357 Mag. Gas Check or Coated??

[Show Me]

using hitek 158 SWC designs from both MBC and brazos and they take 16.5 grains of H110 out of the GP100 and Henry big boy with zero issues.

Henry is all around good.

 

[Show Me]

EX: from my .44 loading collections -

Great for plinking in a RSBH or RM77/44.

Great for hunting in a RSBH or RM77/44.

BIG difference in cost, accuracy and range but NO compromise in quality.

I would love to share a picture or two but.

 

[Show Me]

Well, if we're going to address EVERY potential and possible situation EVERY handloader might EVER experience, get ready for a very long and boring thread of, "What about me..." questions. So, to try and avoid every "What about me..." question, I'll summarize my previous answer as follows: IF you're fitting to multiple bores (I do, everything from Taurus 66 to Colt 3-5-7 and Ruger Blackhawk) plus rifles (yup) then using different bullets for different guns means you either get to reload, box, label, and stash your ammo in lots intended for specific guns (I do that) or learn how to make compromise loads that aren't very good at any one thing but go bang reliably and fairly accurately in anything - IOW high quality blasting ammo for making noise and popping cans (I do that too). If you want a load that will turn your long-barrel, single-action revolver into a 50-yard deer gun, you aren't going to get there making generic blasting ammo that works as well in a Ruger LCR as it does in a Rossi '94. I hope that makes sense and answers the question?

Very good. What's tough is trying to have a conversation with a fellow reloaded that has no idea what you know. Several people on here think they know So much more and haven't the foggiest what the others know. It's a safe place for windy people. So all this might help others but is bla bla bla to me. Been there and done that and now it's what I've slowed down to. Now reloading is just a tool to keep the firearms running. Thought I could spice it up on THR but don't assume everyone is behind you in education so lighten up on lectures and enjoy others storys

 

[BJung]

I have not cast long. So far, the best cast bullet loads I have are low velocity loads. As for high velocity loads, I plan to match a higher bhn to match the higher chamber pressure. My barrels have been slugged so I know what bullet size I need. Powder coating to me is a soft jacket or sealed lead bullet. It helps the lead slide through the barrel better and reduces some distortion from the higher pressure. To reduce distortion at the base and maintain accuracy, I believe a gas check is needed. If I'm loading light, I won't worry about a gas check. If I want a soft bullet tip that'll expand well yet has the highest mans of reduced obturation and improved accuracy, again, I'll use the gas check. This is just my thoughts and I plan to conduct tests to prove my theory later.

 

[AJC1]

I have not cast long. So far, the best cast bullet loads I have are low velocity loads. As for high velocity loads, I plan to match a higher bhn to match the higher chamber pressure. My barrels have been slugged so I know what bullet size I need. Powder coating to me is a soft jacket or sealed lead bullet. It helps the lead slide through the barrel better and reduces some distortion from the higher pressure. To reduce distortion at the base and maintain accuracy, I believe a gas check is needed. If I'm loading light, I won't worry about a gas check. If I want a soft bullet tip that'll expand well yet has the highest mans of reduced obturation and improved accuracy, again, I'll use the gas check. This is just my thoughts and I plan to conduct tests to prove my theory later.

The old timers like Keith used bhn 12 ish bullets for full power loads. I find that plenty hard enough even in carbine.

 

[BJung]

The old timers like Keith used bhn 12 ish bullets for full power loads. I find that plenty hard enough even in carbine.

Yeah but I have a stack of ingots that are testing at 18 or just over. I could soften them by adding pure lead but then why not just cast .357 and 40 S&W bullets with them. Then I can use the ingots with a lower bhn for 45 and .38 bullets.

 

[AJC1]

Yeah but I have a stack of ingots that are testing at 18 or just over. I could soften them by adding pure lead but then why not just cast .357 and 40 S&W bullets with them. Then I can use the ingots with a lower bhn for 45 and .38 bullets.

If you are not spending more to make them hard, no big deal I guess. The Rmr bulk lead I get is about 9 bhn and it takes super hard to get them up for me. I have no use for plain lead but the bulk Rmr makes perfect 38 and 45 bullets. Ideally one makes ingots from a huge batch of lead and makes that batch perfect, then session after session you get the same result. I'm not quite that reformed yet but I want to be.