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keano44 · February 2, 2002, 09:19 PM

Today I began to deprime and clean some .357 cases I had recently fired. These had been reloaded by myself. The load was right out of the Hornady 4th edition (abridged); 158 gr. HP/XTP, 15 gr. H110, magnum primer (WSPM), R_P case, 1.280" OAL. Some components are different than the ones in the manual, but the load is the same. I thought this was a good load, but the primers I removed were flattened more than any I have ever seen before. From a side profile they resembled the case from a .22 rimfire (the rim part). According to the manual, I am right in the middle of the range of powder charge for this bullet (14.1 start-15.8 max). Their test gun was a S & W 27 w/ 8 3/8" barrel and the listed velocity for this load was around 1275 fps. My gun is a Ruger Security Six w/ 4" barrel, and I chronographed this load from it at 1512 fps average for 5 shots. My question is this-have I reached the HOT load status already for my gun, even though I am only in the middle of the range? Do the higher velocity and flattened primers mean STOP? The load didn't feel even as hot (recoil) as some factory loads I have fired, and I didn't experience any other signs of too much pressure, i.e.- blown primers, sticky extraction. One more thing, the primers I used were the brass colored Winchester WSPM in the blue box, and it seems I have read here that they may be softer than the older Win. and other primers? Could this be what is worrying me? Your advise, experience, and help are appreciated. Thanks.

February 2, 2002, 09:19 PM	#1
keano44 Senior Member Join Date: June 12, 2001 Location: Lafayette LA Posts: 177	.357 Load Question Today I began to deprime and clean some .357 cases I had recently fired. These had been reloaded by myself. The load was right out of the Hornady 4th edition (abridged); 158 gr. HP/XTP, 15 gr. H110, magnum primer (WSPM), R_P case, 1.280" OAL. Some components are different than the ones in the manual, but the load is the same. I thought this was a good load, but the primers I removed were flattened more than any I have ever seen before. From a side profile they resembled the case from a .22 rimfire (the rim part). According to the manual, I am right in the middle of the range of powder charge for this bullet (14.1 start-15.8 max). Their test gun was a S & W 27 w/ 8 3/8" barrel and the listed velocity for this load was around 1275 fps. My gun is a Ruger Security Six w/ 4" barrel, and I chronographed this load from it at 1512 fps average for 5 shots. My question is this-have I reached the HOT load status already for my gun, even though I am only in the middle of the range? Do the higher velocity and flattened primers mean STOP? The load didn't feel even as hot (recoil) as some factory loads I have fired, and I didn't experience any other signs of too much pressure, i.e.- blown primers, sticky extraction. One more thing, the primers I used were the brass colored Winchester WSPM in the blue box, and it seems I have read here that they may be softer than the older Win. and other primers? Could this be what is worrying me? Your advise, experience, and help are appreciated. Thanks.