180gr. or 200gr. in .357 Mag revolver?

[jayjay1]

Hi Gentlemen,
I love heavier bullets and have shot bought copper plated 180grainers in my 6" 686 S&W with the biggest succes.
Most precise round out of it ever, with 3N37.

Now I want to do my own heavy .357 round, and am asking myself, if I should take a 180gr. or go bigger and buy me a 200gr. mold.

What would you guys say, or what are your experiences?
The S&Ws have a loooong twist rate, can they stabilize a 200gr. bullet or should I stay with the 180gr. for some reason?

Any info is welcome!


Cheers,
Jay

[marshall623]

NOE 360-180-WFN shoots like a champ in my GP. 100. I've only shot with Blue Dot but as soon as I get some H110. I'll give a go with that.

[rhbrink]

I have a LBT 200 grain mold that I can shoot in my 686 it is accurate at 25 yards I have never tried it any farther than that the problem is with the heavier bullet the recoil causes the revolver to shoot high at 25 yards, too high and I can not adjust the rear sight down enough I need a taller front sight and it is not easily replaceable on my 686.

RB

[Adam10mm]

The 180gr WFN is a wonderful bullet in the Magnum. Also look for a Lyman 358627 mold which is the 215gr SWC-GC with dual crimp groove. Great bullet. Those two are the only ones I shoot in my gun.

[jayjay1]

215gr. in a 357 revolver?

Really that heavy and well stabilized / precise?
Wow!

How is it with "shooting high", what rhbrink said?

(I know this issue from a 45 ACP revolver, feeded with 230grainers. The bullets were so slow, that they were still in the barrel, when it went up after the shot.)

[bobthenailer]

I also use 180 to 200 gr castboolets in my 357's I have the Lee GB 180 gr gc wfn, Saeco #354 , 396 and in 200 gr the Saeco #395 and RCBS 200 gr-35-200-fn. All are accurate in my guns !

the RCBS 35-200 loaded in 357 mag cases can be used in the L frame S&W 686 revolver but not in there N frame model 27 revolvers with shorter cylinders. In my Marlin rifle they have to be single loaded.

For a 357 mag revolver or rifle, I would go with bullets weighing 180 gr or less! the 200 gr boolets are more usefull in 35 cal rifle's larger than the 357 mag and in 357 mag single shot pistols.

[pworley1]

Heavy bullets are great for hunting, but I believe that they are a waste of lead for punching holes in paper.

[Outer Rondacker]

Im with pworley1. In my area lead is getting hard to come buy.

[jayjay1]

Well, not so over here.

I´m one caster of thousand shooters here.
The only one in two clubs who is serious in casting.

Lead is not a problem and a heavy but soft shooting round in .357 Magnum has it´s place in competition shooting, I suppose.
;-)

[leadhead]

I shot the RCBS 35 cal. rifle bullet (210 gr) out of my Freedom Arms in handgun silhouette
for years. At 200 meters, it was deadly.
Denny

[jayjay1]

Hm, Freedom Arms, what twist rate do they have?

S&Ws have normally 1/18,75", which is veeeeery long, not so good for heavier stuff.
So that´s the question, where the deadline for S&Ws is here.

I think I stay on the safe side and go with a 180gr..

Any suggestions?
What is with the NOE WFN?
http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product_info.php?cPath=35&products_id=96&osCsid=tmq66fhvlf17r8sbigje45f9u6

[leadhead]

I don't remember the twist rate... Haven't shot silhouette since 1998.
Denny

[MarkP]

I sure like the NOE 180 WFN mold; I have a (2) cav brass HP mold.
119394119395

[Artful]

Hm, Freedom Arms, what twist rate do they have?

S&Ws have normally 1/18,75", which is veeeeery long, not so good for heavier stuff.
So that´s the question, where the deadline for S&Ws is here.

I think I stay on the safe side and go with a 180gr..

1:14 is what Freedom Arms uses

[Adam10mm]

215gr. in a 357 revolver?

Really that heavy and well stabilized / precise?
Wow!

How is it with "shooting high", what rhbrink said?

(I know this issue from a 45 ACP revolver, feeded with 230grainers. The bullets were so slow, that they were still in the barrel, when it went up after the shot.)
Fine in my GP100 out to the 25y or so I shoot it. Super accurate at 25y usually printing a ragged hole using 10gr #9.

[frnkeore]

My most accurate load in my Taurus Mod 66 is, 15.0 gr Lil'Gun and the Lyman/Ideal 35875 (PB), 208 gr bullet. It will only work on 357's that have long cylinders and has to have a min of 1.670 COAL.

My Taurus has larger throats at .361 and what I believe that makes this combo accurate is, that the 35875 has a bore riding nose and it engages the lands to keep the bullet straight while the driving bands are still in the case, keeping it entering the barrel.

My 4" barreled pistol will do 1" at 20 yards with a red dot sight.

The 35875 mold is hard to come by but, the RCBS 35 200 is similar and should do as well.

Frank

[harley45]

I'll 2nd the NOE 180 WFN its great in all 4 of my 357s

[MT Gianni]

http://www.lasc.us/FryxellLyman358627.htm
Great article on the 358627.

[jayjay1]

Thanks again Gentlemen!

Well, I´m having the LEE 358/158 RF, which I´m loading coated in 38 Special and 357 Magnum, with very nice results (roundabout 1,25" groups at 25m).

Like I said, I want a heavier bullet for both 6" revolvers, having great success in earlier times with bought H&N 180gr. HS TC bullets.
But if the cast boolits won´t work on my revolvers, I would have no other use for this mold, so I´m thinking I will go on the safe side and stay with the 180gr.

The NOE 180 WFN PB seems to be very attractive to me (though I would prefer a bullet without grooves to be coated).

Any other suggestions in the 180gr.-area?

[Adam10mm]

Saeco has a 180gr TC bullet. Good accuracy out to 100y.

[Djones]

NOE 360-180 WFN. Best 357 boolit for revolver or carbine. It also shoots great out of my 358 winchester over 2400. What a great design.

As as a matter of fact I have a cylinder full of the HP version loaded in my speed six located conviently on my hip. 14.5 grains of lilgun.

[jayjay1]

Thank you everybody, I will go with the 180 WFN.

Thanks a lot for bringing in your experiences and thanks for your will to help.
:drinks:

[jmort]

Accurate 185 grain
http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=36-185M-D.png