351 Winchster ready for deer.
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351 Winchster ready for deer.
I just thought I would share getting the 351 ready for deer hunting. First thing was finding a bullet that would work. Graf's sells 180 grain cup and core bullets that shoot great , but did not pass the water jug test. So I had some 358 190gr Fp Ranchdog bullets.
Sorry for the bad pictures , something was up with my camera. I started with a piece of 7/8 by 14 TPI rod stock and put it on the mini lathe. I bought this back in Sept. at Harbor Freight, $400 with coupons. It isn't a high horse power rig , but if you take your time things turn out fine. The biggest surprise was after boring a hole and lapping it with emery cloth is that I got it right the first time! 352 . To think I bought 5 feet of the rod just in case. Actually that was the smallest length I could find.
I sized the bullet to 352 , which took some effort on my part. Loaded up a round but it wouldn't chamber. I had to put the bullets on the lathe and take down the meplat so it would chamber. They shoot excellent , I am able to shoot 2 inch groups at 50 yards off hand. I use piece from my Lee 339 sizing die for pushing the bullet through. The shell on the left is 357 brass with rim turned down and the one on the right is the cast bullet using fireformed 223 brass. A 351 case is semi rimmed and longer than a 357, the 223 brass is cut to the correct length The 357 brass cycles fine in the 5 shot magazine but hangs up in the 10 round. The 223 brass cycles fine in both. The die on the left is the Lee, the other is my home made one. Needless to say but I didn't have an opportunity to shoot a deer this year with the 351 , but it is ready.
Picked them both up the same day . Rossi 357 on top 351 Win bottom.
Sorry for the bad pictures , something was up with my camera. I started with a piece of 7/8 by 14 TPI rod stock and put it on the mini lathe. I bought this back in Sept. at Harbor Freight, $400 with coupons. It isn't a high horse power rig , but if you take your time things turn out fine. The biggest surprise was after boring a hole and lapping it with emery cloth is that I got it right the first time! 352 . To think I bought 5 feet of the rod just in case. Actually that was the smallest length I could find.
I sized the bullet to 352 , which took some effort on my part. Loaded up a round but it wouldn't chamber. I had to put the bullets on the lathe and take down the meplat so it would chamber. They shoot excellent , I am able to shoot 2 inch groups at 50 yards off hand. I use piece from my Lee 339 sizing die for pushing the bullet through. The shell on the left is 357 brass with rim turned down and the one on the right is the cast bullet using fireformed 223 brass. A 351 case is semi rimmed and longer than a 357, the 223 brass is cut to the correct length The 357 brass cycles fine in the 5 shot magazine but hangs up in the 10 round. The 223 brass cycles fine in both. The die on the left is the Lee, the other is my home made one. Needless to say but I didn't have an opportunity to shoot a deer this year with the 351 , but it is ready.
Picked them both up the same day . Rossi 357 on top 351 Win bottom.
Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
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Could you please explain your "water jug test" ?
I've never used shooting into a water jug for anything else than a graphic demonstration to new shooters, of what their, or someone else's, head could look like if they weren't careful/safe when handling a firearm.
.
Could you please explain your "water jug test" ?
I've never used shooting into a water jug for anything else than a graphic demonstration to new shooters, of what their, or someone else's, head could look like if they weren't careful/safe when handling a firearm.
.
Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
Pete this is the Juggenator 2.1 . Don't ask about 2.0 I have it set for a piece of 1/4 in plywood in the front if I want to simulate hitting a rib. Usually start testing without the board. What will happen after the bullet has stopped traveling it will be in one of the jugs so I can see how it mushrooms. Most cup and core handgun bullets will leave the jacket in the first jug and fragment after that. Then I count how many jugs it penetrates.
Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
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Impressive.......
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Impressive.......
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Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
Pretty interesting and cool, Ben. You had to do a lot of thinking on that and as time goes on, you will learn and be able to fine tune the gun and load. That's one gun, along with the 401, that I have never played with, mostly because of the availability of brass and also because I tend to lose a lot of brass with a semi.
Have you tried any Hornady or Sierra 180 gr bullets designed for the 357 Maximum?-----------------6
Have you tried any Hornady or Sierra 180 gr bullets designed for the 357 Maximum?-----------------6
Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
I looked for them but those come up under seasonal run and of course this year I could not find any. But I'm fine with cast bullets for now.Sixgun wrote:
Have you tried any Hornady or Sierra 180 gr bullets designed for the 357 Maximum?-----------------6
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Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
I have a bunch of the 180gr. GRAF bullets, and I am trying to find starting loads for IMR 4227 or Alliant 2400. Any ideas, guys? I don't have any loading manuals old enough to cover the .351, I guess.
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Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
Heres a free online load data for 351 and many more cartridges. danny
http://reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=233
http://reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=233
Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
Lyman's cast bullet handbook 3rd edition has this info , the 4th doesn't.
171 gr cast
4227 17gr - 1658fps 19.5 - 1904fps
2400 17gr -1861 19.0 - 2020
Unique 12gr - 1692 12.5 - 1751
I use 18gr of 4227 , function and accuracy is excellent with Graf's 180gr.
171 gr cast
4227 17gr - 1658fps 19.5 - 1904fps
2400 17gr -1861 19.0 - 2020
Unique 12gr - 1692 12.5 - 1751
I use 18gr of 4227 , function and accuracy is excellent with Graf's 180gr.
Re: 351 Winchster ready for deer.
Maybe try the Hornady 180gr single shot pistol bullet.. Supposed to be a great bullet in the 357max.
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All the knowledge in the world, is of no use to fools! (Eagles-long road out of Eden)
All the knowledge in the world, is of no use to fools! (Eagles-long road out of Eden)