.357 bullets recommendations

D

Dan Forrester

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2003
Messages
961
Location
FL
Hi everyone, what jacketed .357 plinking bullets are you using?

I’ve been reloading for my 11” SBR 77/357 for a few years now. Mostly I’ve been shooting .38 special using Berrys plated bullets or Hornady HBWC along with a fast burning powder like Bullseye, Titegroup or Unique at subsonic velocities.

Recently I picked up a box of Sierra 180 grain silhouette shooting bullets, as well as some Hornady 158 and 125 grain XTPs and using slower powders like H110 at just below published max. H110 is great! Meters super consistent for me and is the first slow powder I have used.

Been having a great time with these bullets but would like something cheaper. I’ve been looking at the RMR Smiley bullets but they are out of stock but backorder is ok. Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Dan
 
I gave up on Berry’s and I use Xtreme Bullets. They have a thicker plating. In 1200 fps loads they don’t shed copper plating when crimped and they have a cannelure to accommodate crimping.
Twice I dug copper out of my cheek due to Berry’s bullets. Never again!

X-Treme BULLETS

High-quality, USA-made ammo for sale online, including bulk orders! Get new and remanufactured rounds at great prices. Shop 9mm, 223, 380, .45, 10mm, and more.
www.xtremebullets.com www.xtremebullets.com

Here’s another company to check out. I have purchased 9mm bullets from them and. I am very pleased with them.

Bullets and Reloading Components – Evergreen Ballistics

Offering quality Cast Lead Bullets, Coated Pistol Bullets, and Processed Brass. Shop Evergreen Ballistics for low-cost bullets and reloading components.
evergreenballistics.com
 
Folks, the OP asked about jacketed bullets, not plated bullets.
 
ravenrocksprecision.com

MFS 38 cal (.357) 158gr JHP Bullets - 357 Magnum - Brand New - Raven Rocks Precision

38 Cal (.357) 158gr JHP bullets
ravenrocksprecision.com ravenrocksprecision.com

I’m tempted to try these. I have a bunch of XTP that I need to use, and I haven’t shot my revolver in a while, but if I were in need of inexpensive jacketed bullets I would try these.

I believe free shipping over $150 and there is a $10 off code if you sign up for emails or something.

$127 for 1500 with the coupon. Might be tax, didn’t get that far. $.085 per bullet is pretty good.
 
blackd24 said:
ravenrocksprecision.com

MFS 38 cal (.357) 158gr JHP Bullets - 357 Magnum - Brand New - Raven Rocks Precision

38 Cal (.357) 158gr JHP bullets
ravenrocksprecision.com ravenrocksprecision.com

I’m tempted to try these. I have a bunch of XTP that I need to use, and I haven’t shot my revolver in a while, but if I were in need of inexpensive jacketed bullets I would try these.

I believe free shipping over $150 and there is a $10 off code if you sign up for emails or something.

$127 for 1500 with the coupon. Might be tax, didn’t get that far. $.085 per bullet is pretty good.
Click to expand...
That's crazy good.
 
1KPerDay said:
That's crazy good.
Click to expand...
blackd24 said:
ravenrocksprecision.com

MFS 38 cal (.357) 158gr JHP Bullets - 357 Magnum - Brand New - Raven Rocks Precision

38 Cal (.357) 158gr JHP bullets
ravenrocksprecision.com ravenrocksprecision.com

I’m tempted to try these. I have a bunch of XTP that I need to use, and I haven’t shot my revolver in a while, but if I were in need of inexpensive jacketed bullets I would try these.

I believe free shipping over $150 and there is a $10 off code if you sign up for emails or something.

$127 for 1500 with the coupon. Might be tax, didn’t get that far. $.085 per bullet is pretty good.
Click to expand...
In looking at the photos of those bullets, they appear to lack a cannelure. If you are loading .357 magnums with H-110/W-296 a firm roll crimp is strongly recommended. Not sure how firm a roll crimp you can put on a bullet that lacks a crimping groove (cannelure). I prefer the Zero bullets, affordable, conventional hollow point or soft point, complete with a cannelure.
 
Rim Rock makes a nice 158gr conical flat point cast that I have been using since Penn closed down. Well priced and accurate.
 
2ndtimer said:
In looking at the photos of those bullets, they appear to lack a cannelure. If you are loading .357 magnums with H-110/W-296 a firm roll crimp is strongly recommended. Not sure how firm a roll crimp you can put on a bullet that lacks a crimping groove (cannelure). I prefer the Zero bullets, affordable, conventional hollow point or soft point, complete with a cannelure.
Click to expand...
The trick to using NCG bullets in a magnum revolver with high energy powders and loads is to make sure the case is sized correctly to maintain good neck tension and then use a minimum expander - just enough to seat w/o crushing the mouth of the case - and then crimp using a taper crimp die. I use the 9mm insert for a Lee FCD in the .38/.357 FCD die. I’ve been using this method for decades and it works well. Just remember to put the taper insert back in the right die when you’re done.
 
Dan Forrester said:
Hi everyone, what jacketed .357 plinking bullets are you using?

I’ve been reloading for my 11” SBR 77/357 for a few years now. Mostly I’ve been shooting .38 special using Berrys plated bullets or Hornady HBWC along with a fast burning powder like Bullseye, Titegroup or Unique at subsonic velocities.

Recently I picked up a box of Sierra 180 grain silhouette shooting bullets, as well as some Hornady 158 and 125 grain XTPs and using slower powders like H110 at just below published max. H110 is great! Meters super consistent for me and is the first slow powder I have used.

Been having a great time with these bullets but would like something cheaper. I’ve been looking at the RMR Smiley bullets but they are out of stock but backorder is ok. Does anyone else have any other suggestions?

Thanks,

Dan
Click to expand...
Rozedist.com
 
GeoDudeFlorida said:
The trick to using NCG bullets in a magnum revolver with high energy powders and loads is to make sure the case is sized correctly to maintain good neck tension and then use a minimum expander - just enough to seat w/o crushing the mouth of the case - and then crimp using a taper crimp die. I use the 9mm insert for a Lee FCD in the .38/.357 FCD die. I’ve been using this method for decades and it works well. Just remember to put the taper insert back in the right die when you’re done.
Click to expand...
I just got a Lee .38 taper crimp die from Amazon to load some 125 gr plated bullets from American reloading in mild .357 Mag loads (think .38 Spec +P level). Hoping it will be sufficient to hold the bullets under recoil and not mess up the plating.
 
Heed what Geodude said. It's all about the neck tension. That crimp die should work fine, but not if the neck tension is too loose.
 
Back in the 1980's when I was shooting IHMSA Siklhouette with a 357 Magnum, I'd mostly use RCBS 158 gr JSP or 158 gr JHP. I probably used some Sierra 158 grain bullets buy they were always more expensive than the RCBS.

These days, there is a greater choice of bullets and a more difficult supply issue. I do not shoot much full power 357 Magnum these days, but I'm fine mostly with what I can find and they perform adequately for my service.

I've had gooid luck with Berry Bullets, but being plated they should not be driven too fast. There are some plated bullets on the market with heavier plating that probably can be driven faster. But, when I want top performance, I stick with jacketed bullkets.

P.S. Berry 30 carbine bullets have a heavier plating and work well out to 1900-2000 fps in my M1 carbines
 
Last edited:
I like Berrys plated bullets. Been primarily using their bullets since I first started reloading a few years ago. However after looking around a little more they do seem rather expensive. And if I’m trying out slower powders out of a longer barrel I don’t want to worry about their 1,250 or 1,500 fps velocity limit which I have heard many times if generous already. I’m not giving up on plated bullets. Just want to tryout some jacketed options.

X-Treme and Evergreen have some interesting options for plated bullets. I will keep them in mind for when I need plated bullets for subsonic loads.

Roze Zero Bullets look like good old fashioned .357 bullets from back when I was a kid. The prices look pretty good too.

Those bullets Raven Rocks Precision are selling can’t be beat however. I purchased 1,500 of them. I’m not too worried about the lack of a cannelure because I am shooting these in a bolt action rifle. I also bell out my case mouthes the minimum required and use a 9mm taper crimp die as a final step after I seat the bullet separately.

How much H110 would you use for these to start with? Hornady lists up to 15.5 grains in both rifle and pistol as max. I stopped at 15 grains when loading 158 XTP. Everything I read says don’t do light loads with slow burning powder. Does 12 grains sound reasonable?

I appreciate everyone’s responses and links to both jacketed and plated bullets also.

Thanks,

Dan
 
H110 can be another of those rabit hole discussions. No, it does not like to be down loaded and if you download too much, it "could" be dangerous. It has something to do with detonation of all of the powder at once instead of burning like a fuse. At one time Hodgdon said not to download H110 by more than 3% of max load. At 15 grains max, that's only about a half grain. When you look at Hodgdon's web site it says a min of 15.0 and max of 16.4 for the XTP. Of course, that's more than a 3% difference. I'm not familiar with the bullet you mentioned, but if it has a jacket, I wouldn't go below 15.0. Regardless, the fact is H110 performs best at or near the maximum load. If you want to download, there are better powders for that.
 
Dan Forrester said:
I like Berrys plated bullets. Been primarily using their bullets since I first started reloading a few years ago. However after looking around a little more they do seem rather expensive. And if I’m trying out slower powders out of a longer barrel I don’t want to worry about their 1,250 or 1,500 fps velocity limit which I have heard many times if generous already. I’m not giving up on plated bullets. Just want to tryout some jacketed options.

X-Treme and Evergreen have some interesting options for plated bullets. I will keep them in mind for when I need plated bullets for subsonic loads.

Roze Zero Bullets look like good old fashioned .357 bullets from back when I was a kid. The prices look pretty good too.

Those bullets Raven Rocks Precision are selling can’t be beat however. I purchased 1,500 of them. I’m not too worried about the lack of a cannelure because I am shooting these in a bolt action rifle. I also bell out my case mouthes the minimum required and use a 9mm taper crimp die as a final step after I seat the bullet separately.

How much H110 would you use for these to start with? Hornady lists up to 15.5 grains in both rifle and pistol as max. I stopped at 15 grains when loading 158 XTP. Everything I read says don’t do light loads with slow burning powder. Does 12 grains sound reasonable?

I appreciate everyone’s responses and links to both jacketed and plated bullets also.

Thanks,

Dan
Click to expand...
Have you looked at RMR Bullets? Their jacketed are some of the best out there, and cheaper. We also get a THR discount. Sign up for their email alerts, they have a lost of sales.
 
Yes I am considering coated bullets. Particularly for my subsonic loads. I was looking at Blue bullets. Anyone in particular you like?

The min and max for Hornady seems to be a pretty big range. In my Hornady reloading book for 158 grain XTP I see from 8.6 grains up to 15.5 grains for H110 in a rifle and in a revolver it runs from 12.7 up to 15.6.

IMG_4469.jpeg

IMG_4468.jpeg

just to be on the safe side I haven’t gone lower than 12 grains for my starting loads. Interesting that Hodgdon lists 15 as the minimum.

Thanks,

Dan
 
Dan Forrester said:
I’ve been looking at the RMR Smiley bullets but they are out of stock but backorder is ok. Does anyone else have any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
Yes, RMR’s in-stock 124gr FMJ FN “Tears” projectiles … which if I were to guess, are on par with those “Smileys”.

.357 124 Gr. RMR FMJ Flat Nose “Tears” | RMR Bullets

RMR’s .357 124 Full Metal Jacket Flat Nose bullets. These bullets are made by us! We needed a way to differentiate our .357 line from the 9mm line since we don't yet have a cannelure machine and we don't want our packagers to send the wrong ones. Someone mentioned that if RMR keeps making new
www.rmrbullets.com www.rmrbullets.com
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

YellowcatDaddy
  • Locked
.44 Mag Question.
2
Replies
40
Views
3K
GeoDudeFlorida
GeoDudeFlorida
G
  • Locked
357 load data
Replies
8
Views
741
Obturation
Obturation
D
  • Locked
Berry’s Plated 158 grain loads for .357 and .38 special.
Replies
10
Views
822
IWAC
IWAC
Waterboy3313
  • Locked
Lee collet crimp die vs factory crimp die question
2
Replies
31
Views
2K
American_Fusilier
American_Fusilier
M
  • Locked
ACME 38 cal 158 grain RNFP for 357
Replies
21
Views
2K
Bill M.
B
Back
Top