124gn Rainier hp for 357sig?

[Darkngrim]

I'm taking the plunge into 357sig. I have seen that the Rainier 124gn fp bullets work well and the 147gn hp apparently works, but by the look of the pictures of the 2, the 124gn hp looks to have a ogive that goes too far back to work in 357sig. I was wondering if anyone has tried them and what the outcome was.

I can get the hp for a little bit less $ is why I'm bothering to ask. I reload 9mm too, so it wouldn't be a total loss, but I already have some stock of bullets I can't use for the 357sig.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I've never used the Rainier bullets in the 357 Sig, but I've loaded a boat load of Berry's 125 gr. FP bullets in this caliber. If it's the same profile as the Berry's bullet, it "may" work, but I haven't tried it to find out.

When loading plated bullets in 357 Sig, the best powder is Accurate #9, since it's a compressed load and will prevent setback. The velocity produced is also at the maximum a plated bullet is designed for, and if you go over that velocity you'll strip the rifling and the bullet will hit the left upright of your chronograph......... That was with a full dose of Power Pistol, which produced just over 1,450 fps on the round that went between the uprights.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Darkngrim]

It looks like I can get some berrys for similar pricing, I might as well go that route. Just a bit curious, I don't see them offering a 125gn bullet for 9mm/357sig/or even 38super. Is what you load something they don't offer anymore, or did you mean 124gn?

I'll also get some Rainiers in small quantities and see where it leads me. I'm even thinking of picking up these lead bullets, never tried that either. Thanks for the input ReloaderFred, I hope your chronograph survived the incident. Powerpistol tries to get me in trouble too, something about that bright flash and loud report make it even more tempting to see how much further you can push it. You'd think it would have the opposite effect

 

[ReloaderFred]

Darkngrim,

Yes, I did mean the 124 gr. FP bullet from Berry's. You can either order them direct from Berry's, or from TJConevera. Both places include shipping in their prices. With Berry's you have to order at least $50.00 worth to get prepaid shipping, but that's pretty easy to do.

I haven't tried any cast bullets in 357 Sig. The last loading session for that caliber, I loaded up 10,000 rounds and I'm still shooting those, which are all loaded with Berry's 124 gr. FP and some with 115 gr. FP bullets. I have one pistol that shoots just a tad better with the 115's, and the other shoots better with the 124's.

I have that Magma mold in the link you posted, but I use it to cast a Cowboy bullet for SASS shooting with .38's. I just may cast some from straight linotype and see how they do in 357 Sig, sized to .356".

Hope this helps.

Fred

PS: There are a bunch of threads on loading 357 Sig here, so you might want to do a search. There's some good information posted in them.