.357 Magnum

[whitewolf68]

Just thought I would post a quick shot of my .357 Taurus since I've been casting the .38's. Yep it's a 7 round revolver.

 

[forrest r]

Nice!!! What are your favorite bullet/loads & do you size them to 357 or 358? I’m in the process of changing redoing all my reloads this winter. I’m trying to get away from the speed/power thing & go back to some target loads.

 

[Jeff H]

I have had several Taurus .44 Special and .22 LR revolvers. Had one blued 4" in .32 mag that was a real beauty but the chambers were way over sized. That wa the only issue I ever had with one. They are great revolvers. I know someone who has one of the more recent 7-shot .357s and it's a very nice gun.

My .357 preferences have been more on the heavy cast side at around 1000 fps and then several 125 grain and 158 grain loads at about the same velocity or less. The heavier (160 and up) .357s' at about 1000 fps are much less obnoxioius in terms of muzzle blast and still provide considerable punch and range. The Lyman 358429 (170 grains) is good and Ranch Dog Outdoors has a new 175 grain RNFP TL, GC I would like to try in the Rossi carbine and the SP101.

 

[whitewolf68]

Right now I am just starting to load my cast bullet for it. Pretty much the same as my Rossi 92. Like you I want some target loads but I also want a little power as I am used to the Magnum kick. Right now they are all sized to .358 right now but depending I do have a .357 die as well.

Nice!!! What are your favorite bullet/loads & do you size them to 357 or 358? I’m in the process of changing redoing all my reloads this winter. I’m trying to get away from the speed/power thing & go back to some target loads.

 

[whitewolf68]

I've yet to fire a handgun chambered in .44 something else I want to add to my collection. The Taurus revolver are beautiful weapons and my .357 is a fun to shoot thanks in part to the ported barrel. This one is quite a few years old, I bought it new at the Fort Wayne gun show for only $350.

My cast bullets are dropping at around 160-165 grain so they are a bit on the heavy side using my Lyman mold. I've yet, because of no place to shoot, test them out. I hope that I can get to Clelands to try them out.

I have had several Taurus .44 Special and .22 LR revolvers. Had one blued 4" in .32 mag that was a real beauty but the chambers were way over sized. That wa the only issue I ever had with one. They are great revolvers. I know someone who has one of the more recent 7-shot .357s and it's a very nice gun.

My .357 preferences have been more on the heavy cast side at around 1000 fps and then several 125 grain and 158 grain loads at about the same velocity or less. The heavier (160 and up) .357s' at about 1000 fps are much less obnoxioius in terms of muzzle blast and still provide considerable punch and range. The Lyman 358429 (170 grains) is good and Ranch Dog Outdoors has a new 175 grain RNFP TL, GC I would like to try in the Rossi carbine and the SP101.

 

[Jeff H]

.......My cast bullets are dropping at around 160-165 grain so they are a bit on the heavy side using my Lyman mold........

Is that the Lyman 358429? If so, are you able to actually use the crimp groovew with that Taurus? That bullet was originally designed with the .38 case in mind and many .357 mag. cylinders are too short to accommodate it when crimped in the crimp groove - like the SP101. It also is WAY too long for my Rossi unless seated deeply and crimped in the front driving band or if used in .38 cases. It's iffy in the Rossi in .357 cases regardless, but runs like snot in .38s. I like that bullet a lot but don't get to use it the way I would like. I also don't like trimming mag cases short to accommodate it.

 

[whitewolf68]

It's actually the 358665 so I have no problems with the length. My Rossi lever gun love's .38's as well and sometimes can be a bit iffy on .357 so these will be the true test when I get a chance to run them through it. I am still a little hesitant because of leading though.

Is that the Lyman 358429? If so, are you able to actually use the crimp groovew with that Taurus? That bullet was originally designed with the .38 case in mind and many .357 mag. cylinders are too short to accommodate it when crimped in the crimp groove - like the SP101. It also is WAY too long for my Rossi unless seated deeply and crimped in the front driving band or if used in .38 cases. It's iffy in the Rossi in .357 cases regardless, but runs like snot in .38s. I like that bullet a lot but don't get to use it the way I would like. I also don't like trimming mag cases short to accommodate it.

 

[Jeff H]

..........I am still a little hesitant because of leading though.

So far......... I have had no leading in the Rossi using traditionally sized/lubed .358" cast bullets. The only thing that has leaded in it is the LEE 358 SWC TL, which is cast of 50/50 WW/Pb and air cooled. These were cast by a friend and left unsized, so there should not be a problem, but they do lead in one spot of the bore - very odd. At really low speeds, they are OK and do just fine in the SP101 up to 1000 to 1200 fps.

The spot in the Rossi bore that leads is a little weird. If you hold the gun just right and peer down the muzzle just so, while shining just the right light in through the action, you can see a weird spot - like very, very minor undulations. It looks like many Ruger, Charter and Smith handguns I have seen where the stamped lettering on the outside of the barrel shows through on the inside. This is more common in Rugers in my experience, but it has never caused me any such problem - hence my "weird" statement.

Slugging my Rossi indicates a .357 groove diameter, which is tight, and I run my projectiles at .358, but relatively soft and at relatively low pressures. Shoots cleanly and accurately.

 

[mroliver77]

AJ,
You will have to come out one of these days! I have a Super Black Hawk in .44 mag. Also have one(BH) in .45 Colt. Also have one in .357. The thump is something different than a .357's "crack".
Jay

 

[whitewolf68]

So far......... I have had no leading in the Rossi using traditionally sized/lubed .358" cast bullets. The only thing that has leaded in it is the LEE 358 SWC TL, which is cast of 50/50 WW/Pb and air cooled. These were cast by a friend and left unsized, so there should not be a problem, but they do lead in one spot of the bore - very odd. At really low speeds, they are OK and do just fine in the SP101 up to 1000 to 1200 fps.

The spot in the Rossi bore that leads is a little weird. If you hold the gun just right and peer down the muzzle just so, while shining just the right light in through the action, you can see a weird spot - like very, very minor undulations. It looks like many Ruger, Charter and Smith handguns I have seen where the stamped lettering on the outside of the barrel shows through on the inside. This is more common in Rugers in my experience, but it has never caused me any such problem - hence my "weird" statement.

Slugging my Rossi indicates a .357 groove diameter, which is tight, and I run my projectiles at .358, but relatively soft and at relatively low pressures. Shoots cleanly and accurately.

Good to hear Jeff, leading in my Rossi 92 is one thing I worry about due to how hard the barrel is to scrub. I don't TL any bullets, so far I have used ALL Lyman Moly lube but waiting on some BAC to arrive from White Label Lube. Thus far my lead came from my father-in-law and I suspect it probably is WW lead and unknown mix. I'll have to watch for that spot to lead and see what it does.

I've yet to slug my barrel but like your's I believe it is .357 as that is what I've heard from most every owner so far. Like you I size to .358 as well and I am going to start loading to a little milder level.

 

[whitewolf68]

AJ,
You will have to come out one of these days! I have a Super Black Hawk in .44 mag. Also have one(BH) in .45 Colt. Also have one in .357. The thump is something different than a .357's "crack".
Jay

I would love too Jay! Thank you. You know I never shot a .44 handgun just my Model 94 in 44mag and that has a pretty good thump too it. LOL I can only imagine a Super Black Hawk

 

[forrest r]

Welcome mroliver77, Blackhawks are sweet!!! I’ve owned sever over the years, they truly are one of the best values out there.
Whitewolf, you ought to try making your own lube, it’s easy to make & a lot cheaper than buying lube. I’ve shot nothing but hill pickings (lead) for 20 years now with no problems with the lead being too soft. Actually I’ve found that most people either cast their bullets too hard or size them to the wrong size & that causes more leading issues than anything.

If you want to cut way down on your scrubbing /cleaning of your bbl’s you need to get a couple of the copper brillow pads that they sell in the stores to clean pots & pans. They look like steel wool pads but are made of copper. Just pull some of it off a pad & wrap it around a cleaning brush. The copper wrapped brushes will cut thru anything in a hurry saving you time & brushes. This works great for old wore out brushes, I use 1 for the bbl’s & 1 with a little more copper pad (bigger in dia) for the chambers in revolvers.

 

[Jeff H]

.....and I am going to start loading to a little milder level.

Yeah, don't forget - that longer barrel will increase your velocity considerably. I factor that into my loads and figure I am getting "magnum-level" performance from some of my milder loads when shot through the 16" tube. I have yet to get time to chronograph any of my Rossi loads. The upshot is that you can use less powder, get less muzzle blast and go easier on the brass for varmints and the like.

If I were loading this for deer, I would want to step up to a 180 grain plus WFN but I believe that would pose some issues for me in this particular Rossi as far as feeding goes. I have tp deep-seat the LEE 158RFN and swage the case mouth into the front driving band with a LEE factory crimp die to get those to feed reliably. I have worked this rifle over and I will have to clean up the chamfer at the bottom of the chamber to improve further and just have not had the time or patience to get to that one. What I have loaded in it shoots great though - especially the medium loaded 125RFN and the 120TC or the 158TL, all of which provide some serious punch for less than deer-sized animals.

 

[whitewolf68]

If you want to cut way down on your scrubbing /cleaning of your bbl’s you need to get a couple of the copper brillow pads that they sell in the stores to clean pots & pans. They look like steel wool pads but are made of copper. Just pull some of it off a pad & wrap it around a cleaning brush. The copper wrapped brushes will cut thru anything in a hurry saving you time & brushes. This works great for old wore out brushes, I use 1 for the bbl’s & 1 with a little more copper pad (bigger in dia) for the chambers in revolvers.

I never thought about using brillo pads for cleaning the barrel. I will have to get some of those next time I've at the store. As for brushes I think I am gonna raid your supply Forrest.

Yeah, don't forget - that longer barrel will increase your velocity considerably. I factor that into my loads and figure I am getting "magnum-level" performance from some of my milder loads when shot through the 16" tube. I have yet to get time to chronograph any of my Rossi loads. The upshot is that you can use less powder, get less muzzle blast and go easier on the brass for varmints and the like.

I completely forgot about the added velocity because of barrel length. I am not gonna max load the .38 any more after those 10 are gone. Less powder use would be great, especially with the price of powder and primers right now. Hopefully the prices come down soon but I am not gonna hold my breath, I don't look good blue.

If I were loading this for deer, I would want to step up to a 180 grain plus WFN but I believe that would pose some issues for me in this particular Rossi as far as feeding goes. I have tp deep-seat the LEE 158RFN and swage the case mouth into the front driving band with a LEE factory crimp die to get those to feed reliably. I have worked this rifle over and I will have to clean up the chamfer at the bottom of the chamber to improve further and just have not had the time or patience to get to that one. What I have loaded in it shoots great though - especially the medium loaded 125RFN and the 120TC or the 158TL, all of which provide some serious punch for less than deer-sized animals.

I am using my rounds only for target shooting, they are a lot cheaper to cast and reload then buying FMJ bullets at this point. If I and I hope I hear positive news soon, I get the Casino job, I will be investing in more molds so that I can cast some different rounds and not just stick with the same old, same old.

 

[Jeff H]

I never thought about using brillo pads for cleaning the barrel.............

OOH, no, not BRILLO PADS!

I hope I didn't say "Brillo Pads" anyway.

Specifically - 100% COPPER CHORE BOY scrubbers. ACE Hardware has them at about $2.50/pair.

Be wary of the cheap knock-offs because they are copper plated STEEL - what a rip off.

 

[whitewolf68]

Sorry, probably my interpretation. Thank you for the clarification/correction.