Loading the 5.7x28

[TJF1]

Has anyone tried loading the 5.7x28 with cast
if so what weight an powder did you use.
thanks Terry

[Whiterabbit]

I have not, given how cheap and plentiful 22 cal bullets are compared to anything larger.

However, if I were to try, I'd pick a 45 grain bullet to keep the weight high and velocity low, with a pointiest tip design possible (short of an actual point, I want SOME meplat!) to promote proper feeding.

I would use hardball alloy and gas check.

I would use true blue powder. That powder is just tailor made for 5.7. I would be targeting 1850 FPS (on average). That happens with 5.6 grains for jacketed bullets. In the pistol. With pressure signs at 5.8 which I didn't like going there.

If that was too fast, I'd have to slow it down and I have no idea how to do that. I dropped charge to 5.2 but groups were huge (also big at 5.4). I'd have to 'do my research' on alternatives.




Anyways, that's the approach I'd take knowing what I know right now.


34 gr 45 gr 45 gr 45 gr 45 gr
6.0 TB 5.2 TB 5.4 TB 5.6 TB 5.8 TB
2169 1746 1821 1882 1844
2162 1745 1811 1858 1910
2177 1767 1790 1847 1915
2180 1673 1823 1850 1900
2165 1764 1809 1811 1898
2167 1749 1801 1828 1885
2187 1735 1774 1857 1859
2197 1742 1812 1837 1886
2154 1756 1796 1832 1882
2177 1801 1832
2159

ave 2172 1742 1804 1843 1887
st dev 12.8 27.8 14.8 19.8 23.1

group small big big small smaller

5.8: bad pressure signs. Max load.

[35remington]

WR, what issues have you had in reloading this cartridge in what I presume is a blowback pistol in your possession?

[ss30378]

Haven't used cast since I have a stockpile of jacketed but I've loaded the 5.7 with 35-55g bullets with 10-12 various powders. I would lean towards a 55g gas checked bullet myself and a lighter powder charge. One of my most accurate 55g loads was with 3.2g of power pistol and a cci400. Runs 1126fps from my 4.9" ruger 57 and shoots very softly.

There are a few nuances with the 5.7 making it particularly finicky. One is the brass is thin in the neck/shoulder area (very thick at the base) so its very easy to crumple shoulders with flat based bullets, even going slow I'll crush a few. If I were going to specifically use flat base or cast bullets I would get a universal case expander to bell the mouth a touch to make seating a smoother operation. Another issue was the need to find a shell holder that was perfectly flat (not channeled like most are) so you wouldn't destroy the case head when resizing brass. The redding version is the best I've found to keep brass from being beat up. Finally this is a very powder sensitive case. .1g will show a notable velocity change so make sure you have a good scale and use powders that are dispenser friendly if you are aren't hand weighing charges.