Been here many times but first post. Need help with 190 gr boolits in 357 mag

[jdt81]

I've been reloading for many years, mostly 45 Colt, and more recently 38 spl since I recently acquired a nice Dan Wesson.
There is plenty of load data out there for the standard boolits.

After reloading wadcutters for a while I decided to make something that is a little louder. The ONLY heavy boolits I could find at the moment were 190 gr FP. They seem like good projectiles for hole punching and hunting. Problem is I can't find ANY data on loading these. My personal books (Speer and Lee) say nothing. Lots about 180 gr and a mention of a 200 gr jacketed bullet. I even have one of those "One Book" load books. Nothing.

So, anyone have experience with this boolit? I'm interested ~1100 fps. Not looking to set any records here.
Gun is a 15-2 with 8" and 1:12 twist.

Also, I'd like to stick with the powders I already have/am familiar with - H110, Lil Gun, 4227, 2400 (though the 4227 has been a bit dirty in my experience, lots of unburned powder). I'm guessing the 2400 would be the safest If I have to head out into uncharted territory. The H110 and Lil' Gun can be a bit finicky imo.

Any and all help is much appreciated.

jt

[RED333]

Here is a thread for a rifle, back off the load a bit and then work up to what works in your pistol.
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?66803-357-mag-180gr-loads
I know it is for a 180 gr boolit, but it will be a place to start and it uses the powder you have.

[cbrick]

Welcome to CastBoolits jdt81,

190 gr FP cast? Jacketed?

A 190 gr boolit in the 357 DW is actually fairly light loading at 1100 fps. I shoot the RCBS 180 gr Silhouette boolit cast @ 188 gr in my alloy at 1500+ fps using H-110 in my FA revolver.

A simple way is to use the 200 gr data you have, use the starting loads and work up. If you use the H-110 keep in mind that it is not the best powder for reduced loads, it will be most accurate (considerably so) as you approach a full charge.

That DW is a fine revolver, no doubt you'll get a lot of enjoyment out of it. That's the revolver that for many years dominated Master Class in long range revolver silhouette.

Rick

[bhn22]

The 200 gr jacketed data could be a good starting point, depending on how much of the original bullet is in the case vs how far your bullet sits in your case. Some of the older reloading manuals show data for 200 gr 358 rifle bullets in their Contender sections, and the older Lyman manuals will have data for 358627 bullets, which are a 215 gr cast design, specifically designed for the .357 mag & 357 Max. Glen also has a rather gnarly article on this bullet, and it provides some very valuable data as well:
http://www.lasc.us/FryxellLyman358627.htm

[Silver Jack Hammer]

In using the 190's in a Colt Single Action Army I had to trim the brass a little bit to get them to chamber. Then that brass has to be marked as dedicated to 190's only. I'll look for my loading data. It was my impression that firing the 190 the blast was less than a light boolit like a 125. The data I was using kept the pressures low. I was loading the 190 for 200 yard shooting.

[jdt81]

Thanks for the replies so far.

cbrick these are cast .358", no gas checks, and looks like the OAL will be 1.6"
I know 1100 is fairly tame, but if I want to really make noise, I've got plenty of hot loads for my 45. However, the 1100 fps was more to prevent leading than anything else.

[shorty500M]

regularly cast and use a 193g gcTC thats seats to 1.6coal. my load is 12g h4227

[KYCaster]

Ummmmmm................am I missing something here?????????????

The S&W model 15 is chambered in 38 Special, not 357 Mag. The powders you list are, IMO, NOT SUITABLE for 38 Special loads with any weight bullets.

With 190 gr. bullets it's best to limit velocities to the 750 to 850 fps range with powders in the W231, Unique range.

But..........that's just my opinion.........you can do whatever you want.

Jerry

[jdt81]

Sorry, should have been more clear. It's a Dan Wesson 15-2 357 mag.

[9.3X62AL]

A load I've used with GREAT success employs the Lyman #358430 (195 grain RN) and 12.4 grains of WW-296, AKA Hodgdon's H-110. Lit by either WSPM or CCI-550 primers, these loads have approached 1200 FPS in 6"-6.5" 357 Magnum barrels for me for many years. This is actual chronography, NOT a loading manual claim. This load is abstracted right from W-W loading data for 200 grain lead bullets, has been very safe in a number of guns, quite accurate, and gave zero leading. Primers still show quite a bit of radius, and cases extract very easily. Pressures appear to be well within current SAAMI ratings (36K CUP), and have been run in K-, L-, and N-frame S&Ws as well as Colt I-, J-, and P-frames. Quite pedestrian and boring for Ruger Blackhawks. No Dan Wesson work to date, personally.

[KYCaster]

Ummmmmm................am I missing something here?????????????

The S&W model 15 is chambered in 38 Special, not 357 Mag. The powders you list are, IMO, NOT SUITABLE for 38 Special loads with any weight bullets.

With 190 gr. bullets it's best to limit velocities to the 750 to 850 fps range with powders in the W231, Unique range.

But..........that's just my opinion.........you can do whatever you want.

Jerry


Never mind...........:oops:

[9.3X62AL]

Yeah, the NERVE of some company--to use "Model 15" to describe a revolver OTHER than a S&W Combat Masterpiece. SACRELIGIOUS. SCANDALOUS.

(J/K) The Dan Wessons are VERY FINE revolvers.

[jdt81]

In my defense I DID say Dan Wesson somewhere in there. However, I concede that to a non-Danite, a model 15 (even a model 15-2) can only mean one thing.
Never shot a model 15, but I recently bought a model 14 for my father. Of course I had to make sure it worked before I could give it too him. It took a few trips to the range before I was satisfied. Extremely nice gun.

9.3x62AL and others, I'm seeing a lot of loads (including yours) with H110. I've got a lot of that powder and like it in my 45 so I think I'll give it a try.

Thanks for everyone's reply.