Speer 160 gr JSP info ??

[fourdollarbill]

Does any body know what load data book has the 357 mag Speer 160 gr JSP in it. I came across a few hundred of them and I have no info. I'm shooting them out of an 1894cs for varmits and such. I typicaly use H110, Lil,gun, and 2400.

 

[rcmodel]

Well, the older Speer manuals all had it in them.
#10 for instance.

They show MAX .357 Mag loads with the 160 half-jacket as follows.
All w/Mag primer.

Reduce 10% for starting loads.
H110 = 17.0 MAX.

2400 = 15.7 MAX.

Lil' Gun hadn't been invented yet.

rc

 

[fourdollarbill]

Thanks rc, this info is hard to find. I'm assuming they quit making this bullet? I have always casted my own bullets so I'm kinda in the dark about the oem stuff.

 

[kanook]

right next to the 158 loadind data, my speer manual says "Note: The .357" 160gr JSP-SWC may be used with these loads by reducing the maximum charges by one grain."

 

[rcmodel]

Yep!
They quietly discontinued the half-jacket bullets a year or two ago with no advance warning.

Darn shame too as the HP versions were one of the best hunting / SD bullets going for the price.

I think it was done from a liability standpoint, as it seems more and more folks are interested in loading very light powder-puff loads then in the past.
And more and more folks think a published safe Starting load is way better if you go even way lower!

The half-jacket Speers were intended to be driven hard.
There is a chance of the half-jacket sticking in the bore and the lead core keep right on going with greatly reduced loads.
Of course that leaves a bore obstruction.

rc

 

[fourdollarbill]

Very cool Kanook, that is good info to have! I was wondering about using 158 J** load data and how to reduce properly.

RC, "jacket sticking in the bore" - that is an eye opener. Thank you.