Somewhat OT - 357 Lead bullets

[stretch]

Good Afternoon!

What sort of luck have people had loading lead bullets to 357 velocities;
+/- 1300fps or so?

I have some Speer 158gr LSWHP that work really well in my Model 10.
There's no appreciable leading - the bullets are factory lubed and I've
also tumbled them in Lee's liquid Alox.

Are there any opinions/experience on how I might fare at 357 velocities
(in firearm chambered for 357, of course!) with this setup? Propellant would
be 2400.

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Stretch

[Bullard4075]

While every firearm is a law unto itself the rule of thumb I've always used is 1100 feet per second velocity
and above requires a hard cast bullet or gas check.
The Speer manual advises your bullet for 1000 fps or less.
It won't hurt to try though, at the worst you will have some lead in the barrel to remove.

[DerekR]

I have had luck with the Lyman 358156, which is a gas check design. That bullet with H110 shoots well in my Blackhawk. It also does well in my Rossi Carbine. I don't think you could reach those velocities with a plain based bullet without leading your barrel.

[El Chivo]

I get leading using 10 gr 2400 with 180 gr Lasercast, which is probably about 1300 fps.

I'm thinking that 2400 might burn a little hot and so am trying a slower powder and see what that does.

I want to keep a moderate power level because that's been more accurate for me.

Ironically with the harder bullets, they lead if you don't drive them fast.

[Old Ironsights]

I get leading using 10 gr 2400 with 180 gr Lasercast, which is probably about 1300 fps.
I'm thinking that 2400 might burn a little hot and so am trying a slower powder and see what that does.
I want to keep a moderate power level because that's been more accurate for me.
Ironically with the harder bullets, they lead if you don't drive them fast.

That lasercast isn't a Gas Check is it?

[centershot]

I shoot that 180 gr Lasercast over 12 gr of 2400 with no problem at all! It groups under 2" @ 100 yds from my Marlin 1894 with peep sights, no leading at all. I shot that load all last summer at our local silhouette matces with only a dry patch down the bore after the match. The barrel is still perfect. It only goes to show that each gun is truly a unique individual!

I wouldn't push those swaged Speer bullets over 1000 fps ! Unless you really like to scrape lead out of your bore. BTDT! But any of the hard cast bullets should work well at magnum velocities. Give a call to Marcie and Dave at Montana Bullets, they're a sponsor of this site. They'll get you an alloy for your particular needs, they're good folks!

centershot

[timkelley]

Try your luck with a few rounds, the worst that can happen would be a leaded barrel. Every firearm is an individual and many will shoot lead pretty fast.

[txpete]

if you look in the speer reloading book it will give you data for the 357 with that bullet.there is a reason as it is a soft swaged lead bullet not a cast bullet.

[J Miller]

I've been shooting 13.5 grs of 2400 with cast lead bullets in the .357 for years. Mostly I use the 358429 or other flat based cast bullets. I get good accuracy and very little leading if the bullets are cast around 16-1 lead -tin or harder.

Soft bullets I don't use in the .357.

Joe

[KCSO]

I've been shooting cast in my Rossi carbine for over 30 years. I have run a w/w cast bullet up to over 1500 fps with no leading as long as the bullet fits the bore. In general if the bore is 357 you will want 359 bullets. This isn't a hard fast rule and you will need to expiriment some. I am currently shooting a 358 bullet in the Lee 158 rnfp. I usually load 3.2 of Bulllseye for right at 1100 fps but i have run these up to 1400 with no leading. I have pushed a 180 rnfp gc bullet up to 1750 in this same carbine. As I remmber it my Rossi had a 356 bore but it has been years since I measured it I just shoot what works. The moden Rossi/Pumas are variable in bore size and you willl need to slug. If you load in a 38 special case remember to swab the bore after ever shootinng session and you will never have to worry about ruininng the chamber. I took my little carbine out the other day and fired 5 shots from the bench at 100 yards with the factory irons. The group was 1/2" wide and 2 1/4" tall center to center. 30 years ago the gun shot a lot better but I could SEE then. This little carbine has resided in the trunk of my cruiser off and on since the 1970's and with cast bullets has put down everything from a wolf to a 1500 pound bull. You won't go wrong with a good cast slug in the 357.

[txpete]

ditto here guys I have hammered the 173 keiths and my silhoutte's hard with 2400 and AA#9 but thats not his question.he is using soft swaged bullets.
these bullets are what got me casting 30 years ago...leading if you push it.
pete


**I have some Speer 158gr LSWHP that work really well in my Model 10.
There's no appreciable leading - the bullets are factory lubed and I've
also tumbled them in Lee's liquid Alox.

Are there any opinions/experience on how I might fare at 357 velocities
(in firearm chambered for 357, of course!) with this setup? Propellant would
be 2400.

Thanks in advance for any help.

-Stretch **

[stretch]

Thanks to everybody for their input!

As I really, really dislike scrubbing lead out of a bore, I think I'll get some
hard cast lead and go from there. I'll save the rest of these for 38 special
loads.

I'll look into Montana Bullets. Thanks, Centershot.

-Stretch

[El Chivo]

I shoot that 180 gr Lasercast over 12 gr of 2400 with no problem at all! It groups under 2" @ 100 yds from my Marlin 1894 with peep sights, no leading at all. I shot that load all last summer at our local silhouette matces with only a dry patch down the bore after the match. The barrel is still perfect. It only goes to show that each gun is truly a unique individual!

I believe I would not get leading if I used 12-13 grains of 2400. The problem is from a lower pressure load, the hard bullet doesn't obturate and the heat gets around the sides of the bullet, melting some. Go figure, if it's not one thing it's another. No, those aren't the gas checked - I'm too cheap for that.

I hesitate to up the charge because the groups opened up quite a bit. So I'm going to try some other powders and see if they are cooler than 2400.

[alnitak]

I picked up a couple boxes of .357 bullets from Missouri Bullet Co.. The Brinell is 18-20, which optimizes them for magnum velocities with no leading.

http://www.missouribullet.com/technical.html

[Old Ironsights]

...I believe I would not get leading if I used 12-13 grains of 2400. The problem is from a lower pressure load, the hard bullet doesn't obturate and the heat gets around the sides of the bullet, melting some. Go figure, if it's not one thing it's another. No, those aren't the gas checked - I'm too cheap for that.
...

That's why I cast.

Low Brinell for good Obturation at low velocity and High Brinell for Whompum Stompum.

[Old Ironsights]

Thanks to everybody for their input!

As I really, really dislike scrubbing lead out of a bore, I think I'll get some
hard cast lead and go from there. I'll save the rest of these for 38 special
loads.

I'll look into Montana Bullets. Thanks, Centershot.

-Stretch

Here ya go Stretch...

http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=38539