Load check, please

[utbrowningman]

125 grain FP .357 Berry's Preferred Plated bullet with 4.0 grains of Universal in a 1912 Colt Officer's Model 7.5".

I can't find any load data for the 125 grain FP bullet.

What about OAL?

 

[rfwobbly]

Can't help you with the load.

The OAL is going to be around 1.590". Since the Berry is plated with NO cannelure, you'll need a taper crimp die in place of the normal roll crimp. You can get one from Lee for about $12 Right Here.

 

[utbrowningman]

Can't help you with the load.

The OAL is going to be around 1.590". Since the Berry is plated with NO cannelure, you'll need a taper crimp die in place of the normal roll crimp. You can get one from Lee for about $12 Right Here.

From the Midway site it says "These dies offer little or no advantage when used with 1986 or newer Lee dies as the crimp angle is already a modified taper crimp." I have new dies so according to this, I do not need the taper crimp die.

 

[rsrocket1]

From the Midway site it says "These dies offer little or no advantage when used with 1986 or newer Lee dies as the crimp angle is already a modified taper crimp." I have new dies so according to this, I do not need the taper crimp die.

The autoloading cartridges dies have a taper crimp, the revolver dies have a roll crimp. You have to be very careful adjusting the combination seating/crimping die to give you a very mild crimp on a bullet without a crimp groove/cannelure.

Anyways, Hodgdon's site gives a clue. If you look at 125g loads for Universal in 357 magnum. LRNFP (1.58" COL) shows 4.8 to 6.8g while JHP shows 7.1 to 7.6g.

An estimate with Quickload shows that 4.0g, you will get you 900 fps out of a 7.5" barrel, but only 8700 psi peak pressure. This might be a marginal load. It should work, but it may give pretty wide variations in velocity.

 

[utbrowningman]

The autoloading cartridges dies have a taper crimp, the revolver dies have a roll crimp. You have to be very careful adjusting the combination seating/crimping die to give you a very mild crimp on a bullet without a crimp groove/cannelure.

Anyways, Hodgdon's site gives a clue. If you look at 125g loads for Universal in 357 magnum. LRNFP (1.58" COL) shows 4.8 to 6.8g while JHP shows 7.1 to 7.6g.

An estimate with Quickload shows that 4.0g, you will get you 900 fps out of a 7.5" barrel, but only 8700 psi peak pressure. This might be a marginal load. It should work, but it may give pretty wide variations in velocity.

This is for a .38 load, not a .357 load.

 

[rsrocket1]

This is for a .38 load, not a .357 load.

Sorry, it would be nice to state that in the OP

Here you go:
Since the standard 158g RN bullet is seated to approximately 0.30" to give a COL of 1.55", measure the Berry's and seat it so that it is seated to a depth 0.300". For instance, the 125g Rainier FP is 0.515", with a 0.300" seat depth, the COL in a 38 special would be 1.360". If you seat longer, its ok, you'll just get a lower pressure and slower MV.

With the above dimensions, 4.0g Universal will give you 10,650 psi and about 970 fps out of your 7.5" barrel.

If you seat to .22" depth, the Max press would be 9400 psi and the MV would be about 930 fps

These again are estimates only and YMMV, but you are well below the 17k SAAMI specs.

Hope that helps.

 

[utbrowningman]

Sorry, it would be nice to state that in the OP

Here you go:
Since the standard 158g RN bullet is seated to approximately 0.30" to give a COL of 1.55", measure the Berry's and seat it so that it is seated to a depth 0.300". For instance, the 125g Rainier FP is 0.515", with a 0.300" seat depth, the COL in a 38 special would be 1.360". If you seat longer, its ok, you'll just get a lower pressure and slower MV.

With the above dimensions, 4.0g Universal will give you 10,650 psi and about 970 fps out of your 7.5" barrel.

If you seat to .22" depth, the Max press would be 9400 psi and the MV would be about 930 fps

These again are estimates only and YMMV, but you are well below the 17k SAAMI specs.

Hope that helps.

Thanks for the load data. I assumed .38 was known since it was for a 1912 Colt.
I apologize do the confusion. This is a great site and glad I can get the proper
information. Any idea what pressure factory loads produce? I'm just looking for a low
pressure load and I think we have come up with one.

 

[ljnowell]

Sorry, it would be nice to state that in the OP

Here you go:
Since the standard 158g RN bullet is seated to approximately 0.30" to give a COL of 1.55", measure the Berry's and seat it so that it is seated to a depth 0.300". For instance, the 125g Rainier FP is 0.515", with a 0.300" seat depth, the COL in a 38 special would be 1.360". If you seat longer, its ok, you'll just get a lower pressure and slower MV.

With the above dimensions, 4.0g Universal will give you 10,650 psi and about 970 fps out of your 7.5" barrel.

If you seat to .22" depth, the Max press would be 9400 psi and the MV would be about 930 fps

These again are estimates only and YMMV, but you are well below the 17k SAAMI specs.

Hope that helps.

There were no 357 mags in 1912 when the colt was built. I wouldnt run a warm 38 through it either, if it were mine. Keep it mild.