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Old January 21, 2010, 04:15 PM   #1
toomb
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357 plinking loads

any suggestions on some accurate and mild plinking loads for 357? i have a ruger blackhawk with a 6 inch barrel. i have a couple hundred 158 grain rainier , flat nosed, fully jacketed bullets left over. i've shot lead swc in the past but had terrible problems with lead fouling. maybe i was pushing them too fast? any suggestions?
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Old January 21, 2010, 04:21 PM   #2
Doby45
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Yheap, it is called 38SPL loads.
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Old January 21, 2010, 04:28 PM   #3
Unclenick
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3.5 grains of either Bullseye or 231.

Fouling in revolvers is usually caused by one of four things:

Chamber throats smaller or equal to bore groove diameter. They should be at least half a thousandth larger to as much as couple thousandths larger. Revolver accuracy smiths always used to ream cylinder chambers to SAAMI maximum as a first step toward improved accuracy. You can get it done for under $40 by sending the cylinder to Cylindersmith.

A constriction in the barrel will cause heavy barrel fouling. These are common where the barrel screws into the frame. You need to slug the bore with a pure lead (not cast bullet alloy) bullet or ball or fishing sinker to feel it. It can be removed either by hand lapping or by fire lapping.

Very rough bore or forcing cone. Hand lapping plus forcing cone lapping or else fire lapping to do both at once will cure it.

The chambers don't line up well with the bore when the cylinder latches into place, or the cylinder doesn't latch properly into place. You can see this by unloading the gun and looking down the bore.
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Old January 21, 2010, 05:03 PM   #4
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I use 125 grain Rainier copper plated flat nose myself. Load both .38 Spl and .357 with them. Work great.
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Old January 21, 2010, 05:19 PM   #5
Scorch
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158 gr cast laead SWC over 5.5 gr of Unique. Accurate, mild, shouldn't lead at all.
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Old January 21, 2010, 05:43 PM   #6
Mtn Biker
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I load 6gr of Unique and 158gr LSWC for my 357 plinking loads. This should also work with your jacketed bullets too.

VL
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Old January 21, 2010, 05:57 PM   #7
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Hodgdon's Tightgroup 4.7grs with an OAL 1.61
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Old January 21, 2010, 06:07 PM   #8
toomb
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thanks guys. some good advice here.
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Old January 21, 2010, 09:40 PM   #9
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For 158gr plated .357 mag. I load 8-8.2gr of AA#5 with standard small pistol primers and use a taper crimp. I have AA#5 for .45acp, 38spl and 9x18 Makarov so then I found another use for it somewhere between .38 and 357 magnum this load is clean, accurate and nice to shoot.
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Old January 22, 2010, 04:42 PM   #10
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I had to check my notes. The mild 357 load that gives me good results out of my Blackhawk is 4.6 gr of 231 with a 158 gr hard cast bullet. It's a little hotter than a few of the above loads, but it's still mild out of a 6.5" Blackhawk.
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Old January 22, 2010, 07:30 PM   #11
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Can't tell you about the .357 but been using Trailboss in my .38 and for light loads it can't be beat
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