 70's and has the round lube groove. With some of the shorter .357 cases and a very heavy roll crimp my bullet will be just flush with the end of the cylinder. With longer cases the brass will bulge and not chamber so I just do a light taper crimp on the front drive band and shorten the oal slightly. I've never had a bullet walk out of the case in literally thousands of rounds using the taper. I was surprised reading this thread that GP's and the 358429 played so well together.

[Treeman]

If you don't have any .38 Specials that you would worry about putting the loads in (I take a black permanent marker and draw a line over the primer that way I know what ammo is for what) then I say just load the 358429 in .38 +P brass. I do that because I have an Outdoorsman and a Smith 27-2 and that way I can use the same loads in both guns with no problems. The only problem with seating the bullet over the driving band is it raises the pressures and you have to lower your charge. I would rather keep my loads where I have them.

David, Putting the .357 load in .38 spl cases ALSO necessitates lowering the charge if someone is using.357 mag data. The reality is crimping in the groove with a 38 case or over the front band in a .357 case yields loads of similar overall length. Please note however that LYMAN lists loads for this bullet with the .357 case crimped over the front band so using THAT data requires no modification. Of course your 38/44 loads are just dandy in any .357 but not everyone is going to catch onto what you are doing in your guns.

[kelbro]

Fits in my 586 but not my Dan Wesson.

[Larry Gibson]

358429 mould I had was from the late '60s and when seated to crimp groove would chamber in the 3 screw BH I had and my Colt Trooper duty revolver. Also in M19s and M27/28s. Lyman lists an OAL of 1.553" for a .357 loaded with that bullet. Mine were very close to that.

Must be some longer 358429s out there?

Larry Gibson

[fecmech]

Larry--that 1.553 was in Mag cases crimped over the front drive band.

[Reload3006]

I suppose we are talking about the keith 170gr ? Lyman mold? I have it and in 357 cases will not work in my gp100 crimped into the groove. i

[DragoonDrake]

I have a GP 100 and crimped in groove I have no problem. Funny how that works out with company's tolerances.

[MtJerry]

I can't help but to jump in here and add a note that may raise a few eyebrows.

There are a great deal of reloaders who do not trim their hadgun brass ... especially 357 mag.

I am curious of those who cannot fit the 358429 in their GP100's how may would fit if they trimmed their brass to 1.280 SAMMI spec?

I personally trim mine to 1.275 and have plenty of room for the 358429 in my GP100 and Security Six. If i do get a smidge of crimp jump on the 6 round string, there is no issue with it due to the little tiny extra space I give it. That trim length is also to allow me to shoot Ranch Dog's 175 and 190 boolits.

[kweidner]

Just got through load testing some more with my Dan Wesson 8". I am using 358429 acww at a 9bhn. Remington brass, Felix lube, 14 grains H110 seated to crimp groove CCI 500 primer. This is 6 shots at 25 yards seated using my knees as support. No lead and lube star on end of bbl. shot this 30 minutes ago.

[David LaPell]

David, Putting the .357 load in .38 spl cases ALSO necessitates lowering the charge if someone is using.357 mag data. The reality is crimping in the groove with a 38 case or over the front band in a .357 case yields loads of similar overall length. Please note however that LYMAN lists loads for this bullet with the .357 case crimped over the front band so using THAT data requires no modification. Of course your 38/44 loads are just dandy in any .357 but not everyone is going to catch onto what you are doing in your guns.

There is a 2006 Handloader edition (the exact month escapes me) but it lists all the data for the .38-44 which will work in the .357 without having to crimp the bullet over the front driving band. I have also written to Brian Pearce from Handloader on this very issue and he said either way is fine. I can tell you that 12.5 grains of 2400 with .38 +P brass and the 358429 crimped normally (which isn't even the max loading in the .38-44 has a velocity of 1,200 or so fps from a 6 1/2 inch barrel. My scanner isn't working now or I would scan the article info, plus some on the .357 in another article.