loading 130 grain LRN .357mag?

rrruger · February 24, 2015, 05:05 PM

I have been using 2400 (when I can find it) and more recently IMR 4227 to load my .357 mag. both GP100 and a little H&R handi-rifle. A friend gave me 500 LRN bullets at 130 grain, but I can't find a load that will hold a consistent group. If I move to 158 grain SWC the carbine makes ragged holes at 25 yards. The 130 grain is two-three inches at the same range? I don't know if I am spinning them too slow or too fast but it ain't right. At present I have about 200 rounds that are good for ten yard handgun range and not much else. The H&R has a 14.5':1 rotation. For those of you that have had good experience with the cast 130 grain bullets, can you tell me what you used?
thank you.

Hammerhead · February 25, 2015, 02:54 AM

Do you have any faster powders like Unique or Universal? My Handi favors faster powders with lighter bullets.

Geezerbiker · February 25, 2015, 05:09 AM

Have you measured them. The problem could be that they're a couple thousandths undersized. I also agree with a faster powder, I like red dot but there are plenty of others that would work as well. I'd still measure them before loading more of them...

Tony

TimSr · February 25, 2015, 08:38 AM

How hard are they?

DaleA · February 25, 2015, 10:12 AM

There's some good advice from Geezerbiker post #3.

madmo44mag · February 25, 2015, 11:54 AM

I also agree with Geezerbiker post #3.

2400 and 4227 work best with heavy bullets.
Those are a little light so a faster powder will work better

mikld · February 25, 2015, 11:57 AM

Another geezer +1. If yer gonna shoot lead bullets, learn how to measure the diameter!

rrruger · February 25, 2015, 08:01 PM

Have you measured them. The problem could be that they're a couple thousandths undersized.

I ran them all through a lee sizing die, then gave them a powder coat and sized them again. This is the same thing that I did with the 158 SWCs and they are tack drivers. I will try a faster powder...as soon as I can find powder again

Thanks for the help...you guys are a Gold Mine!

Will-j · February 26, 2015, 01:38 AM

RRRUGER: Listen closely to GEEZER. Your sizer dies REDUCE bullet diameter. You don't necessarily EXPAND bullet diameter when sizing unless you use a swaging die. If the bullets are undersized they will not be accurate in a larger sized bore....... Check bullet diameter and go at least .358".
WILL

rrruger · February 28, 2015, 01:23 AM

Digital Micrometer shows the bullets to be .3575 along the length of the body or skirt for both the 130 grain LRN and the 158 grain SWC. The SWC are very accurate while the LRN are not very good. The brass, primers and powder are the same.

Hammerhead · February 28, 2015, 01:45 AM

Maybe too much spin with the slow powder and long barrel? 1:14.5 is a pretty fast twist for .357. Not sure if my older Handi is that fast.
Another possibility might be velocity swings with the slow powder and light bullet.
Maybe a combination of the 2?
Are you putting a solid crimp on them? (to improve ignition)
What primer?

rrruger · February 28, 2015, 02:01 AM

I'm using starline brass and CCI 500 primers.

February 24, 2015, 05:05 PM	#1
rrruger Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2012 Posts: 153	loading 130 grain LRN .357mag? I have been using 2400 (when I can find it) and more recently IMR 4227 to load my .357 mag. both GP100 and a little H&R handi-rifle. A friend gave me 500 LRN bullets at 130 grain, but I can't find a load that will hold a consistent group. If I move to 158 grain SWC the carbine makes ragged holes at 25 yards. The 130 grain is two-three inches at the same range? I don't know if I am spinning them too slow or too fast but it ain't right. At present I have about 200 rounds that are good for ten yard handgun range and not much else. The H&R has a 14.5':1 rotation. For those of you that have had good experience with the cast 130 grain bullets, can you tell me what you used? thank you.

February 25, 2015, 11:54 AM	#6
madmo44mag Senior Member Join Date: December 29, 2008 Location: Ft.Worth, Texas Posts: 1,522	I also agree with Geezerbiker post #3. 2400 and 4227 work best with heavy bullets. Those are a little light so a faster powder will work better __________________ Texas - Not just a state but an attitude! For monthly shooting events in DFW visit http://www.meetup.com/TexasGunOwner-DFW

February 25, 2015, 11:57 AM	#7
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	Another geezer +1. If yer gonna shoot lead bullets, learn how to measure the diameter! __________________ My Anchor is holding fast! I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...

February 26, 2015, 01:38 AM	#9
Will-j Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2014 Location: SW Ga. Near Ft. Benning Posts: 251	130 GR Lead R. N. RRRUGER: Listen closely to GEEZER. Your sizer dies REDUCE bullet diameter. You don't necessarily EXPAND bullet diameter when sizing unless you use a swaging die. If the bullets are undersized they will not be accurate in a larger sized bore....... Check bullet diameter and go at least .358". WILL

February 25, 2015, 02:54 AM	#2
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Do you have any faster powders like Unique or Universal? My Handi favors faster powders with lighter bullets.

February 25, 2015, 05:09 AM	#3
Geezerbiker Senior Member Join Date: March 20, 2011 Location: Willamina, OR Posts: 1,908	Have you measured them. The problem could be that they're a couple thousandths undersized. I also agree with a faster powder, I like red dot but there are plenty of others that would work as well. I'd still measure them before loading more of them... Tony

February 25, 2015, 08:38 AM	#4
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	How hard are they?

February 25, 2015, 10:12 AM	#5
DaleA Senior Member Join Date: September 12, 2002 Location: Twin Cities, MN Posts: 5,313	There's some good advice from Geezerbiker post #3.

February 25, 2015, 08:01 PM	#8
rrruger Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2012 Posts: 153	Have you measured them. The problem could be that they're a couple thousandths undersized. I ran them all through a lee sizing die, then gave them a powder coat and sized them again. This is the same thing that I did with the 158 SWCs and they are tack drivers. I will try a faster powder...as soon as I can find powder again Thanks for the help...you guys are a Gold Mine!

February 28, 2015, 01:23 AM	#10
rrruger Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2012 Posts: 153	Digital Micrometer shows the bullets to be .3575 along the length of the body or skirt for both the 130 grain LRN and the 158 grain SWC. The SWC are very accurate while the LRN are not very good. The brass, primers and powder are the same.

February 28, 2015, 01:45 AM	#11
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	Maybe too much spin with the slow powder and long barrel? 1:14.5 is a pretty fast twist for .357. Not sure if my older Handi is that fast. Another possibility might be velocity swings with the slow powder and light bullet. Maybe a combination of the 2? Are you putting a solid crimp on them? (to improve ignition) What primer?

February 28, 2015, 02:01 AM	#12
rrruger Senior Member Join Date: March 9, 2012 Posts: 153	I'm using starline brass and CCI 500 primers.