357 Magnum Wadcutters

dontcatchmany · July 14, 2019, 04:26 PM

Any of you ever shot these? If so what are your impressions.

I just ordered 150 rounds of 158 grain SWC.

I have recently ordered some 38 Special LSWCHP 158 gr +p and got to thinking about the same in 357 Magnum so I had to try them. Will know in a few days.

No, I do not load my own ammo and do not plan to.

Jim Watson · July 14, 2019, 05:06 PM

It worked in 1934, no reason it won't now.

AK103K · July 14, 2019, 06:44 PM

158 grain LSWC's and plated SWC's are pretty much all I shoot out of my 38's and 357's. I do load my own.

74A95 · July 14, 2019, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontcatchmany

Any of you ever shot these? If so what are your impressions.

I just ordered 150 rounds of 158 grain SWC.

I have recently ordered some 38 Special LSWCHP 158 gr +p and got to thinking about the same in 357 Magnum so I had to try them.

Who loads those? Thanks.

Dufus · July 14, 2019, 09:01 PM

My mold is designated as 158 gr SWC. my actual cast bullet weighs in the line of 165 gr due to my soft alloy (more lead in it).

That is about all I have shot in it since the late 70s.

zxcvbob · July 14, 2019, 09:14 PM

158 grain cast bullets, both SWC and wide flat-nose, are about all I shoot in .357. (I shoot a lot more .38 Specials than .357, and I use the same bullets there too) 148 grain cast full wadcutters also work well, but I don't load then nearly as hot, and not as often.

Ben Dover · July 14, 2019, 09:17 PM

Probably the most popular bullet among hand loaders.

dontcatchmany · July 15, 2019, 05:30 AM

74A95,

Choice Ammunition. They have a sale on them now, 19.99.

------------------

I am enamored with 357 Magnum and with a pistol range in my back yard I shoot a lot.

Hal · July 15, 2019, 07:40 AM

Quote:

158 grain LSWC's and plated SWC's are pretty much all I shoot out of my 38's and 357's. I do load my own.

Ditto.
I use them nearly all the time.
Prefer the Hornady - due to the knurled design of the bullet and the type of lube they use. They can be loaded pretty stiff and not lead the barrel.

Good stuff - - all you really ever want or need in a .38/.357 mag. for most of the stuff that you want to shoot.

SIGSHR · July 15, 2019, 01:29 PM

I would think hard cast wadcutters would be better at 357 velocities.

briandg · July 15, 2019, 02:18 PM

This was probably the only load available for decades after development. The cartridge was designed using three separate lswc designs. Remember that it was many years still before the revolver had jacketed bullets available.

JERRYS. · July 15, 2019, 02:18 PM

they were very effective in Magnum Force.

Dufus · July 15, 2019, 02:19 PM

Quote:

I would think hard cast wadcutters would be better at 357 velocities.

Definitely NOT.

zxcvbob · July 15, 2019, 02:31 PM

Quote:

I would think hard cast wadcutters would be better at 357 velocities.

They are okay at close range, running about 1000 to 1200 fps. I don't know how they do at long ranges; I haven't tried that. Probably not great because of the aerodynamics. You're best bet is to probably keep them at least a little bit subsonic.

dewcrew8 · July 15, 2019, 08:13 PM

reload both and they run great. S&W model 52, only run's on 38 spl swc

74A95 · July 16, 2019, 09:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by briandg

This was probably the only load available for decades after development. The cartridge was designed using three separate lswc designs. Remember that it was many years still before the revolver had jacketed bullets available.

Remington had metal point bullets in the 357 Magnum and several other revolver cartridges in the 1930s.

T. O'Heir · July 16, 2019, 11:50 AM

"...hard cast wadcutters..." An SWC isn't the same thing as a WC, but hardness makes no difference. Drive any cast bullet too fast and you'll get leading. Mind you, there are lots of cast bullet loads, both factory and hand loading, for the .357 that work just fine.
An HP on a cast bullet is pointless. A cast bullet will expand without the cavity.

dahermit · July 16, 2019, 07:07 PM

Quote:

An HP on a cast bullet is pointless. A cast bullet will expand without the cavity.

Do you have a whole lot of experience testing the expansion of hollow point cast lead bullets made of very hard alloys like linotype?

bamaranger · July 18, 2019, 05:29 PM

Just checking to make sure the OP realizes that a "wadcutter" and a "LSWC"
(lead semi wadcutter) are not the same thing.

shurshot · July 18, 2019, 06:56 PM

Although there is indeed a difference between the two bullet styles, I seem to have no problem missing with either!

Doyle · July 18, 2019, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Although there is indeed a difference between the two bullet styles, I seem to have no problem missing with either!

Cure for that is to move the target closer to you.

dontcatchmany · July 23, 2019, 04:40 PM

Thanks folks!

Got my 357 magnum 158 gr LSWC yesterday. Too hot to go out back and shoot it so I waited until today.

Went to an indoor range where the coolness was refreshing. Shot some 38 special 125 gr fmj and some Federal 38 Special 158 gr LSWC +P. Pretty good shooting from 7 and 10 yds.

Loaded the 357 Mag 158 gr LSWC into the same gun (kimber K6S 2") put up splatter targets and moved them to 7 yds. Lights out.....12"x12" target with a diamond center. Middle of the target with all of them (30 rds) with 5 shots on the edge of the diamond.

Moved the target to 10 yds and only slightly opened up the group a tad.

The best I have ever shot this gun (probably the air conditioning helped...lol) and the recoil was very manageable and only a bit more than the +P 38 special LSWC.

I ordered 200 more rounds today. I will then have 300 to use for SD.

Again, Thanks.

74A95 · July 23, 2019, 10:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dontcatchmany

the recoil was very manageable and only a bit more than the +P 38 special LSWC.

It looks like they are not loaded to full power for this bullet weight (158 gr), so that helps to keep the recoil down.

July 14, 2019, 04:26 PM	#1
dontcatchmany Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2010 Posts: 460	357 Magnum Wadcutters Any of you ever shot these? If so what are your impressions. I just ordered 150 rounds of 158 grain SWC. I have recently ordered some 38 Special LSWCHP 158 gr +p and got to thinking about the same in 357 Magnum so I had to try them. Will know in a few days. No, I do not load my own ammo and do not plan to.

July 14, 2019, 09:14 PM	#6
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	158 grain cast bullets, both SWC and wide flat-nose, are about all I shoot in .357. (I shoot a lot more .38 Specials than .357, and I use the same bullets there too) 148 grain cast full wadcutters also work well, but I don't load then nearly as hot, and not as often. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 14, 2019, 09:17 PM	#7
Ben Dover Senior Member Join Date: April 11, 2013 Location: High up in the Rocky Moun Posts: 665	Probably the most popular bullet among hand loaders. __________________ The soldier's pack is not so heavy a burden as the prisoner's chains. Dwight Eisenhower It is very important what a man stands for. But it is far more important what a man refuses to stand for.

July 15, 2019, 02:18 PM	#11
briandg Senior Member Join Date: May 4, 2010 Posts: 5,468	This was probably the only load available for decades after development. The cartridge was designed using three separate lswc designs. Remember that it was many years still before the revolver had jacketed bullets available. __________________ None.

July 16, 2019, 11:50 AM	#17
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...hard cast wadcutters..." An SWC isn't the same thing as a WC, but hardness makes no difference. Drive any cast bullet too fast and you'll get leading. Mind you, there are lots of cast bullet loads, both factory and hand loading, for the .357 that work just fine. An HP on a cast bullet is pointless. A cast bullet will expand without the cavity. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

July 14, 2019, 05:06 PM	#2
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,541	It worked in 1934, no reason it won't now.

July 14, 2019, 06:44 PM	#3
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	158 grain LSWC's and plated SWC's are pretty much all I shoot out of my 38's and 357's. I do load my own.

July 14, 2019, 09:01 PM	#5
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	My mold is designated as 158 gr SWC. my actual cast bullet weighs in the line of 165 gr due to my soft alloy (more lead in it). That is about all I have shot in it since the late 70s.

July 15, 2019, 05:30 AM	#8
dontcatchmany Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2010 Posts: 460	74A95, Choice Ammunition. They have a sale on them now, 19.99. ------------------ I am enamored with 357 Magnum and with a pistol range in my back yard I shoot a lot.

July 15, 2019, 01:29 PM	#10
SIGSHR Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2005 Posts: 4,700	I would think hard cast wadcutters would be better at 357 velocities.

July 15, 2019, 02:18 PM	#12
JERRYS. Senior Member Join Date: September 23, 2013 Location: Alabama Posts: 2,968	they were very effective in Magnum Force.

July 15, 2019, 08:13 PM	#15
dewcrew8 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2009 Posts: 214	reload both and they run great. S&W model 52, only run's on 38 spl swc

July 18, 2019, 05:29 PM	#19
bamaranger Senior Member Join Date: October 9, 2009 Location: North Alabama Posts: 8,308	LSWC v. wadcutters Just checking to make sure the OP realizes that a "wadcutter" and a "LSWC" (lead semi wadcutter) are not the same thing.

July 18, 2019, 06:56 PM	#20
shurshot Senior Member Join Date: August 25, 2006 Posts: 1,819	Although there is indeed a difference between the two bullet styles, I seem to have no problem missing with either!

July 23, 2019, 04:40 PM	#22
dontcatchmany Senior Member Join Date: July 19, 2010 Posts: 460	Thanks folks! Got my 357 magnum 158 gr LSWC yesterday. Too hot to go out back and shoot it so I waited until today. Went to an indoor range where the coolness was refreshing. Shot some 38 special 125 gr fmj and some Federal 38 Special 158 gr LSWC +P. Pretty good shooting from 7 and 10 yds. Loaded the 357 Mag 158 gr LSWC into the same gun (kimber K6S 2") put up splatter targets and moved them to 7 yds. Lights out.....12"x12" target with a diamond center. Middle of the target with all of them (30 rds) with 5 shots on the edge of the diamond. Moved the target to 10 yds and only slightly opened up the group a tad. The best I have ever shot this gun (probably the air conditioning helped...lol) and the recoil was very manageable and only a bit more than the +P 38 special LSWC. I ordered 200 more rounds today. I will then have 300 to use for SD. Again, Thanks.