357 load development and casual observations

[AJC1]

So Ive got new casts for 357 Mag that I'll be trying out soon.

My old alloy was range scrap and 1% 95/5 solder, new alloy is COWW with the same 1% solder added.

NOE moulds:

360-158-WFN-T4 with the deep HP pins
Range scrap casted at 148gr
COWW casts at 146gr

360-182-WFN-U2 with the deep HP pins & alum GC (weights with GC installed)
Range scrap casted 172gr
COWW casts at 169gr

I bought a PB solid version of each profile, the solid T4 cast right at 158gr, U2s cast at 185gr with COWW alloy.

Now what I'm curious to see is how groups are going to change with my best loads accounting for the 2-3gr differences in weight.

13.0gr and 12.9gr N110 are the best loads for the range scrap casts of the T4 HP and U2 HP GC respectively, I would imagine the charge may need to come up a .1gr with slightly lighter bullets of the same length and profile, but maybe not at all.

Also curious to see if those charge weights will come down significantly (.3gr or more) for the solids. 10-13gr of lead must surely make a difference in grouping and POI.

I've got a good amount of casts to figure it out though:
T4-PB HP: around 1500 by weight (to be counted and bagged)
T4-PB Solid: 1500 as well by weight, to be counted etc.
U2-GC HP: 400 or so, didn't cast as many of these because I want to move away from the GC version of the mould
U2- PB Solids: around 1200 by weight

These are all coated as of today, but I still need to size them. I have one last set of 100ct T4 PB HPs of the old range scrap alloy to load for March's silhouette match, but after that I'll need to have figured something out for the April match.

That's a lot of boolits. Are you basket coating or standing them up... I'm currently standing them up but If I go for any larger volume than I'm currently doing, I'll give basket baking a test....

 

[Bearded Phil]

That's a lot of boolits. Are you basket coating or standing them up... I'm currently standing them up but If I go for any larger volume than I'm currently doing, I'll give basket baking a test....

I have 1/4" mesh baskets that I use, with Hitek coating, excepting a few pairs here and there, they don't stick together. If any do I just give the tray a shake back and forth to unstick them before they cool, or if needed, unstick them with a bamboo skewer.

I've found that if you unstick hitek coated bullets that found a buddy before they cool it minimizes the "touch" marks (ie- bare spots that can happen) greatly. On the 3rd coat I'll quench them in water after the bake, and definitely make sure none are stuck together before I do, if they cool rapidly via water they'll definitely have some exposed areas when you break them apart.

This is mostly for aesthetics though, slight touch marks haven't really been an issue for me as far as leading goes.

 

[DMW1116]

I finished up the last of the Berrys wadcutter loads in 357 Mag. Split the difference @ 8.6 grains of HS6 and loaded 123 rounds. I again found a bonus bullet in my Berrys box. I had an even 500 primers and 500 bullets and ran out of primers. I think there was an extra one in each box of 250.

 

[AJC1]

I got out and tested a batch of the shooters world heavy pistol in the 16" marlin lever, with the noe-360-154-rf. My plan is/was to test the same loads in pistol my 4" but I finally encountered the 38 crud ring in the pistol after junior had shot several hundred traditionally lubed 38s. I only make and load powdercoat cast so now that I've had the problem, and those loads from dad are gone, I'll never experence it again. The resolution is exactly the brush wrapped in copper chore boy in a drill to remove...

 

[DMW1116]

I ran out and did a couple of cylinders of QC for the recent loading of 357 Mag with Berrys DEWC.

They were a little stouter than I remember but not bad. Shot with two hands and one hand respectively, from 10 yards. They were considerably more manageable with both hands.


Pictures are rotated clockwise. What looks like the bottom is actually the right side.

No misfires and they still shoot a little right of the 38 Special loads with the same bullet. At 25 yards I’d have to adjust the sights. I have them dialed in for the 38 Special loads, so I won’t be changing them any time soon.

 

[dartor]

I ran out and did a couple of cylinders of QC for the recent loading of 357 Mag with Berrys DEWC.

They were a little stouter than I remember but not bad. Shot with two hands and one hand respectively, from 10 yards. They were considerably more manageable with both hands.

View attachment 1203666View attachment 1203667
Pictures are rotated clockwise. What looks like the bottom is actually the right side.

No misfires and they still shoot a little right of the 38 Special loads with the same bullet. At 25 yards I’d have to adjust the sights. I have them dialed in for the 38 Special loads, so I won’t be changing them any time soon.

Love them wadcutter holes.

 

[AJC1]

My crono acted dumb today as I had the SWHP loads ready to test in a clean gun. Swapped to a new battery still no dice. Try again later. I'll get the pistol stats some day!!!

 

[DMW1116]

I gotta find some of that somewhere.

 

[AJC1]

I gotta find some of that somewhere.

It's not really thriling me. The numbers out of the 16" weren't fabulous and I was waiting final judgment till after completion of the pistol data... it's not lil gun bad but what is......

 

[DMW1116]

I prepped the last of my 125 grain XTP & HS6 loads. This is my social work load for 357 Mag using a near max charge and pushing hopefully a shade over 1400 fps. I’ll shoot either 1 or 7 to check the batch and leave an even number of cylinders afterward.

This load shot about 1.25” during testing, and it appears I didn’t fool myself this time. It typically shoots quite well. The XTPs are too much $$ to shoot for fun but I only had 25 left so might as well load them. No point in doing a new load just for a couple dozen. I might test these at 50 yards just for the fun of seeing peoples reaction on the rifle range.