.357 swc lead

[jrkfantom]

Hey guys, my dad got some Hard cast lead .357 SWC 158 gr bullets from a friend. We are having toruble finding info, can you use win 296 with the hard cast bullets?

 

[rcmodel]

How hard is hard cast?
Can you scratch them with your thumbnail?
If you can, they are not hard.

You can use W-296, but there are better choices for lead bullets IMO:
You really can't download W-296/H-110 very much if it turns out you need too due to leading.

I'd suggest Unique or 2400 powder.

The Lyman #49 manual is the goto source for lead bullet data.
You really need to get a copy.

rc

 

[GP100man]

Most lswc fill the case enuff that 14gr. will give ya 85% case fill H-110 will ignite reliably but may give inconsistent burn.

With the 358156 the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook starts at11.6 grs. but that`s to low to my liking , I use the 85% rule as minimum.

I agree with rc , just how hard are ya boolits?? & just as importantly what size ???

 

[zxcvbob]

8.0 grains of Herco is a good load, and it takes half as much powder as 296. It's a max load though, so work up to it. I think 6.8 grains of Unique is a max load, and it should be good too but I haven't tried it.

I never could find a load using Blue Dot that I liked, so the next step up in power is AA#7 or 2400.

 

[gunlaw]

2400, unique, even blue dot. All work well with th 158g cast swc.

 

[918v]

Bullseye too.

 

[fecmech]

Nothing wrong with 296. In fact for magnum level loads it is one of the best powders for cast bullets in the .357. It will give you top velocity with excellent accuracy and it is not a powder for mid level loads or loading down. If you want full power 158-170 gr loads in the 1200-1300 fps class out of a 6" handgun IMO it's the best powder for cast bullets.

 

[Waywatcher]

I liked 2400 powder when I tried it with hardcast LSWC in .357. Good opportunity to get some new powder!

 

[rcmodel]

I still think the OP needs to determine if he truly has "hard-cast" bullets, or not.

Not too long ago I had a range safety officer fawning all over my Keith "Hard-Cast" .44 Spl loads.

I didn't have the heart to tell him they were cast from wheel weights and were only BHN 9 at 850 FPS.

rc

 

[jrkfantom]

I haven't actually played with the bullets yet, but that tag stamped on the box says hard cast lead swc. And by what size, do you want a caliper measurement of diameter?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

And by what size, do you want a caliper measurement of diameter?

A caliper will do but the box is usually marked either .357" or .358" if they are sized and lubed.