357 magnum with .308 Sabot results.

Deja vu · April 7, 2014, 09:40 PM

I found this video quite a while ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjTmXOjA5RU

He is claiming 2300 FPS from a 6 inch revolver.

So I went and tried out the exact load he has. The Sierra 110 grain 308 caliber HPs where hard to find but I found them at a reloading shop fairly close. The AOL, the powder, the powder charge, the primers, the bullets and sabots are all the exact same. He does not say what brand of brass to use. I picked Starline because I have a lot of that. I even have the same factory crimp dye.

I was shooting my buddys 686 with a 6 inch barrel.

I worked the load up to the max he lists starting 2.5 grain lower and going up by .2 grains at a time (.1 on the final step).

The Final "max" according to the video was Chronographed and was indeed fast but not as fast as he lists. The 686 got about 1750 FPS. After seeing it was safe (not signs of pressure

) I used my Coonan and got about 1880. I also shot it in my J Frame and got about 1590 and just shy of 2100 in my 16 inch marlin.

That is the good of the load. What is the bad you may ask? The accuracy was below average. I would not say poor but It was obviously not match grade

I would not use it for hunting.

Clark · April 8, 2014, 01:08 AM

I did not know 357 to 308 sabots were available.
I ordered 50 from MMP.
Thanks for posting that.

Wreck-n-Crew · April 8, 2014, 01:11 AM

I am pretty impressed with the Coonan. Are you seeing similar velocity differences in other loads using the Coonan? Anyhow good share and if you get an itch to sell that Coonan (don't think anyone really does) Got a buddy been wanting one for his collection.

coldbeer · April 8, 2014, 10:36 AM

Couldn't you match that velocity with regular 110 .357 bullets? I don't load the 110 grain bullets myself because I'm worried about forcing cone wear, but I've read about people getting close to 2000 fps out of a 6" revolver with them.

g.willikers · April 8, 2014, 12:05 PM

Kind of tricky of you to experiment with someone else's gun first.
Very clever.

JD0x0 · April 8, 2014, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Couldn't you match that velocity with regular 110 .357 bullets? I don't load the 110 grain bullets myself because I'm worried about forcing cone wear, but I've read about people getting close to 2000 fps out of a 6" revolver with them.

A saboted .308 would likely go slower. While in the end we're firing the same weight bullet, we have to take into account the mass of the sabot, which is also being pushed through the barrel. So a 110 grain saboted bullet would likely leave at a slightly lower velocity compared to the unsaboted .357

Sevens · April 8, 2014, 03:41 PM

I would have concerns with putting a sabot through the cylinder to forcing cone transition, but it sounds like it wasn't a problem for you.

And obviously, a non-issue in a Coonan.

Quote:

I used my Coonan and got about 1880.

Please remember that if you built a decent, safe load, especially and interesting one for the Coonan, please add to the discussion of it specifically right here:
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=466534

bfoosh006 · April 13, 2014, 09:21 PM

Sabots in handguns and rifles have never been known for accuracy.

April 7, 2014, 09:40 PM	#1
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	357 magnum with .308 Sabot results. I found this video quite a while ago. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjTmXOjA5RU He is claiming 2300 FPS from a 6 inch revolver. So I went and tried out the exact load he has. The Sierra 110 grain 308 caliber HPs where hard to find but I found them at a reloading shop fairly close. The AOL, the powder, the powder charge, the primers, the bullets and sabots are all the exact same. He does not say what brand of brass to use. I picked Starline because I have a lot of that. I even have the same factory crimp dye. I was shooting my buddys 686 with a 6 inch barrel. I worked the load up to the max he lists starting 2.5 grain lower and going up by .2 grains at a time (.1 on the final step). The Final "max" according to the video was Chronographed and was indeed fast but not as fast as he lists. The 686 got about 1750 FPS. After seeing it was safe (not signs of pressure ) I used my Coonan and got about 1880. I also shot it in my J Frame and got about 1590 and just shy of 2100 in my 16 inch marlin. That is the good of the load. What is the bad you may ask? The accuracy was below average. I would not say poor but It was obviously not match grade I would not use it for hunting. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...

April 8, 2014, 01:08 AM	#2
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	I did not know 357 to 308 sabots were available. I ordered 50 from MMP. Thanks for posting that.

April 8, 2014, 01:11 AM	#3
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	I am pretty impressed with the Coonan. Are you seeing similar velocity differences in other loads using the Coonan? Anyhow good share and if you get an itch to sell that Coonan (don't think anyone really does) Got a buddy been wanting one for his collection.

April 8, 2014, 10:36 AM	#4
coldbeer Junior member Join Date: February 21, 2012 Location: Woodhaven MI Posts: 477	Couldn't you match that velocity with regular 110 .357 bullets? I don't load the 110 grain bullets myself because I'm worried about forcing cone wear, but I've read about people getting close to 2000 fps out of a 6" revolver with them.

April 8, 2014, 12:05 PM	#5
g.willikers Senior Member Join Date: September 28, 2008 Posts: 10,442	Kind of tricky of you to experiment with someone else's gun first. Very clever.

April 13, 2014, 09:21 PM	#8
bfoosh006 Senior Member Join Date: February 17, 2009 Posts: 1,100	Sabots in handguns and rifles have never been known for accuracy.