.357 Hardcast

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Caveman4

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I am wanting to make up some bear loads for my S&W M65 4" and I am thinking 170 or 180 gr SWC hard cast bullets to start with, does anyone have a good place to get them?

Thanks
 
I wanna recommend the 358429 but it may be too long for the cyl .

I feel safe in saying most heavy RNFP designs today have no problem with AOLs

Pushed with a good dose of slow burning powder they`ll be a hand full in that 65 !

But don`t get caught up on harder is better ,too hard a boolit will shatter on a major bone even at revolver velocitys.
 
I had figured it would be a hand full, but I do not plan on feeding it as a regular diet, it is going to be a bear protection round. Had not thought of it shattering I was just trying to get bone and mussel penetration. When I can afford it I am going to get me a .44 mag. My camp gun is a 870 with slugs

My cly is 1.675
 
But don`t get caught up on harder is better ,too hard a boolit will shatter on a major bone even at revolver velocitys.
Click to expand...

That depends on the alloy. Heat treated WW doesn't shatter on bone.
 
I get mine from here :)
2c27e7c1.gif
Couldn't resist.

I know plenty do it. But I would feel better hunting with jacketed than commercial cast. If I don't have control of the alloy I don't feel right hunting with it.

Not all hard cast bullets will shatter. It depends on the alloy. An alloy with high antimony is brittle and prone to shatter. This is one of the main reasons you want keep the percentage of antimony small. There are other ways to harden a bullet that won't make it brittle.

I hunt with the softest alloy I can that will perform how I want it to. As long as it doesn't lead and expands properly everything is good.


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are you loading these for a revolver? I was wondering about OAL
Click to expand...

Yes, for the Speed and Security Sixes mostly. Check your OAL against your firearm of course but the crimp grooves do seem to keep it in spec.
 
I'm in the Cast Performance camp. Their 180gr WFNGC bullet is an outstanding performer. It can be pushed to any velocity you can safely produce because of the gas check and the very wide meplat hits hard on fame.

Those bullets are used in Grizzly Cartridges (sister companies) which are also outstanding performers. If I were to buy a woods carry load I would buy it from them. I did buy them a few times and they are great. (but expensive)
 
Here is some of the loads I've worked up. The 4227 was the most accurate.


bullet gr Bullet powder gr powder COL
180g MBC Stryker 6.4 PP to canalure
180g MBC Stryker 12.5 IMR 4227 to canalure
180g MBC Stryker 14.9 w296 to canalure
 
Caveman4,
You do realize shooting full power 170gr or 180gr round from a relatively light K frame revolver is going to be a handful to say the least. Even in the slightly heavier L frame they will be hard to handle. I highly suggest you practice with the final carry load before you carry it in the woods.
 
I cast the Lyman #358429 Keith bullet but mostly use it as a heavy .38 spl load. Great small game bullet,I would want something bigger and heavier for a bear pistol(44/45/50),but if thats all you got go for the heavy bullets.
 
From Missouri Bullet I'd much prefer their generic SWC over the Striker for hunting and general purpose use. The Striker's meplat is way too small to be effective.

I would prefer the Keith bullet but it's probably too long for your K-frame. Leadhead's is excellent and their prices are reasonable. You can always load them in .38Spl brass with .38-44 data for at least 1200-1300fps.
https://secure25.securewebsession.com/proshootpro.com/order.htm

Hunter's Supply has a nice 190gr bullet as well.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2046141371

Cast Performance and Beartooth are way too expensive to use in any quantity. About double your other options.
 
The Striker's meplat is way too small to be effective
Click to expand...
I would agree. The bigger Meplat the better IMHO. At that weight, it's going to penetrate just fine.
 
Great post everybody, I am close to working up a load. I am leaning towards the cast performance 180 gr wfngc, and h110 or 2400. This is going to be a specialty load that I only shoot a some to stay accustom to it and when I need to piss a griz off more that he already is!!
 
Those are ones I am thinking about, from what I am learning they have a good hardness and good meplat for forward weight and penetration
 
Either bullet that I linked to will do just as well and costs half as much. You don't need a gas check anyway but it's your money.
 
Crag that maybe on performance, I am going to play around and figure out ones I like. And from the links yo gave the savings is not that much.

Thanks for the advice I take it all in and stir it around
 
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