180 grain 357 Questions

[sean1129]

Hi all--

I'm currently loading 180 grain cast performance gas checked bullets for deer hunting this fall. The only data I have is jacketed data from my Lyman. I'm using 2400 for powder with a max load listed of 12.6 grains. I've worked up to this load and the round shows no signs of high-pressure whatsoever, so I was wondering if anyone has any other resources/load data that has been used in this bullet/powder combination. I'm trying to get the most out of it, like I said, to hunt deer in with the round in the fall. Thanks for the information!

 

[357 Terms]

That seems like a good hunting round.

Hornady lists their 180grn XTP at 12.7 (max).

Alliant (2400) lists 12.5 (max) for a 180jfp

You should be good in the cast gas check configuration and that charge

 

[squarles67]

What are you shooting them in?

This is above max but I've gone as high as 13.5g of 2400 behind that bullet in my Marlin 1894. 13g gave me 1585fps and 13.5g gave me 1697fps out of my 20" bbl.

 

[Kosh75287]

.357 Deer Loads.

You know more about the conditions in which you'll be hunting than I, so I'll forego the usual thing about the .357 being considered by some to be marginal for whitetail. I would suspect that any load giving you 1250 f/s pr more from the muzzle with a 180 grain projectile would make for a 100 yard (or less) deer gun. This is about 8% over the ballistics of a .38-40 fired from a carbine. What the .357 lacks in bore frontal area, I would think it will make up for in penetration with the longer narrower 180 grain pill.

As with most things, shot placement is paramount. Excellent shot placement will do much to overcome the shortcomings of many rounds.

 

[joneb]

The only data I have is jacketed data from my Lyman.

Where is this data derived from ? firearm, test barrel or ?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I loaded up some of those 180gr Cast Performance bullets and some 180gr XTP bullets too. I tested them through a Marlin 1894C and I was happy with the results.

180gr Cast Performance GC bullet:
14.8gr Lil'Gun AV = 1657 fps
13.7gr W296 AV = 1547 fps

180gr Hornady XTP/HP bullet:
15.0gr Lil'Gun AV = 1584 fps
13.6gr W296 AV = 1495 fps

Sorry I didn't test those heavy bullets with 2400 but I felt 2400 wouldn't match W296/H110 or especially Lil'Gun. I hope you find the data useful.

Good luck on your hunt!

 

[murf]

can't comment on 2400, but.

i'm loading a 180 grain lead tc bullet over 10.0 grains of bludot with a cci500 primer. averages just under 1250 fps out of my 4.625" blackhawk (12 feet from muzzle). very accurate.

murf

 

[critter]

I've used 180 XTP's over a good load of Blue Dot out of a 4" GP100. Never got a good chance at a deer with it but took 3 hogs with it. They worked very well indeed.

 

[GP100man]

I`ve shot alot of 357 heavies 160-190gr. boolits & 1,200 fps is very near the max in any revolver with a 180gr pill especially lead !

I have a NOE 360-180 mold & the GC or PB version drop close to 187.5 grs. with my alloy.

My best velocities were with Lil Gun , best groups with H-110, 2400 grouped well but fell a bit short on velocitys.

Here`s the trick to shooting heavies in a 357. True they hit harder but they lose velocity faster & shoot with more trajectory, & if shots are kept under 75 yds they`ll dispatch most thin skinned animals in NA , bigger & furrier need a caliber that begins with a 4.

If ya do some research on the Lyman 357429 boolit & seek Mr. Elmer Keiths comments on it ya may be surprised by what he said of the 173 gr. swc in a revolver !!

 

[sean1129]

Sorry that I left out two key pieces of information: the gun is a 6'' 686, and the maximum range will be 30 yards, as this is the farthest distance that I can keep the groups under 3'' with open sights.

Archangel--I load with 2400 because this is what I have been using for target 357 rounds (158 grain). The local reloading store/guru's said that I'll get better performance with H110 in the 180 grain weight. For simply mixing hunting loads, is the H110 that much better for velocity?

 

[bfoosh006]

http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/index.php?topic=166253.0 ....

http://www.accuratepowder.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/01/accurate_load_data_3.5.pdf ... Page 6, "Lead Bullets" ,180 CP WFNGC

http://www.ramshot.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/ramshot_handgun_rifle.pdf .... page 5, "Lead Bullets" ,180 CP WFNGC

Accurate and Ramshot say this eariler in the Load Data manual....

Western Powders would like to thank the following companies for their continued support in our efforts
to provide this information:
• Always begin loading at the minimum "Start Load".
• Watch for signs of excessive pressure.
PRIMER ABBREVIATIONS
BULLET ABBREVIATIONS
AK Alaska Bullet Company
BAR Barnes
BRGR Berger
BRY Berry's
CP Cast Performance
FED Federal
GS GS Custom Bullets
....etc.
Barnes Bullets, Inc.
Berger Bullets
Berry's Manufacturing
Cast Performance Bullet
Company
Claybuster Wads
Federal Cartridge
Hornady.....etc.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Yes, H110 and Lil'Gun are superior to 2400 in the .357 Magnum with heavy bullets. I see no loss in accuracy with either.

As a note, when testing bullets in my Carbine I tried 125gr, 140gr, 150gr, 158gr, 170gr and 180gr bullets. I personally feel the Sierra 170gr JHC bullet would be a better choice. It delivers the same accuracy as the 180gr bullet but superior velocity making it's trajectory flatter.

With that 170gr Sierra bullet:
15.5gr H110 = AV 1699 fps
17.0gr Lil'Gun = AV 1793 fps

IMO those are very good numbers which are approaching the performance delivered by a 170gr 30-30 round, especially with Lil'Gun...

Just some added information to cloud things up! LOL

 

[rcmodel]

A 180 SWC at 30 yards?
I would not even worry about a bleeding foreskin MAX load.

Your 12.6 grain load will shoot clear through a deer sideways, and maybe two at 30 yards.

Can't kill it much deader then dead.

rc

 

[space_cowboy]

tagged for later. thanks

 

[Salmoneye]

Alliant 2004 manual shows a load for 180 JSP @ 12.5gr of 2400 @ 32,700psi, giving 1,300fps...

 

[Route666]

I can't speak of a load with the powder you ask of, but I am using 180GN FP projectiles in my 6" 686 for metallic silhouette (needs to knock over 60+lb ram silhouettes at 200m) and this load for me definitely groups tighter than 3 inches at 30 yards, it seems ridiculously accurate.

I use 13.7GN (max load in book, I have been to 14.7GN and noticed no benefit / difference) of ADI AR2205 - this powder is sold in the US under the Hodgdon brand as H4227. It doesn't feel quite as snappy as factory .357 stuff, and there are always some unburnt flakes left over (even at 14.7GN it doesn't all burn), but it knocks down the rams reliably (when you can hit them).

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Lyman 4th cast bullet lists the 180 grn lead and has a bunch of data. Pick up a copy if you are going to shoot a lot of lead. Some of the loads are a bit mild, but there is a lot of good data there.