357 Mag Cast Boolits Questions

[Jal5]

I have loaded 158 LSWC and 170 LSWC with 5.9/6.0gr Unique for good accuracy out of my S&W M66, both boolits were .357 dia.

Can I assume that a lead round flat nose based on the 358-158RF mold at .358 dia. would be OK to use with that load I used on the LSWC with Unique? The dummy round fits ok in the cylinder with a slight finger pressure needed to insert.
The LSWC rounds just slide right in. I don;t see the RF nose boolit in any of the 3 manuals I have home.

Joe

[jdgabbard]

If it were me I'd use the data for the 358665, which the Lee boolit is pretty much a clone of. Both the 358665, and the 358311 are close enough in weight and dimensions that I'd consider exchanging data.

For magnum loads the 358311 (out of the Lyman manual) doesn't have data with Unique. But what you have is pretty close to a load I've used before with mixed results. I'd think I'd try a different powder. Unique is just really too fast for that application. Myabe 2400, IMR-4227 or H110. All give good results with my 158g boolits.

[Jal5]

What about the diameter itself, .358 vs. .357?
What difference should I expect in using the .358 dia. boolit separate from considerations of what load I would use?

Joe

[jdgabbard]

Well, the general rule with sizing is to measure your throats, and slug your barrel. Most times 38/357 like the .358 the best. However, you should want to size your boolits to .001 over the throats, or at least the same diamater. This too can lead to problems. Lets say your throats measure .361 and your barrel measures .355. You can imagine that .006 is a bit much for your barrel to try and digest. Most times things are fine, but you should always measure to get the best results.

For example I have a S&W 65 that has a .355 barrel on it. So I could go with .356, but my chambers measure at .358-.359, so I just size it to .358 and I've not had any problems yet. But you might with this combo. Everything has to work together.

[NickSS]

I shoot a lot of Lee 158 gr RFN slugs in both revolvers and lever action rifles. I originally bought the mold for the lever action but found they work just fine in several 357 mag revolvers as well. You should not have any trouble as I size all my bullets to .358-.360 (depending on if i am also loading 38S&W). In a 357 Mag I usually use 7 gr of Unique and get good accuracy and no leading. I usually use 50-50 alox and bees wax.

[EDK]

I'm loading for 6 VAQUEROS, 3 MARLIN Cowboy rifles and assorted S&W revolvers. So far, my load has been 5.0 of TITEGROUP and the LYMAN 358665 sized to .359. I'm just starting out with the NOE 360 180 WFN, also with 5.0 of TITEGROUP, sized to .361. So far, so good....accuracy seems slightly better.

Next project is rifle specific loads with 2400, 4227 or 5744.

LARS' 50/50 ALOX lube now...next cast batch will be with 2500 to try it out.

:cbpour::redneck::Fire:

[MT Gianni]

What about the diameter itself, .358 vs. .357?
What difference should I expect in using the .358 dia. boolit separate from considerations of what load I would use?

Joe

Your bore size will determine boolit diameter. 0.001 will be negligible. For the same weight boolits you need to consider bearing length of the boolit. Similar bearing lengths are OK for similar loads just don't start out high. Obviously the amount of boolit in the case reducing capacity comes into play here too.

[Jal5]

thanks for the responses. I loaded some up for testing last night: 5.90/6.0/6.10 and will see how they do and give you a range report.

Joe

[Jal5]

Finally tested the 3 loads: 5.9, 6.0, 6.1 Unique for 158 gr. RF boolits. Was not impressed with the performance: 6.1 was best 3.64" 4 shot group+1 flyer @15yds. off sand bags.

I could go up to 7.0 in Unique according to NickSS (where was that data from Nick?) but I may just try 2400 since I have another application for it with 170 gr. LSWC boolits anyway.

What do you think?

Joe

[That'll Do]

Finally tested the 3 loads: 5.9, 6.0, 6.1 Unique for 158 gr. RF boolits. Was not impressed with the performance: 6.1 was best 3.64" 4 shot group+1 flyer @15yds. off sand bags.

I could go up to 7.0 in Unique according to NickSS (where was that data from Nick?) but I may just try 2400 since I have another application for it with 170 gr. LSWC boolits anyway.

What do you think?

Joe

I'd give 2400 a try instead of working up the Unique loads any further. In my 686, loads greater than 6.0gr Unique w/ a 158gr SWC (in 357 mag brass) show no improved accuracy.

I have experienced very good accuracy with 2400, all across its load range, with bullets from 158gr to 180gr. It's good stuff.

[Jal5]

Yeah I have to switch over to 2400, now i just have to find it somewhere close by! I will try one of the local gun stores in town on the way home. I was at Cabelas several weeks ago near Hamburg, PA and almost bought a can then, I should have grabbed it.
Joe

[Wally]

I was out last week using my Ruger Blackhawk & a Model 27 using the 358156 Lyman bullet and 8.0 grains of Unique...it was superbly accurate and provided a MV of 1,300 FPS...this load works well in my 1894C Marlin carbine as well. Unqiue does not measure quite as well as 2400---I have deveopled a technique, when using my powder measure, to keep the charges w/i 0.1 grains of each other. That maybe your problem when you use Unqiue. Granted 2400 will give you a bit more velocity, but you do use a considerable more amount of it.

[Jal5]

Wally-

I even measured each one with the scales for the load development rounds so I know I wasn't off in that respect. I didn't go as high as you did with Unique though.

Joe

[randyrat]

I'd give 2400 a try instead of working up the Unique loads any further. In my 686, loads greater than 6.0gr Unique w/ a 158gr SWC (in 357 mag brass) show no improved accuracy.

I have experienced very good accuracy with 2400, all across its load range, with bullets from 158gr to 180gr. It's good stuff. What is the suggested max for 180 grain GC 357mag using 2400

[pmeisel]

Randyrat, you should check a manual yourself, but my notes (derived from manuals and testing over the years) say 11 grains.is what I settled on. My current manuals don't show 180 grain lead but it would seem that they would go higher (they show 13.5 with 170 grains lead and 12.5 with 180 grain jacketed).

[That'll Do]

What is the suggested max for 180 grain GC 357mag using 2400

The data I have (for an Oregon Trail, plain base 180gr TC) shows a starting charge of 10.8gr and a max of 12.0gr of Alliant 2400. It also calls for magnum small pistol primers. I used the same data for gas-checked bullets, specifically the 180gr LBT WFNGC from Cast Performance.

For what it's worth, once I reached 11.5gr of 2400, I started to get sticky extraction.

[Jal5]

I loaded the 358-158RFs with 2400 and it shows real promise at 15 yds. 3 shots within 1.5" two were touching in the bullseye, 1 more shot was a flyer 2.5" low. I loaded 6.2, 6.4, 6.6, and 6.8 gr but at 6.6 I started getting pressure signs of cratered primer. That was the one that shot the best. I plan to load up some in 6.4, 6.5, and try those.