Target from my first .357 Mag handloads.

[PutTogether]

158gr hard cast Lead Semi Wadcutter on top of 15.2 grains of H110. Set to 1.575 OAL.

This was shot off hand at 12 yds. Only seven rounds because I didn't fire the 8th. I wanted to pull it out and check if there was any bullet jump after being in the cylinder for 7 other rounds being shot. I wanted to know if my crimp was OK. Turned out it was fine.

I had loaded some at 15.0, some at 15.2, and some at 15.4 for a total of 100 rds. 15.2 seemed to be the best. It was stout, but not unmanageable at all.

After 100rds, zero leading, and no apparent pressure issues from any of them, so I'm pretty happy.

[Abenaki]

That is great!
Did you cast them your self? Give us all the info.

Good job!
Abenaki

[sequoia_nomad]

Nice work. Did you go with the Oregon Trails? Any carpal tunnel symptoms? j/k

[PutTogether]

Nice work. Did you go with the Oregon Trails? Any carpal tunnel symptoms? j/k

They were Oregon Trail, but I am planning on ordering some Penn Bullets. The guy running Penn seems to REALLY know his stuff, and the bullets are about 2/3 the price.

In a couple days I am going to try 15.6 and 15.8 grains of H110 to try and get closer to a really hot load and see what happens. With these, I didn't have any flattened primers, no sticky extraction, nothing.

I have a ton of Bullseye on hand because I load .45ACP, so I'll probably try to make some light .357 125gr loads with around 7gr of Bullseye, just to see what happens. A fast burning powder like that obviously won't make any big .357 loads, but I'm all about experimenting. (safely)

[Bill Steele]

Nice.

[checkenbach]

Do yourself a favor and do a Google search for Penn bullets. From what I read, the guy's a MAJOR flake-charging credit cards, not shipping bullets, various excuses, etc... I was going to order from him as well, but ended up going with Missouri Bullet Co. Ordered yesterday, shipped today, pretty hard to beat, and they come in two hardness levels, 12 BH for lower velocity stuff, and 18 BH for higher velocity stuff. We'll see.

[PutTogether]

Do yourself a favor and do a Google search for Penn bullets. From what I read, the guy's a MAJOR flake-charging credit cards, not shipping bullets, various excuses, etc... I was going to order from him as well, but ended up going with Missouri Bullet Co. Ordered yesterday, shipped today, pretty hard to beat, and they come in two hardness levels, 12 BH for lower velocity stuff, and 18 BH for higher velocity stuff. We'll see.

Thanks for the heads up. Seems like every time I decide on who to order from, I hear something horrible.

Until then, the place near me still keeps Oregon Trails in stock. Since the Oregon Trails have worked well for me so far, I might just order from them directly still too.

[Southpaw45]

WOW!!! Thats one Hell of a hot load for a cast bullet. My data shows that to be a hot load for a copper jacket that will push about 1200 FPS. Did you get any barrel leading? Did you hang your target sideways or were you pulling your shots to the right? Anyways nice grouping and nice revolver...

[PutTogether]

WOW!!! Thats one Hell of a hot load for a cast bullet. My data shows that to be a hot load for a copper jacket that will push about 1200 FPS. Did you get any barrel leading? Did you hang your target sideways or were you pulling your shots to the right? Anyways nice grouping and nice revolver...

I checked the hell out of the barrel with a bore light, ran some patches, and a copper brush, and couldn't find any signs of leading anywhere in the barrel.

I was pulling my shots to the right. The picture came out sideways on my phone for some reason. I can't think of any good excuses why I was pulling, just user error.

I don't have a chronograph, but 1200ish seems reasonable. My Lyman manual lists 15.0 grains under a 170gr linotype bullet #358429 as 1285fps in a 4" barrel. For a their bullet #358156, which is a 155grain linotype, 15.0 is listed at 1310fps out of a 4" barrel.

They didn't have data for a 158gr lswc, so I extrapolated my charges from the bullets listed above.

After decapping the brass last night, I noticed that the primers on all the rounds had developed a little bit of an edge around them. I wouldn't call them flattened, and certainly not cratered, but there was a bit of a flange. I loaded up 50 more rounds, this time using CCI primers instead of Federal, to see if I have the same issue. If the same thing happens with the CCI, then obviouslyI've got to back down. If not, then I'm probably OK. Like I said, there were zero other signs of excessive pressure.

I also loaded up some light loads with 5 grains of Bullseye just to see what happens.

[Sky_DiveR]

That is some pretty hot loads. You mention your manual states it's for Linotype. Oregon Trail bullets are not 100% Linotype. You'll usually see leading around the forcing cone of the barrel. If you're not showing leading and no pressure signs, then you're fine. Usually you keep FPS below 1000 to prevent leading.

Only thing is, I haven't loaded lead with a slow powder before... only fast powders like WW231 or Unique. Are you getting a huge fireball from each round? If you are, perhaps that's why you don't have any leading or pressure signs... The powder isn't being completely consumed in the chamber.

[Cowboy T]

Leading's not about velocity; it's about pressure and proper sizing. If you have the right hardness (strength) of alloy for your load's pressure, and your cast bullet is properly sized, and you have sufficient lube, you will not have leading issues. I routinely push my cast "boolits" well past 1,000 FPS and have zero leading problems, and no, I do not use a gas check.

BTW, nice shootin', Tex! :-)

[PutTogether]

That is some pretty hot loads. You mention your manual states it's for Linotype. Oregon Trail bullets are not 100% Linotype. You'll usually see leading around the forcing cone of the barrel. If you're not showing leading and no pressure signs, then you're fine. Usually you keep FPS below 1000 to prevent leading.

Only thing is, I haven't loaded lead with a slow powder before... only fast powders like WW231 or Unique. Are you getting a huge fireball from each round? If you are, perhaps that's why you don't have any leading or pressure signs... The powder isn't being completely consumed in the chamber.

You are correct about the OT bullets not being 100% linotype. I was using those as reference, because believe it or not, it was tough to find data for a 158gr LSWC, so I took some guesses based on the linotype bullets of close to the same weight.

No pressure signs, especially when I used CCI primers today. Like I mentioned, the first batch with Federals had an EVER so slight 'edge' to them, but the CCIs looked perfect. Coupled with no sticky extraction, and no REALLY obvious problems, I have to guess my pressures are OK.

They had some flash to be sure, but nothing I'd call outrageous. At an indoor range, they didn't even stand out. The gun does let you know you are shooting it. After another 150 of them today, my hand was twitchy for about an hour after the range trip.

Accuracy was still really good, and I managed (with proper grip) some good double action, fairly fast fired groups.

I also tried some loads with 5, and 5.4 grains of bullseye powder, just to make some light little plinkers. Disappointing, and I won't do it again. They were all over the place, and just plain boring. When I shoot a magnum, I want a magnum.

If you haven't tried it slow powder, strong, .357 mag loads with lead, I say give it a go. You might be surprised with the lack of a lead headache.

I want to try 2400 next. My book says 2400 makes for the most accurate full power loads. The 2400 is cheaper, and a little faster burning, but is supposed to be able to make the same velocity has the H110/W296.

[checkenbach]

CCI primers are one of the harder primers(Wolf being the hardest), Federals are know as the softest, so no wonder you're getting a bit of flow with the Federals. I thought I was getting overpressure on my first .45 loads, then figured it was due to the Federal primers. I use a lot of Titegroup for my loads, pretty accurate and economical as well.

[LGB Loader]

I use Unique for lead when loading 357 Mag and H110 for jacketed.

I also use Trail Boss for 38 special type cartridges with lead boolits in 357 mag cases. I hate shooting 38 spcl cases in my 357 Mag revolvers and that dang ring to clean out. Call me lazy...

LGB