Need help with a load for Bullseye, 125g, .357

[PaulGL]

So I have 16# of bullseye and a box on 125g, plated rnfp bullets Id like to build some practice loads with.

Problem is- after searching 20 differetn sites- cant find even ONE load for this combonation.... not even a .38sp load.

Closest thing I can find is load data for 125g jacketed HP.... (8.4g!- sounds hot).

Any suggestions?

[JR_Roosa]

The Alliant website has loads for 125gr jacketed bullets and bullseye for .38 special. I would imagine that you'd be so far from a .357 pressure that you could use this load for cast lead without a problem.

There is also data for a 158gr LSWC with bullseye for .357 and with a lighter bullet you would have lower pressure. I wouldn't exceed that load since you don't know where or how the pressure would jump, but it will at least get you in the ballpark.

Do you have a chronograph? I would use one for this project if I were you.

-J.

[3leggeddog]

8.4 is pushing it hard. You should buy Lyman 3rd Edition "Pistol + Revolver Hand Book" ,it's worth every penny -Ithink it was $20.00...
For a 125gr.Lpn =5.5 to 6.8 gr of Bullseye.... But,if your just shooting paper at 50 ft, why not load it down? Just for fun load up 5 rds each at :
4.5 , 5.0 and 5.5 gr , see what shoots the best! I use 3.6 grs Bullseye for a 150gr lwc , I run it threw a Ruger GP100 with a 6 in barrel , very accurate!

[overkill0084]

I'm at work, so I don't have my stuff nearby. I have been using Ranier .158gr plated stuff for my .357s. Rainier says to use lead bullet data with their products. I treat all my plated bullets as Lead for load building.

"We, at Rainier Ballistics, recommend using lead bullet load data when loading our bullets. There is no need for adjustment when using lead bullet load data. Our bullets are jacketed using an electroplating process and are softer than traditionally jacketed bullets; hence the recommendation to use lead bullet load data. If you only have access to traditionally jacketed load data, we recommend reducing maximum charge by 10%. A roll or taper crimp may be used with our bullets; do not over crimp."

http://www.rainierballistics.com/loaddata.htm

I know there are loads for 125 LSWC, for .38 Spec, I've been meaning to try loading some loads for them (I have a box of 125 LSWC that I grabbed accidentally). I would think that .357 loads are also fairly easy to find.
I have had some luck with the -10% method, though I do round down and I tend to stay away from MAX loads. Of course due diligence applies.

[k in AR]

For 357 brass & Bullseye the closest I find is in my "old" Lyman #47 manual.
They have a 121gr "Linotype" bullet, starting load 5.7, max load 8.0
Also a 133gr "Linotype" starting load 5.0, max load 7.6

As you found, this manual also list the 125 Jacked bullets as starting at 6.5, & a max of 8.6 which is probably too hot for a "plated" bullet.

For 38 special brass the 121gr "Linotype" load drops way down. Starting at 2.8gr of Bullseye with a max of 4.6 (& 4.9 for +P)

[Loader9]

From the Rainier loading manual, it shows a loading of 18.8 grs of H110 using their plated 125gr RN bullet in a 357 mag and that gets you over 1800'ps. Since it's out of their manual, I would assume that you can load these particular bullets a hot as you like as long as it doesn't exceed SAAMI limits. Considering you are looking for plinkers and have Bullseye powder, I'd start around 6.0 grs and call it good. You'll be somewhere close to 1000'ps.

[Slamfire]

I tested 125 gr Lead bullets in my 38 Special J frame snubbies because these Airweights are sighted in for 125 grain bullets.

I am not looking for the hottest load, I want something that shoots well and does not lead.

I also shot the loads in a 4" K frame just to see what velocities I would get. The 158 load gives a comparison of the velocities of my “standard” load .

In a 38 Special I would not use more than 4.5 grains Bullseye with a 125. This is due to that I don't need 1000 fps practice loads (see the high velocity) and leading is unpredictable above 1000 fps. I think 4.0 grains Bullseye will do all I want. I loaded up the rest of my 125’s with Green Dot loads which I also tested up that day.

Projecting into a 357 case, well compare Alliant data. I would not stuff 8 grains of Bullseye in a 357 case, I would start at 4.5 grains and go up half a grain at a time till I got 850-900 fps.

If you want magnum velocities and muzzle blast, use 2400. I used to load a maximum charge of that stuff in the 357 and got wonderful fire balls and very offensive muzzle blasts.

   S&W M637-2  2" barrel
158 LRN 3.5 grs Bullseye WSP Mixed cases		
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F		 	 		
Ave Vel =679				
Std Dev =16.48				
ES 56.11				
High 698.2				
Low 642				
N = 18				 
					
125 Lead BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Lot BE 532 Mixed cases CCI 500 	
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F					
Ave Vel =	763.9	 			
Std Dev =	22			 	 
ES	78			 	 
High	806.5			 	 
Low	728.5			 	 
N =	15				 
Point aim OK					

125 Lead BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06 T = 59 °F					
Ave Vel =	760.4	 			
Std Dev =	27.33				 
ES =	82.1				 
High  =	798.9				 
Low  =	716.8			 	 
N =	19				 
					
					
125 Lead BBRNFP 4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06 T = 64 °F					
Ave Vel =	827.9				
Std Dev =	23.21				 
ES =	92.27				 
High  =	879.4			 	 
Low  =	787.1			 	 
N =	20				 
					
	


4" S&W M10-5 				
					
					
158 LRN Valiant  3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 		
19-Apr-09	T ≈  60-65 ° F				
					
Ave Vel =	758	 			
Std Dev =	22.86	 			
ES =	100.9	 			
High  =	810.5	 			
Low  =	709.5	 			
N =	32	 			
					
				
					
					
125  BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06	T = 59 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	863.4	 		 
Std Dev =	30				 
ES =	70.78				 
High  =	907.5			 	 
Low  =	836.7			 	 
N =	6				 
Windage centered	accurate				
Elevation at least 4" low	
	
125 BBRNFP 4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06	T = 64 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	945.6	 		 
Std Dev =	27.28				 
ES =	75.21				 
High  =	995.2			 	 
Low  =	920			 	 
N =	6				 
Windage centered	accurate				
Elevation at least 4" low

[testuser]

I shoot a lot of plated bullets. Lead loads will be too light and jacketed loads a bit too hot. Berry's suggests using jacketed load data without exceeding mid range loads. (I stay 5% under max.) It's worked well for me.

I'd start with the minimum charge as listed by Alliant for a 125 grain bullet and see how that does. If you want to be very conservative, then you could try jacketed data for .38 Special +P loaded into .357 magnum cases.

[zippy13]

Hi PaulGL,
As your search has shown, there's little data for light plated bullets and Bullseye. You mentioned you want to build up some practice loads. It will help if you give us some idea of what kind of practice you have in mind. Are you wanting a light load for punching paper at relatively close range or something hot to reach out smack down a silhouette -- do you want your rounds to pop or bark?

[Unclenick]

Paul,

Don't try to use the jacketed bullet or Linotype load levels with your plated bullets. Linotype is harder. Jacketed are still harder. The problem is that pressure acceptable to jacketed or even Linotype bullets can upset softer bullets to bulge out in a revolver's forcing cone. This makes for a too wide bullet being squeezed into the bore, and that raises pressure.

I don't know your particular plated bullets. In the worst case, they have thin plating over a soft swaged lead core. Unless their manufacturer has a specific recommendation, I would run them with Slamfire's recommendation of 4 grains of Bullseye and leave it at that. You can, of course, run a range of loads to see if accuracy improves, but, depending on your gun and bore condition, that may or may not promote metal fouling. IME, pushing soft bullets fast often results in more pressure and more cleaning rather than more accuracy.

[M1911]

In a 38 Special I would not use more than 4.5 grains Bullseye with a 125. This is due to that I don't need 1000 fps practice loads (see the high velocity) and leading is unpredictable above 1000 fps. I think 4.0 grains Bullseye will do all I want. I loaded up the rest of my 125’s with Green Dot loads which I also tested up that day.

I'm using 4.1g of Bullseye with 125 gr Rainier plated bullets.

edited to add: I just chrono'ed it today. Average speed of 810 fps, for a 101,000 power factor.

[zxcvbob]

In .38 Special, 4.0 grains of Red Dot is a max load (not +P) with 125 grain plated bullets, and is very accurate. Approximately 4.2 grains of Bullseye would be equivalent. You can go up to about 4.8 grains with Bullseye.

That 8.4 load is pushing a j-bullet awfully hard; I don't think a plated bullet would stand up to that abuse.

[Bailey Boat]

I load a "38 Magnum" load for my little mod 60, 3" that I carry in the woods. It's 357 rated but they hurt too much to shoot many of them and I know they beat the crap out thr gun so I developed something above +P but below 357 Mag.
I use a 125 grain Zero brand JHP in a 357 Mag case with 5.8 Bullseye and a standard CCI primer. It gives me an avarage velocity of 1050 and 1.5" gropus at 25 yards. Perfect for a J frame and it dispatches Coons and like size animals with ease.
Disclaimer: DO NOT load the above receipe, you'll get warts and the sniffles....

[44 AMP]

Looking in an old (early 1970s vintage) Lyman manual, I don't even see a 125gr bullet listed!

However, they do list Bullseye loaded for cast bullets of 121gr, 141gr, 150gr and 158gr. And in .357 brass, the loads for all 4 are the same, start at 3.0gr and max at 4.5gr

They list no Bullseye load for jackted bullets!

And I wouldn't dump 8+gr of Bullseye into any case without doing a lot of further research!

[Crashbox]

Lyman's 49th gives a .357 Magnum starting load for a 125-grain JHP of 6.5 grains of Bullseye, maximum load 8.6 grains.

[GP100man]

I`ve found plated bullets give up at `round 1,000 fps or so .

I did`nt use bullseye but CLAYS & 700x , had to stop around 4grs.

The plating is .003-.007" thick .

If ya try to push em hard PLEASE CHECK THE BORE after every test shot for obstructions !!!

I only shot 40 before packin em up . They have there place in the shooting world ,but my nich was already filled with a cast bullet so now I just push my alloys to there limit & stop & sometimes I run the ladder to the top !!!

I still have 2 GPs that have never shot jacketed outside the factory !!!