357 Magnum Bowling Pin Loads

[Skinnedknuckles]

I've recently seen HEAVY .357 Magnum bullets for shooting bowling pins, such as the coated 230 gr lead bullets (looks like a super wadcutter) from Bear Creek Supply. Truth be told, I've never tried shooting bowling pins, but you just never know when you might need to.

What I haven't seen is any load data for such heavy bullets, except for one load on Loaddata.com using Ramshot's True Blue. Since I don't have any True Blue, I'm hoping for data with one of the Hodgdon pistol powders. Any leads would be appreciated.

 

[Cheesemaker]

230gr out of a 357 - that is heavy, got a link?

Edit: I see it on their website: https://www.bearcreeksupplybullets.com/38bp230

Wowza - not sure you need that much weight to knock over a pin, maybe a tad better aim

 

[1KPerDay]

It’s not just knocking over a pin. It’s getting them off the table quickly.

 

[fxvr5]

Ask the powder manufacturer. They can be helpful for stuff like this.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Back when Ol’ Harry Beckwith and Terry were doing pin shoots in the indoor lanes I used to use 180gr FRN Lymans #358429 cast from #2 Alloy or the 200gr Super Police Special #358430 cast from 1:16 alloy. I never was all that good at it but it was a lot of fun anyway.

 

[Frulk]

This thread made me go out in the reloading room and check on something. I have a couple of boxes (500 total) of Lee Allox tumbled .358 200 grain RF-GC hard-cast bullets. Bought them or rather ordered them from my local caster by mistake.

I seem to remember they just BARELY fit in the cylinder of a GP100. What gun do you have that can handle those 230 grainers you have in that caliber? I'm thinking those probably were intended for .357 Max (but I'm not sure) and somebody will be along shortly to either disclaim or affirm my assumption.

 

[jmorris]

Ever seen the old school approach?

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

This thread made me go out in the reloading room and check on something. I have a couple of boxes of Lee Allox tumbled .358 200 grain RF-GC hard-cast bullets. Bought them or rather ordered them from my local caster by mistake.

I seem to remember they just BARELY fit in the cylinder of a GP100. What gun do you have that can handle those 230 grainers you have in that caliber? I'm thinking those probably were intended for .357 Max (but I'm not sure) and somebody will be along shortly to either disclaim or affirm my assumption.

View attachment 1089273

That looks a lot like the bullet I use for .35Rem. Weighs 210gr with a Hornady gas check.


I seem to recall trying it in .357Max with fair results but I’m not 100% sure.

 

[AJC1]

This thread made me go out in the reloading room and check on something. I have a couple of boxes of Lee Allox tumbled .358 200 grain RF-GC hard-cast bullets. Bought them or rather ordered them from my local caster by mistake.

I seem to remember they just BARELY fit in the cylinder of a GP100. What gun do you have that can handle those 230 grainers you have in that caliber? I'm thinking those probably were intended for .357 Max (but I'm not sure) and somebody will be along shortly to either disclaim or affirm my assumption.

View attachment 1089273

You just use a 38 case loaded to 357 length. Gives a little wiggle room.
I don't know why a standard wadcutter wouldn't work great. A big meplat to grab the pin is all I would need. Shooting the ram at 200 yards requires energy. A bowling pin doesn't.

 

[jmorris]

I would highly suggest you find a place to play and go there on match day and talk to the folks that are playing. There will be winners there out for every advantage and folks that just enjoy hanging out and shooting.

By the end of the match, you should have a good handle on what’s good, what’s great, what’s not so good and what’s worthless. More importantly you will know the procedures, rules and such so it will just be you, the pins and shot timer when you bring your pistol.

All without wasting a cent on stuff you might not even use, once you “get into it”.

 

[CapnMac]

My personal preference was reversed wadcutters, to "grab" the pins (cheaper than the fancy sawtooth JHP "pin loads").
Unlike pistol silhouette, where you needed both short range and long range with "knock down," with pins, it's get them off the table soonest. So, a lighter/softer round that was faster to get back on target was my preference.

Get a god shoulder hit and clean a couple-three away with the one shot, then clean up any remaining "spare." Only time it would be an issue would be if you had one laying down on a bullet hole, so it wanted to spin, rather than roll.

Dang, those were some days. Fragments of lead and maple splinters flying around and were were all more concerned with beating a clock . . . tables getting chewed up, too.

 

[rabid wombat]

It’s getting them off the table quickly.

Knocking down is dirt simple…

that off the table thing…..

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Knocking down is dirt simple…

that off the table thing…..

And doing both fast.
I tried it a couple times with a Blackhawk .357Mag. It was pretty funny.