.357 Plated 125 gr HBWC -- Vihtavuori load data

[khpe]

Hello,
I have got some hundred ".357 Plated 125 gr HBWC". -- But I have not being able to find any load data for Vihtavuori N320/N340. So if there is someone who can advice me on a good light plinking load for my S&W .38 spl. (4" M65-2) I would be glad.

Best regards, khpe

 

[Walkalong]

I have never seen a .357 125 Gr HBWC. Are you sure they are not 148 Gr Gr, or a different style 125 Gr bullet?

Double check and I am sure someone here can help.

Welcome to THR

 

[greyling22]

I've got some data on a 124 grn LSWC for N340: 7.6 grn = 1338fps = 24900PSI
max load 8.6grn = 1450fps = 33300psi.

A plated bullet is not a hard as a jacketed bullet. I usually load them like lead.

or you could just load with 38 special data for something light. 124grn LSWC with N320:
4.2grn = 954fps max: 4.8grn = 1067fps
N340 5.4grn = 1003fps max: 5.9grn = 1113fps.

(all data comes from the 1995 Vit. manual, 2nd edition.)

 

[Walkalong]

We need to know what bullet first. If it is indeed a HBWC, that data could be hazardous.

 

[khpe]

These bullets are indeed caliber .357 hollow based plated wadcutter, i.e. not semi-wadcutter. They are from a German manufacturer called Haendler & Natermann. -- I shall use them in .38 spl. brass. (not .357 mag.)

Khpe

 

[Walkalong]

After checking some personal load data and velocities obtained with plated 125 Gr TrFP's and plated 148 Gr HBWC's using N320 in .38 Spl brass I would suggest the following.

Start 3.4 Max 4.0 Grs N320 with a 125 Gr HBWC loaded flush or nearly flush in the case.

Start at 3.6 Grs, check velocities and recovered bullets as you work your way up in .1 increments. I would stay at or under 700 FPS (Maybe 750) and would also stop if recovered bullets showed any signs of the skirts starting to separate from the face of the WC.

These min and max loads were reached using common sense along with some real recorded data, BUT, there is no published data to corroborate it that I know of. Start low, work up, and use at your own risk.

*Edit. I meant to say "Start at 3.4, check velocities". Even after getting it right the first time I typoed. Just one more reason to be leery of online help, as rfwobbly suggested.*

 

[khpe]

Thanks very much "Walkalong". I used 3,3 gr N320 as a start load this afternoon. The result was a recoil a little harder than I expected. But right in the centre. Four of six shot was inner-10 (1") on 25 meter. (S&W M65-2, 4", fixed rear sight, .38 spl. brass)

Best Regards, khpe

 

[Walkalong]

Do you know the velocity?

 

[khpe]

No. I do not have a chronograph. -- khpe (Norway)

 

[rfwobbly]

Mr. khpe -
No mater how nice people are, you never want to take load recipes from anyone but one of the powder companies. If you have simply gone to the VV web site (owned by Lapua) you would have found what you wanted.

Click Here for the VV Web Site

Hope this helps!