357 180gr gc load need help

[leas327]

I would like to know if anyone can help me out with some load information. The gun is a 5in. 627. I will be using noe 180gr wfn gc boolits. It will be at bowling pins at 25 feet. I want a load that will take them off the table clean. I don't really want to use 296/H110 to get there. It has too much muzzle flash and a lot of recoil that eats up time trying to recover from. I would like something in the neighborhood of 1050 to 1100 fps. I have a chronograph to check and only care if it is accurate at 25 feet. This is my only purpose for this load/ gun/ boolit combo. Thanks in advance.
Ryan

[fecmech]

I would go with the fastest powder that safely gives you 1100 fps. Just about any load is bowling pin accurate at 25 ft imo. That will give you the least recoil and fastest recovery time.

[44man]

Too fast is no good for pins. Boolit weight and lower velocities will knock them off better.
I watched guys shooting through the pins without them even falling over.

[bobthenailer]

i would think some of the med to med fast burn rate powders should work well !
ive shot alot of pin shoots but i never used a 357 mag for that purpose
i use a 45 acp in stock revolver class and in automatic stock and unlimted class and also a 44 mag revolver in unlimted class loaded with a saeco 200 wc .
i checked my records with my 5 inch 627 and with a 180 gr cast bullet i got 1,130 fps with 12.0 of surplus 820 powder and 937 fps with 5.0 of tight group with the same bullet this is almost a max load of tight group start lower and work up , i would think you would want from 1000 to 1100 fps .
the reason for the 2 loads i have 2 - 627s one has a comp and the comp works better with the slow powder

[GP100man]

Try 6.5-7grs. of 800x, I would say 2400 but each time I reduce 2400 it gives me the yellow kernals of unburnt stuff & under the clock not good to deal with.

[Groo]

Groo here
A 90% load of AA1680,, more of a push..

[.357]

try blue dot it's my go too, kicks less more like a shove. my go to for 158s is 10 grains.

[Screwbolts]

Try 6.5-7grs. of 800x, I would say 2400 but each time I reduce 2400 it gives me the yellow kernals of unburnt stuff & under the clock not good to deal with.

My father will be carrying my 357 mag Custom SS rifle this fall hunting with a load of 6.5 gr of 800X and the group buy NOE 360180 FN. Light recoil 1265 FPS deadly accurate and It won't hurt his 80 year old bones.

Ken

[HBAR2989]

10gr bluedot works great from 158-180gr.

[leas327]

Looks like i will have to go pick up some powder. I have some blue dot already, but honestly I think i just like trying stuff out as much as I like shooting matches. I have been shooting a .45 auto with the mp 200 gr hp w/ 7.8 gr. of power pistol. It will absolutly throttle the pins and point of impact is the same as my lighter 231 load that I use for everything else. But I would really like to work on developing better revolver skills. So I decided to start shooting more matches with revolvers. I feel that shooting matches helps show me weak spots in my ability that I don't pick up on when just shooting with friends.

[bobthenailer]

even though i can shoot faster with the auto, i shoot more consistantly with the revolver! i guess i know i only have 6 shots instead of 10 in the auto.
my fastest time ever for 5 pins useing unlimted handguns with compensators and red dot sights was 2.22 seconds for the auto and 2.67 seconds for revolver buts that not my average just bragging times.

[leas327]

even though i can shoot faster with the auto, i shoot more consistantly with the revolver! i guess i know i only have 6 shots instead of 10 in the auto.
my fastest time ever for 5 pins useing unlimted handguns with compensators and red dot sights was 2.22 seconds for the auto and 2.67 seconds for revolver buts that not my average just bragging times.

2.22 and 2.67 is smokin. There is one guy at my range that can run the gun like that. It is awsome to watch. My best time is 3.80 with my stock 1911, but my average is slower. I just now managed to put back enough cash to get a c-more and a 180 gr mold. Ported 627's with c-mores are what a few of the guys use at my range in open class. They like it because you have 8 shots to get it done instead of 6. A couple of them use 180 XTP's and they said to use heavier bullets for the extra weight lower velocity that seems to work better than really turning up the speed on a 158 gr. stuff. I really am looking forward to trying it out. I have never really shot a handgun with and optic before so I will definatly have a little bit of a learning curve.

[bhn22]

I would seriously consider AA #9 or #7. I just checked their website & they do show loads for .357 mag with a 180 gr cast bullet.

I wish my club would reinstate the timer for pin matches. We started getting so many people that we went to 4 tables & only run mano e mano. I too prefer revolvers. At one point I conned the Match Directors into letting me shoot 38 Spl against the 9mm shooters. They told me what a disadvantage I'd be under, but finally let me shoot. After a few relays, I was told that I'd have to shoot 9mm in the minor caliber match from now on. I even offered to shoot wadcutters!This year I'm going to try getting them to start a 38 Spl relay. I've got a 160 gr. 358432 4 cavity mould that needs a purpose.

[leas327]

I have the Lee manual and that AA is the only company they list loads for in their 180 gr lead section. The only problem is that i am not shure if the local place I get powder from has AA powder. I remember seeing one or two kinds but I can't remember what it was.
My club also has seen a gain in pin shooters. They decided to offer to let people shoot on Saturday or Sunday and are combining the two days as one match.

[bobthenailer]

there was a shooter who allways let it hang out! ive seen him shoot under 2 seconds on several occacisons it was either blazing fast sometimes, or missed pins most of the time and the time reflected making follow up shots . his average time was alot higher because of that
a funny thing though ,your fastet time of the day ! it did not seem that fast ! i guess everything has to go right and you try to hard. tell yourself to relax and slow down and your times are faster!!!!!

[zxcvbob]

Herco is about the slowest powder that will give close to 100% burn in a handgun. And it's a great powder with heavy cast bullets. Try about 7.0 grains for close to 1150 fps, and work your way down. (If you don't have Herco, you can substitute WSF.)

You might also try 7 grains with 148 grain DEWC's (hard lead.) Those should bite into the pins well and not deflect if you hit at a bad angle.

[bhn22]

Bob- We have a guy like that, this one shoots a Glock. Many years ago, I was pretty much even with him. I had to drop out of competitive shooting for several years because of family issues. When I returned to my former life, this guy had become an unstoppable local legend. I used to be able to beat him about half the time, now I've got my work cut out for me just to not be totally humiliated when I lose to him.

[BOOM BOOM]

HI,
DON"T SHOOT PINS.
SHOOT STEEL & DEER
Load is 180gr.gc. 13.5 grs. 2400, or WC 82012.1 GRS., OR 7GR. RUSSIAN UNIQUE.
BUT THIS IS IN a Redhawk!
It is Very Hot!!!!!!!!!!!!!
BE CAREFUL WORK UP SLOW!!!!!!!!!!