.357 mag & 200gr. bullets

rnovi · January 15, 2007, 11:06 PM

Anyone got any heavy hunting load data? I've got a box (100) Cast Performance Gas Checked bullets and I'm interested in working up a load. I'm going Piggin' in March and while I have a 180gr load worked up I sure would like to have a secondary load available.

Or, for those who have gone this route before, is there much sense at all using a 200gr. bullet in a .357?

Btw, the gun is a 6" GP100.

T. O'Heir · January 16, 2007, 01:18 AM

Know a guy who went with a .41 mag. He was told no jacketed HP's. So a cast/lead bullet may not be a good idea either. Not enough reliable penetration.

Smokey Joe · January 16, 2007, 01:42 AM

Rnovi--The standard wisdom in my circle is to use 180 grain hard cast lead bullets with a large meplat. Gas checks let you push 'em harder, and you want 'em moving as fast as possible commensurate with safety and accuracy, when they hit that pig.

I use 2400 behind mine. Checked with Alliant; they say a magnum primer is not necessary unless you would be hunting in cold weather. Since I sometimes do hunt in cold weather, I worked up my load with magnum primers--why have 2 separate loads?

rnovi · January 16, 2007, 02:06 AM

Why have two separate loads?

Cuz I like to tinker...mainly. I have a lovely 180gr. load using an SSK 180 gr Hardcast over quite a bit of 2400 - it rolls out at a solid 1350fps with amazing consistency.

Still, I wonder if I might do better with a 200gr. bullet. Not sure why - just something to try. Handloading's a hobby...

Winchester lists a load: 11.2 - 12.4gr 296 (aka, H110), 1,335fps list. Doesn't say whether or not that's unusually long loaded or not. I suspect yes...

Smokey Joe · January 16, 2007, 02:35 AM

Rnovi--If it chambers in yr revolver, and the cylinder turns freely, the cartridge is not too long.

Tinker away, sez I! A 200 grainer would hit that hog with just that much more energy than a 180 grain hardcast. Keep the accuracy; don't go above published load data; remember that signs of overpressure are hard to observe in a revolver cartridge. A chronograph would be yr friend, here, if you happen to have access to one.

I'd keep my heavy-load hunting brass separate from my plinking/target brass, too.

But you probably knew all that already.

jsflagstad · January 16, 2007, 07:22 AM

So as you said revolvers are tough to read pressure in. I have always tried to read the primers and adjust accordingly. Also when the spent cartridges come out of the cylinder a little hard I back off on the charge a bit.

My question is, I do have a chronograph but how will it tell me where my pressure is? I have seen it put that way before but never asked the question. Is it just to tell you that you are near the book? Or will there be some other sign uncovered by the chronograph?

Thanks,

JSF

XD-Guy · January 16, 2007, 07:36 AM

I've got a 4" model 19 S&W and I can get pretty good groups with a 200 gr hard cast over 10 gr of 2400

jsflagstad · January 16, 2007, 08:22 AM

2400 does NOT work well in my Taurus 627 Titanium Tracker. Lots of residue blowing out between the cyl and barrel. It actually eroded the cylinder enough that it had to be replaced. This does not happen with other powders. 2400 works well in my 45LC though.

JSF

sanson · January 16, 2007, 08:53 AM

I like Hodgdon Lil'Gun powder for my .357 carbine. all the load data is for 6" barrels and with 18" I'm considering a fast burning rifle powder. (158gr hard
cast bullets).. work up slow

Smokey Joe · January 16, 2007, 11:24 AM

Jsflagsted--The chrony will tell you how fast the bullet is going. Period. But THAT piece of data lets you know if you are below, at, or above the chrony speed attained by the load data engineers when they set up the max loads in yr loading manual.

Trapper L · January 16, 2007, 12:56 PM

Here ya go:
http://handloads.com/loaddata/defaul...Powder&Source=

Note the source of the info on the far right side. This is data from a reliable source. Always start low and work up as each firearm is different. It would appear that the 2400 is the way to go with this bullet weight. I've never had the need for such a heavy bullet in a 357 mag but if ya have 'em, might as well burn 'em.

Bud_Ugly · January 16, 2007, 02:21 PM

Sanson, are you aware of any reliable loads for Lil' Gun & 200's? I've seen Hodgdon & some other mfg's publications for Lil' Gun & 180's but am not aware of any reliable data for 200's.

jsflagstad · January 16, 2007, 08:31 PM

Thanks Smokey, That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing something. Seems though that most of the velocity data I have found for the 357 is data from a "test barrel" probably similar to that of a Contender or an Encore, so I haven't banked on getting the same velocity that they publish with my revolver. For max loads I usually work up from the starting loads and if I get to the spot where the brass just startes to come out of the cylinder a bit stiff I then back it down by .1 to .2 grains. Seems to work for me.

JSF

January 15, 2007, 11:06 PM	#1
rnovi Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2005 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 401	.357 mag & 200gr. bullets Anyone got any heavy hunting load data? I've got a box (100) Cast Performance Gas Checked bullets and I'm interested in working up a load. I'm going Piggin' in March and while I have a 180gr load worked up I sure would like to have a secondary load available. Or, for those who have gone this route before, is there much sense at all using a 200gr. bullet in a .357? Btw, the gun is a 6" GP100. __________________ Robert N. "Remember, Eagles may soar but Weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!"

January 16, 2007, 01:42 AM	#3
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Pig load Rnovi--The standard wisdom in my circle is to use 180 grain hard cast lead bullets with a large meplat. Gas checks let you push 'em harder, and you want 'em moving as fast as possible commensurate with safety and accuracy, when they hit that pig. I use 2400 behind mine. Checked with Alliant; they say a magnum primer is not necessary unless you would be hunting in cold weather. Since I sometimes do hunt in cold weather, I worked up my load with magnum primers--why have 2 separate loads? __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

January 16, 2007, 02:06 AM	#4
rnovi Senior Member Join Date: July 10, 2005 Location: So. Cal. Posts: 401	Why have two separate loads? Cuz I like to tinker...mainly. I have a lovely 180gr. load using an SSK 180 gr Hardcast over quite a bit of 2400 - it rolls out at a solid 1350fps with amazing consistency. Still, I wonder if I might do better with a 200gr. bullet. Not sure why - just something to try. Handloading's a hobby... Winchester lists a load: 11.2 - 12.4gr 296 (aka, H110), 1,335fps list. Doesn't say whether or not that's unusually long loaded or not. I suspect yes... __________________ Robert N. "Remember, Eagles may soar but Weasels don't get sucked into jet engines!"

January 16, 2007, 02:35 AM	#5
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Excessive length Rnovi--If it chambers in yr revolver, and the cylinder turns freely, the cartridge is not too long. Tinker away, sez I! A 200 grainer would hit that hog with just that much more energy than a 180 grain hardcast. Keep the accuracy; don't go above published load data; remember that signs of overpressure are hard to observe in a revolver cartridge. A chronograph would be yr friend, here, if you happen to have access to one. I'd keep my heavy-load hunting brass separate from my plinking/target brass, too. But you probably knew all that already. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

January 16, 2007, 07:22 AM	#6
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	reading pressures in a revolver So as you said revolvers are tough to read pressure in. I have always tried to read the primers and adjust accordingly. Also when the spent cartridges come out of the cylinder a little hard I back off on the charge a bit. My question is, I do have a chronograph but how will it tell me where my pressure is? I have seen it put that way before but never asked the question. Is it just to tell you that you are near the book? Or will there be some other sign uncovered by the chronograph? Thanks, JSF

January 16, 2007, 01:18 AM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Know a guy who went with a .41 mag. He was told no jacketed HP's. So a cast/lead bullet may not be a good idea either. Not enough reliable penetration.

January 16, 2007, 07:36 AM	#7
XD-Guy Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Posts: 102	I've got a 4" model 19 S&W and I can get pretty good groups with a 200 gr hard cast over 10 gr of 2400

January 16, 2007, 08:22 AM	#8
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	2400 does NOT work well in my Taurus 627 Titanium Tracker. Lots of residue blowing out between the cyl and barrel. It actually eroded the cylinder enough that it had to be replaced. This does not happen with other powders. 2400 works well in my 45LC though. JSF

January 16, 2007, 08:53 AM	#9
sanson Senior Member Join Date: December 21, 2006 Location: FL panhandle Posts: 547	I like Hodgdon Lil'Gun powder for my .357 carbine. all the load data is for 6" barrels and with 18" I'm considering a fast burning rifle powder. (158gr hard cast bullets).. work up slow __________________ www.sansoneservices.com

January 16, 2007, 11:24 AM	#10
Smokey Joe Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2001 Location: State of Confusion Posts: 2,106	Chrony use Jsflagsted--The chrony will tell you how fast the bullet is going. Period. But THAT piece of data lets you know if you are below, at, or above the chrony speed attained by the load data engineers when they set up the max loads in yr loading manual. __________________ God Bless America --Smokey Joe

January 16, 2007, 12:56 PM	#11
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	Here ya go: http://handloads.com/loaddata/defaul...Powder&Source= Note the source of the info on the far right side. This is data from a reliable source. Always start low and work up as each firearm is different. It would appear that the 2400 is the way to go with this bullet weight. I've never had the need for such a heavy bullet in a 357 mag but if ya have 'em, might as well burn 'em.

January 16, 2007, 02:21 PM	#12
Bud_Ugly Junior Member Join Date: January 11, 2007 Location: Sierra Madre, CA. Posts: 9	Sanson, are you aware of any reliable loads for Lil' Gun & 200's? I've seen Hodgdon & some other mfg's publications for Lil' Gun & 180's but am not aware of any reliable data for 200's. __________________ http://www.uglybrothers.net

January 16, 2007, 08:31 PM	#13
jsflagstad Senior Member Join Date: January 29, 2005 Location: Up Nort Posts: 419	Thanks Smokey, That's what I thought. I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't missing something. Seems though that most of the velocity data I have found for the 357 is data from a "test barrel" probably similar to that of a Contender or an Encore, so I haven't banked on getting the same velocity that they publish with my revolver. For max loads I usually work up from the starting loads and if I get to the spot where the brass just startes to come out of the cylinder a bit stiff I then back it down by .1 to .2 grains. Seems to work for me. JSF