357 load development and casual observations

Shivahasagun said:
Thanks!

I disagree with this part, though.

Remington 125 gr Golden Saber and 135 gr Critical Duty have low blast and flash. They are slightly reduced loads. The CD has no flash that I've seen.

Federal 180 gr SJHP also has very little flash and less blast than 125's and 158's.

These from a 1.89 in LCR barrel.
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Okie dokey. I guess you solved your problems. Have at it, good luck, let us know when you’re giving your next lecture on handloading essentials.
 
CFEPistol has been excellent in my rifle and I use the same loads in my revolver Jacketed bullets are a bit more accurate so far as compared to epoxy coated. My goto loads are 6.9 grains CFEPistol with a Hornady 125 grain XTP HP and 6.5 grains of CFEPistol with a Speer 158 HP jacketed. Both are accurate.
 
BRatigan said:
CFEPistol has been excellent in my rifle and I use the same loads in my revolver Jacketed bullets are a bit more accurate so far as compared to epoxy coated. My goto loads are 6.9 grains CFEPistol with a Hornady 125 grain XTP HP and 6.5 grains of CFEPistol with a Speer 158 HP jacketed. Both are accurate.
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Are you seeing any erratic ignition or huge swings in sd/es. I have a pound of cfe to try but I was convinced to relegate it to 45acp.
 
My best load for a 6" 357 is 11gn of AA #7. Might not be totally full throttle, but the accuracy can't be beat !
 
I have a good target load so now I’m looking for an accurate full power load. Any bullet recommendations? I’m looking into RMR 158 grain jacketed flat nose, Hornady XTP in either 125 or 158 grain, or maybe Acme 158 grain cast/coated semi-wadcutter. I have some CFE Pistol and Alliant 2400 to try. My target load uses Winchester 231 but that’s not really a full power powder for 357 magnum. My target load is only going about 800 fps or maybe less.
 
DMW1116 said:
I have a good target load so now I’m looking for an accurate full power load. Any bullet recommendations? I’m looking into RMR 158 grain jacketed flat nose, Hornady XTP in either 125 or 158 grain, or maybe Acme 158 grain cast/coated semi-wadcutter. I have some CFE Pistol and Alliant 2400 to try. My target load uses Winchester 231 but that’s not really a full power powder for 357 magnum. My target load is only going about 800 fps or maybe less.
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If you can find them, the Speer 158gr. GDHP and Sierra 140gr. JHP are really good all-purpose "full magnum" bullets. Get the Sportsmaster series 158gr. JSP Sierras for hunting, IMO. Great in a 22" barrel even running at RemMax speeds. The 158gr. JHP is okay, too but I prefer the wide meplat of the JSP.
 
I haven’t seen any speer bullets in a long time but I’ll keep an eye out. I’m going to stretch this target load out and see where it starts to come apart then I’ll start searching in earnest. If it holds decent groups together out to 100 yards (less than 8”) it may take a while to get motivated to do anything more.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
The 158gr. JHP is okay, too but I prefer the wide meplat of the JSP.
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My favorite revolver bullet of all time is the JSP, typically the Remington, but Sierra (or Nosler, I forget...) had a beautiful version for a while, but was discontinued. JHP's have their place, for sure, but anything outside of SD ammos, I like a JSP.

I have about 200 Remington 210grn .41 JSP's I'm hoarding... the last of a 600 piece lot I bought many years ago.
 
I'm going to see where CFE Pistol (Re: 158 gr jacketed 3 inch barrel .357) gets me and if it's not enough I think my next step will be AA7 or Longshot.
 
Shivahasagun said:
I'm going to see where CFE Pistol (Re: 158 gr jacketed 3 inch barrel .357) gets me and if it's not enough I think my next step will be AA7 or Longshot.
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Testing barrel length is 10" - no firearm specified so it's probably a universal receiver and unvented pressure-testing barrel. HS-6 is real close in Hodgdon's burn rate chart to CFE-P - HS-6 is 40 vs. CFE-P at 42 - and gives the highest velocity but also the highest pressure of the powders in that burn rate. I'm not sure a 3" is going to be as efficient with powders as slow as CFE-Pistol and HS-6 but give it a try and see what the chronograph tells you. With a nice, new, tight Colt I'm guessing at MAX load you'll see around 35fps/inch loss so going from 10" to 3" you may lose as much as 250fps - which would possibly put you right in the 1000-1050fps range. Could gain velocity, too. Never know until you try. W244 is a much faster powder - with flash suppressants - and you see how close it is in tested velocity.

upload_2021-11-9_13-44-23.png
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Testing barrel length is 10" - no firearm specified so it's probably a universal receiver and unvented pressure-testing barrel. HS-6 is real close in Hodgdon's burn rate chart to CFE-P - HS-6 is 40 vs. CFE-P at 42 - and gives the highest velocity but also the highest pressure of the powders in that burn rate. I'm not sure a 3" is going to be as efficient with powders as slow as CFE-Pistol and HS-6 but give it a try and see what the chronograph tells you. With a nice, new, tight Colt I'm guessing at MAX load you'll see around 35fps/inch loss so going from 10" to 3" you may lose as much as 250fps - which would possibly put you right in the 1000-1050fps range. Could gain velocity, too. Never know until you try. W244 is a much faster powder - with flash suppressants - and you see how close it is in tested velocity.

View attachment 1036979
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Hey man, pretty good estimate!

I used 6.6 gr of CFE Pistol 158 gr XTP 1.585 OAL. CCI SPP.

I fired 18 shots and chronographed a few, though only 6 registered.

High 1002 fps, Low 944, Avg 971, ES 58.

My average is 130 fps lower than my goal of 1100 fps. Should I try some 6.7, 6.8, and 6.9?

Recoil and blast were mild / moderate.

They were plenty accurate! I only fired about 5 rounds SA, I fired about another 120 DA. (Total)

I had one light strike, though. Fired on 2nd hit. I fired 50 rds of CCI Lawman to be sure the gun would hit the primers hard enough.

I've noticed mild primer strikes on CCI priners but deep ones on Remington primers.

Perhaps for carry ammo I should use primers more sensitive than CCI's.

Maybe it was the primer, maybe it was me, I dunno.
 
AJC1 said:
Found a post of data with a source and I believe it's the page I was sent. If true can someone send me the other page. Sure would like a BC for this bullet to run a balistic calculator. A lab radar would be great to have for things like this.....View attachment 1036977View attachment 1036978
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That bullet info is from the rcbs cast bullet manual. That bullet has a BC of .210
 
Shivahasagun said:
Hey man, pretty good estimate!

I used 6.6 gr of CFE Pistol 158 gr XTP 1.585 OAL. CCI SPP.

I fired 18 shots and chronographed a few, though only 6 registered.

High 1002 fps, Low 944, Avg 971, ES 58.

My average is 130 fps lower than my goal of 1100 fps. Should I try some 6.7, 6.8, and 6.9?

Recoil and blast were mild / moderate.

They were plenty accurate! I only fired about 5 rounds SA, I fired about another 120 DA. (Total)

I had one light strike, though. Fired on 2nd hit. I fired 50 rds of CCI Lawman to be sure the gun would hit the primers hard enough.

I've noticed mild primer strikes on CCI priners but deep ones on Remington primers.

Perhaps for carry ammo I should use primers more sensitive than CCI's.

Maybe it was the primer, maybe it was me, I dunno.
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Well, if you can stay below published MAX with no danger signs then sure. But be careful. In my experience, WPM and CCI 550 are the best for solid reliability. Try Federals if light strikes are a problem.
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
Well, if you can stay below published MAX with no danger signs then sure. But be careful. In my experience, WPM and CCI 550 are the best for solid reliability. Try Federals if light strikes are a problem.
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I dont have Federals or Remingtons just CCI. I'll try to pick some up.

Who does Hornady use for primers?

No pressure signs yet. Cases extracted easily.
 
I'll bump the 6.6 gr of CFE pistol to 6.8 and try that. Max is listed as 6.9 but the pressure isnt high even with that. 32k or similar according to the book.
 
AJC1 said:
Found a post of data with a source and I believe it's the page I was sent. If true can someone send me the other page. Sure would like a BC for this bullet to run a balistic calculator. A lab radar would be great to have for things like this.....View attachment 1036977View attachment 1036978
Click to expand...
I have that book. But I won't be home for 2 weeks.
Be aware. The load data for 2400 in the RCBS page pictured was from before Alliant started making 2400. The max charge may be different now.
 
Ok.

I tested my .357 mag 158 gr XTP increasing CFEP from 6.6 to 6.8 gr.

7 of 10 shots over the chrono that read my average went down 10 fps and ES went from 58 to 87 fps.

Small test sample but essentially no change.
Avg. Went from 971 fps to 961 fps.

This from my new Colt King Cobra 3 inch.

As you would expect there is little flash or blast and it's very controllable. Accuracy was fine. I made 50 rds and fired about half of them.

I've been seeking 1100 fps and CFEP isnt going to do it. I'm going to get some Ramshot Enforcer.

But for a practice / mild .357 mag load CFE and a 158 gr bullet is fine.
 
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