My favorite .357 but it has issues

[Scott Tschirhart]

My favorite.357 is a Ruger Flattop with a lot of miles on it. Light and handy, it points like your finger. I probably have 3000 rounds through it and I carry it a great deal.

But I never have had it shoot as well as I think it should. I’ve tried a number of different bullets pushed at various velocity levels. But it just never seemed to shoot as well as it should.

[Scott Tschirhart]

The lands are bright but I can’t really seem to get the grooves clean no matter what I do.

So I talked with our friend Fermin Garza. He diagnosed the problem over the phone. I was shooting.358 diameter bullets which seem to shoot well in everything else, but they fall through the throats without any resistance.

I need at least a .359 or maybe a .360 diameter cast bullet.

Rim Rock will size their 170 gr SWC flat base bullet to .359 so I ordered some.

If this doesn’t work, it may take a trip to Hamilton Bowen to be converted to a .45 Colt.

[4t5]

Hope the larger bullets work for , good luck !

[Griff]

I've traded off two Ruger .357 Flattops, and knew each time that I'd kick myself later... I've a good friend that has more than I lave mdl 94 Winchesters and I can't get him to sell or trade one... (He has more Winchesters than I do)!!! Hope the .359 bullets work out!

[blackhawk44]

Bear Creek Supply has a 190gr. .361 swaged moly coated bullet you could try. Its for 38 S&W, and will hit very high but you can try it for grouping to see if diameter is your issue. Very reasonable, like $53.50/500. You could check to see if they have sample packs.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Thanks! If this doesn’t work, I’ll call him. He has always been good about samples. For testing

[Grizz]

Scott, i'm having a hard time seeing a problem with your target. There's one round an inch low, if my eyes are adjusted . . . Just saying.

Also I wonder what the dimension of the grooves is, maybe the forcing cone or leade is swaging the bullets?

And are the chambers truly centered with the barrel? I wonder if maybe a test for each chamber might have something to say about it.

it's the caffeine talking :)

[Tycer]

If the fatter bullets work in the revolver but the Marlin is tight a perfect opportunity will have presented itself to rent a 3° throat reamer.

[GunnyMack]

Scott you already have a great shooting 45, if you aren't happy with the way the 357 shoots then might I suggest converting it to 41?
Yes I know it's the red headed stepchild but it's the best of both worlds, heavier bullets than a 357, flatter shooting than a 45 .
Just my 2cents...

[Scott Tschirhart]

Scott you already have a great shooting 45, if you aren't happy with the way the 357 shoots then might I suggest converting it to 41?
Yes I know it's the red headed stepchild but it's the best of both worlds, heavier bullets than a 357, flatter shooting than a 45 .
Just my 2cents...

Not a bad suggestion. In fact I have a Bowen conversion from a small frame .357 to .41 Magum. I never shoot it and I really like my .45

[GunnyMack]

Well if you have a 41 already then might I suggest keeping the 357 as a 357 but send it out for new cylinder with the proper dimensions and a new barrel if the oversized bullets don't cure its ill's.

[Sarge]

Scott,

I just received my first 500 of these from Steel Valley Casting. With the coating, they are micing 359-360. They are intended for 38 & 357 snubs and I'm sure they'll shoot well enough there. At that diameter, they might even make a good plinking load for my old Thirty Five.

https://www.steelvalleycasting.com/prod ... nt-bullet/

[Ray]

Deleted.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Then there is also the seldom remembered paul matthews fattening treatment of a wrap of teflon plumbing tape shrunk onto and hardened with the heat of flame from a match or cigarette lighter.

Makes possible the use of the 454424 lyman in a .45-70 !

That sounds like a lot of work for sixgun ammo!

[Walt]

Scott, about 8 years ago I sent my 40 year old .45 Colt Blackhawk back to Ruger complaining of oversized chambers and throats. Amazingly, they replaced the cylinder and sent it back at N/C. I don't know if they still do that these days but it might be worth a try. If you decide to send it to Mr. Bowen instead, he'll make it better than new.

[Scott Tschirhart]

Let’s take little steps first and see what happens.

The problem is that I have a .45 Blackhawk that will outshoot the.357. So I know it can be better.

[LeverGunner]

Then there is also the seldom remembered paul matthews fattening treatment of a wrap of teflon plumbing tape shrunk onto and hardened with the heat of flame from a match or cigarette lighter.

Makes possible the use of the 454424 lyman in a .45-70 !

Did Paul Matthews invent that? I've seen it a couple of places, one being in Winchester Lever Legacy by Williamson.

[LeverGunner]

Then there is also the seldom remembered paul matthews fattening treatment of a wrap of teflon plumbing tape shrunk onto and hardened with the heat of flame from a match or cigarette lighter.

Makes possible the use of the 454424 lyman in a .45-70 !

That sounds like a lot of work for sixgun ammo!

You're right, and that's why I ain't tried it.

[TedH]

I have a mold that drops a 185 gr WFN that I size to .360". My Blackhawk shoots them very well. I'd be happy to send you some to try out and see if that's what you need.

[Scott Tschirhart]

I have a mold that drops a 185 gr WFN that I size to .360". My Blackhawk shoots them very well. I'd be happy to send you some to try out and see if that's what you need.

Thanks! Let’s see how these .359 diameter bullets work first. But I may take you up on that offer.

[Scott Tschirhart]

This isn’t all about mechanical accuracy. I had a Freedom Arms 97 that shot a one hole test target from a vice at 25 yards but it didn’t shoot well from my hand.

Despite its issues, this old Flattop will group better in my hands than the FA ever did.