[340PD]

I am using Berry's 125 gr Flat point bullet in a .357 case with 5.5 gr of Unigue. The gun is a 686 with a four inch barrel. I shot about 75 rounds this morning and I experenced quite a bit of leading in the forcing cone and an inch or so up the barrel. It cleaned up quite easily but what would cause this, and how do I avoid it in the future?

[ReloaderFred]

Are you referring to the 125 grain plated bullets, or their 125 grain cast bullets? I've used both and get no leading from either one through my guns. Your load is quite mild for either bullet in the .357 Magnum, and near the upper limit for .38 Special, but I still don't see any reason for you to be getting excessive leading.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[340PD]

They are Berry's plated.

[rcmodel]

Well, the only possible way I can think of that lead can even be exposed or come in contact with the barrel is due to over-crimping them and cutting through the plated jacket.

That's about all it can be.

I suppose there is slim chance the forcing cone is not cut right, or the chambers are not in line with it, and shaving off one side of the bullet jacket, but that's a pretty slim chance.

rc

[340PD]

I am using a slight taper crimp and the gun came out of the S&W Performance center. It should be set up correctly. I am using these light loads in the .357 cases just to make it easier to clean the cylinder.

[Walkalong]

There is something wrong.

All those Berrys 125 Gr Gr TrFP's need is a light taper crimp (http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5902461&postcount=33). I have shoot a ton of them with zero problems.

I shoot them at around 900 to 950 FPS. They can be pushed harder, but that is a nice light plinker load.

[340PD]

I should be raising the powder charge? Maybe more powder would better seal the bullet in the bore and reduce my issues. Remember my goal was to have a nice pleasant load that would retain accuracy and not scare anyone at the shooting lane next to me. This 5.5 gr Unique works great with my 125 gr. Winchester FMJ hollow points.

[rcmodel]

Regardless of pressure or velocity, it's hard to understand how you could get leading from gas cutting if the plated jacket was not damaged to expose the lead somehow first.

You said:It cleaned up quite easily

You sure it isn't just charcoal / smoke in the bore from the light load of Unique and not leading at all?

rc

[340PD]

Using my light up the bore I would swear it was lead. I agree it is all but impossible to get leading from a plated bullet without prior damage to the bullet. That is why I brought up this question. When I finished shooting I did use a brush on the bore at the range cleanup area. It was on further inspection at home that I found this issue. In any case I did get it clean with a couple of passes with my lewis lead remover on the bore and the forcing cone.

[ReloaderFred]

Did you shoot cast bullets prior to shooting the plated bullets? It's possible that it was left over from a prior shooting session.......

Hope this helps.

Fred

[340PD]

No cast bullets ever shot. I will try more of the same load next week and see what happens. Thanks to all. This is a very helpful forum.

[Roccobro]

Take one of your loaded rounds and take it apart. Check to see if the plating is being cut at the crimp. If your still unsure, retrieve a fired bullet and check it's jackets integrity. I'll leave it to you to figure out how to get a fired bullet back in decent shape. ;)

Justin

[showmebob]

I think RC and Reloader are right on track. I also shoot the 125gr flat point Berrys plated bullets and have no problems with leading. My guess is with such a light load of Unique you are getting a poor (dirty) burn. I switched from Unique to W231 and Titegroup for these bullets and I'm happy about it.

[Walkalong]

.357 brass, a standard SP primer & 4.0 Grs Clays with that Berrys 125 Gr TrFP burns super clean, is accurate, and leaves the gun nice and clean. It is also less position sensitive than many combinations I tried. Runs around 875 to 900 ish FPS from 6" barrels.

Start low, work up, use at your own risk.

[rfwobbly]

I also think it's the light load of Unique just being "dirty", but another idea comes to mind. Maybe you were sent .355 bullets for 9mm instead of the slightly larger bullets for 38/357 ??