What do you think - cast loading

[wallacem]

I have been wanting to try these 147 gr coated 9mm pistol bullets I have in my 357 mag and maxi carbine. The bullets measure .356. I also have some of the gas checks made for plain base bullets from soda pop cans. I put the check on the base of the bullet and it just falls of, so I flaired the case and stuck the bullet in on top of the check, without it being pressed to the bullet. What it amounts to is the bullet is .356 dia except for the base, which is about .360 dia. I think it sill shoot fine. What do you think? Wallacm inGa

[megasupermagnum]

I'm going to guess that these do not shoot good at all.

[wmitty]

Will you have adequate case neck tension to provide for reliable ignition? If the check seals the
expanding gas, the under sized boolit ( in relation to assumed groove diameter of .358” or so),
Might have a chance of making the trip down the barrel without too much distortion. Try it and let us hear the results. Any idea of the thickness of your coating?

[gunseller]

I would try them without the checks. My 35 Whelen shoots 147 grain jacketed .356 very well. I am running 160 grain cast coated in a 7x57 with no problems.

[wallacem]

I don't know how thick the coating is. The bullet is held in the case well, and I put just a little taper crimp on it to help hold it. I didm't want to shoot a cast bullet undersize because of leading. That is why I used the check, to plug up the rear of the bullet and seal it. We will see.
wallacem

[wallacem]

And I forgot to mention, these bullets came from Hoosier Bullets. I have been so impressed with all the bullets I have received from Hoosier, and these 147 gr 9mm coated bullets are a great example of their work. Had to give them the credit they deserve. Wallacem

[MT Gianni]

All you can do is scrub lead if they don't. Your time, your primers.

[Winger Ed.]

Give it a try, just don't shoot your eye out kid.

[Froogal]

I think the .356 bullet will stand a better chance of obturating to fit the bore without the gas check. Just my uneducated opinion.

[Kosh75287]

I agree with the gents who've recommended you try the projectiles WITHOUT the gas checks, first. I am fearful that, because the gas checks are not firmly clamped onto the bullet base(s), they might hang up in the forcing cone, causing erratic velocities at minimum, and very possibly something far, far worse.

[wallacem]

OK, update. I went to the range yesterday and tried these rounds. I probably should have loaded a few without the checks just to compare, but didn't. They shot a ten shot group at 50 yards of 1.25" Not as good as I would have wanted, but mot terrible. No fliers. Just a nice round group. After that I shot five of my standard maximum load which is a 158 gr JSP bullet. All five made a nice round hole about the size of a nickel. Wallacem in Ga

[megasupermagnum]

What gun is this? I've never heard of an lever action shooting that good.

[Milsurp Junkie]

nickle sized group at 50 yards should be doable with a lever. i get ~2 inch groups at 100 yards with a win94 30-30 at least off a bench.

[megasupermagnum]

Nickel size at 50 yards would be just about MOA. With a Savage 99 in a suitable caliber, sure. With a Marlin in 357 magnum, no way.

[wallacem]

The gun is an Encore with a MGM 24" heavy barrel in 357 Maximum. Wallacem

[megasupermagnum]

That makes more sense. I'm still surprised those shot as good as they did.

[super6]

Here is my home made solution to loose checks.