357 and 124FMJ

[Cool1100]

I bought some 124gn FMJ bullets with no jacket on the bottom, are they safe to use with win296 in 357mag? I'm also having trouble finding 124gn load info, everything I find is for 125gn. The info for 125gn varies quite a bit, any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks
Jim

 

[NCsmitty]

Are these .357 diameter, or .355 for 9mm?


NCsmitty

 

[Cool1100]

They should be 357, there bulk bullets from a local gun shop and are marked 38SP124FMJ.

Jim

 

[Cool1100]

Also they have no crimp line so I was going to seat them 1.590

Jim

 

[something vague]

Measure the actual diameter with your set of calipers to make sure they are not .355" bullets.

 

[Cool1100]

Caliper shows them to be exactly .0357". My biggest fear is if I load them to 125gn jacketed specs using Win296 will I melt the bottom since it is exposed lead (My load data for 125gn total jacketed is 18.3 to 20.3 Speer #14 or 21.0 to 22.0 Hodgdon site for a 125gn HDY XTP) this also seems to be big difference to me.

Thanks again
Jim

 

[rcmodel]

.223 & .308 FMJ rifle bullets have lead exposed on the base too.

I don't think you will have a problem at 1/2 the velocity and pressure of a rifle bullet!

BTW: I find it very curious that you have bullets in a standard 9mm bullet weight, without a revolver crimp cannelure, and they are supposed to be revolver bullets?

rc

 

[Steve C]

The problem with using W296 is that it requires high load density, mag primers and heavy bullet pull provided by a strong crimp. Missing any one of these and there is a good chance you can get a squib load, maybe not every round but it can show up leaving the bullet stuck in the bore. If you fire a second round without clearing the squib the result is usually severe gun damage and sometimes shooter damage. Quite easy to do if shooting rapidly from a revolver.

I'd suggest you get a different powder to load these bullets. If you want a slow powder get 2400 or AA9 both of which are not hard to ignight or density sensitive. If I was loading these bullets I'd use Unique or other powder in that burn range and taper crimp the bullet.

 

[Cool1100]

I think I'm going to skip using these bullets for now until I get more info, I have several other powders I can use just wanted to use the 296 because I have lots of Mag SPP. I think they might be 38 super but they are bigger then .355" anyway not going to use them for my 357. Thanks everyone for your help.

Jim

 

[45ACPUSER]

These sold like they might be for the 357 Sig. and not the 357 Magnum. Sans the cannalure to secure a nice roll crimp, I would not want to making full house magnum loads.