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Old December 21, 2014, 11:36 PM   #26
skizzums
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that's bout all I shoot if at the range. powdercoated and loaded light. I am actually starting to dislike the big holes though, especially at distance using shoot-n-see's, it makes like a 3" yellow circle for some reason. I think the reason people don't talk it about much, is because it's been around forever and talked to death, but I think most of us all use them in one capacity or another
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Old December 21, 2014, 11:50 PM   #27
Kosh75287
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The ideal defense bullet would expand rapidly and stop just inside the target's body.
Perhaps you meant it should expand rapidly, traversing the entire body cavity, and stop just inside the target's body, on the FAR SIDE?
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Old December 23, 2014, 01:35 AM   #28
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Zombie thread from 2005.
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Old December 25, 2014, 11:06 PM   #29
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If my memory is correct the original 357 loading by winchester was a lead 158 gr lead bullet. I think I still have a partial box around somewhere.

After shooting a couple of cylinders of this load, original HI pressure load, you needed to spend a bunch of time cleaning the lead our of the barrel. The bullet needs to be hard to withstand 35,000 cup pressure. This is not what was originally loaded as they wanted the bullet to expand.

Jacketed bullets were the way to get soft lead, and no barrel leading in the 357. You can use minimal copper, a Gas Check to help control the leading. Or go to harder lead bullets and get no leading / no expansion.
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Old December 25, 2014, 11:23 PM   #30
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My favorite load with the 357 mag is a cast 158 gas check that I pour myself. You will run into pressure trouble long before that bullet causes any leading issues due to velocity. Very accurate and good for about all revolver applications except for maybe light target shooting as that is a waste of gas checks.
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Old December 26, 2014, 11:38 AM   #31
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Just finishing my last box of Bull-X 158gr hard cast SWCs I bought in the 80's. I've been loading them to full power heavy magnum level since that time, and shooting from a 6" GP100. I don't get leading, and they are far more accurrate than my eyes at 50 yards. I load them over 8.0 gr Unique or get slightly better over 16gr 296/110. These aren't starting loads, and I'm hopeful Missouri Bullet co. bullets will do as well.
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Old December 26, 2014, 09:35 PM   #32
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A cast 158gr. SWC over a healthy dose of 2400 is a great load for most any purpose.
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Old December 26, 2014, 10:38 PM   #33
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Nobody really talks about it because it's so well established and classic. And those lead bullets are a lot easier on the bore than jacketed ones.
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Old December 29, 2014, 03:58 PM   #34
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It was supposed to be kept secret for only those in the know. Shhhhh don't tell everyone. It could create a shortage for those that do not cast their own.

It is just that it is like asking why people do not talk about using 200 grain LSWC for .45 ACP target loads.
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Old December 29, 2014, 04:40 PM   #35
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Seems like a load with a lot of penetration.

Might be good for punching paper, silhouette, and maybe bowling pins, but for self-defense against man or beast there are far better options. I'd much rather have a bonded JHP 158 grain .357 magnum load for defense against man or beast, unless it was against a very heavy and large animal whereupon I would skip the .357 and head up to a .41 or .44.
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Old December 29, 2014, 04:54 PM   #36
Idaho Spud
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I've shot the Lee version with gas check since I bought the mold in 1982, mostly in a S&W M19, but a few in a M27. Use 'em in an LCR 38 spec and a M60 Smith, now. BTW, with a few repairs/improvements over the years, and some care while casting, the Lee mold still puts out decent boolits.
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Old December 29, 2014, 07:55 PM   #37
Super Sneaky Steve
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I shoot cast gas checked bullets in my .308 at 1800fps with no leading. With proper fit I don't see why you couldn't do that with the .357 Magnum.
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Old December 29, 2014, 10:12 PM   #38
A pause for the COZ
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My favorite swc boolit is the Lyman 358156. I like the two crimp groove options.
Seated normal for standard 357/38sp loads. Can also seat them out longer for heavy 38 special loads in a 357 mag gun.

In 357 mag loads I gas check and load them ahead of 10gr of Blue Dot.
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Old December 30, 2014, 08:57 AM   #39
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Quote:
and the term 'leading' ? what does it mean (is it a true phenomena?) and if you clean your gun after every firing is/would it be a problem
"Leading" is the occurrence of lead deposited in the bore from un-jacketed bullets. The theory accepted by most dedicated cast-lead bullet shooters (including rifle), is that leading does not occur when using the correct loads. Either one is pushing a bullet to fast for the alloy, or the bullets are not the correct size for the bore. Leading caused by incorrect loads will and can happen despite routine cleaning. Leading in general is not all that difficult to remove using copper or brass scouring pad strands wrapped around a brass cleaning brush. But, as stated, if leading occurs, find out why, and adjust your load (harder alloy, bullet sized to plus .001-.003 over groove dia. of the bore).
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Old December 30, 2014, 09:44 AM   #40
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Quote:
Seems like a load with a lot of penetration.

Might be good for punching paper, silhouette, and maybe bowling pins, but for self-defense against man or beast there are far better options. I'd much rather have a bonded JHP 158 grain .357 magnum load for defense against man or beast, unless it was against a very heavy and large animal whereupon I would skip the .357 and head up to a .41 or .44.
I'd agree with you on that. I use them for practice because they are far, far cheaper than XTP bullets, but hit the paper in the same place at 50 yards.
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Old January 1, 2015, 07:45 PM   #41
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I haven't shot a jacketed bullet in a 357 in 15 yrs 4 grs of Clays or 20/28 under a 148 wad cutter or12.5 grs of 2400 under a :



Or a :





I have molds from 105 gr to 190 for the 357 , very early Lyman Keith to the latest & greatest from NOE.

Here`s my defense 358156 at 1100fps:



Lead ain`t dead !!! It`s just misunderstood !!

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Old January 1, 2015, 09:11 PM   #42
Kosh75287
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I still use them over a max charge of Unique or Herco. Not much for expansion, but they penetrate better than any jacketed projectiles except certain FMJs that I don't have a real use for, and the SWCs are usually cheaper. I guess we don't hear about 158SWCs because they're not new, sexy, or designed by NASA. They just reliablly do what they do and almost never do what we don't expect them to do, so I guess this makes them remarkably unremarkable.
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Old January 1, 2015, 10:14 PM   #43
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They (158g SWCs) just reliablly do what they do and almost never do what we don't expect them to do, so I guess this makes them remarkably unremarkable.
+1. Like how you put that... In my world jacketed is the thing of the past.... Been ages since I bought a box of copper clad bullets.
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Old January 2, 2015, 08:54 PM   #44
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SWC

I load 158gr LSWC as a "mid-range" load, or utility load, in my .357's, pushed by a modest charge of Unique to yield 1000 fps. Hotter than .38 +P+, but not quite full mag power either. All the noise and bang I need,and does not lead my revolvers up, which has traditionally been a problem with bulk, store bought lead slugs.
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Old January 2, 2015, 09:08 PM   #45
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I'm an old Skeeter Skelton fan and have used 158 SWC over a healthy charge of 2400 for years. When I get leading its because of my crappy casts used.
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Old January 3, 2015, 10:06 AM   #46
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+158gr LSWCs don't get much press because they don't change much. They are plain,accurate, and reliable. I shoot 158gr Hornady LSWCHP Aloxed bullets over 8.6gr of AA#5. This load is accurate, clean burning, and stiff enough to take care or any critters that need controlling around here.
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Old January 4, 2015, 01:57 PM   #47
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I use a hollow point version of the Lyman 358156 mold with a load of 2400 that would make skeeter proud, but I will not publish.

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