357 mag 10" Contender

[Junior1942]

I'm bidding on a 357 mag 10" Contender barrel for use with the group buy C358-180-RF bullet. Reckon I can get 1700 fps with that bullet and Lil-Gun? I ought to be able to seat the bullet out and load 17 to 18 grs of Lil'Gun, huh?

I'm trying to make a lightweight thicket gun.

[redneckdan]

I just got a 7" .357 barrel. It really seems to like the lyman 215gr SWC over 11.0 gr of 2400. Tried the RCBS 150 KT over 16.0gr of 296, shot okay but the muzzle flash was nutz :shock: It was actually messing with the chronograph readings.

I'll check my contender loading book 180gr data fer ya.

[Junior1942]

My VMD/case volume calculations show that ~18.5 grs of Lil-Gun will fit in the case with the bullet crimped in the 2nd groove. Whether or not I'd want to shoot that load is a different story......

[redneckdan]

Hodgdon lists

Lil'gun and 180gr Nosler Partition

15.0gr 1422 FPS 34,500 CUP

Max data will run up around 42,000 CUP, so it seems there is some wiggle room. Speer listeds data up to 45,000 CUP for silouhete loads. Also the load given by hodgdon is safe in .357 mag revolvers, so the it seems you could hot rod it a bit for the contender. Then again, is that extra 100fps we're always chasing gonna make that much difference in the long run?

[Junior1942]

I push the group buy bullet to 1750 fps in my Rossi 20" lever action using ~15.5 grs Lil-Gun. No, 100 fps more isn't the end all be all, but I want all the TKO I can get within safety limits. I ain't a hotrodder, but I don't like wounding deer. If he's quartering ahead or away, I want to be able to take the shot. I'm talking 50 yards max range, 25 more likely.

[JSH]

Go to the LASC web site and take a look. My 180 in a 10" tube is running just shy of 1700 with 14.5 of lilgun.
The article is on an FA rather than a TC. I followed his data on everything, case (starline), primer etc. The load is stiff and not for the faint of heart.
jeff

[Junior1942]

Well, I won the barrel--$169. The plan is to install a Williams WGRS with their new Ghost Ring fiber optic rear. In the picture it looks like a ring with a green dot on each side. For a front sight, I'll file a V in the T-C factory front sight and epoxy a red fiber optic rod in it. The problem might be getting the proper front height due to the ghost ring fiber optic coming only in a 1/4" size. I may have to perform major surgery on the T-C front sight. It's sweated on octagon Contender barrels, isn't it?