357SIG bullets

[vaalpens]

I am about two weeks away from starting to reload 357SIG. Initially I will use bullets I have in inventory, but then I need to decide what bullets to purchase that will/could be a better fit for 357SIg. I have some 9mm JHP bullets that I received in a PIF from BracketRacer_57 (Thanks again!) and also some X-Treme 124gr CP HP. I have been creating some dummy rounds and it seems they should work for my initial toe in the water loads. I know Montana Gold is one of the preferred bullets for 357SIG loads, and then also the XTP's. These bullets will be fine once everything is going and I have confidence in my load process. But what I am looking for is to find some not that expensive bullets that I can load in 9mm, and also 357SIG.

Does anybody currently load plated bullets for 357SIG that can be recommended. I don't normally load max loads and will probably try and keep the loads around 1300fps (calculated from load data since I don't have a chrono). The bullets does not have to be perfect for 357SIG, but should lend itself to a good neck tension and be rated to around 1500fps.

Thanks in advance for any information you can provide.

 

[vaalpens]

Looks like nobody is loading 357SIG or nobody is loading plated bullets in 357SIG.

I did some more digging around and found some old pages from "Pete-357.com" where he listed bullets that can be used. Some of these companies don't exists anymore, but at least it gave me some ideas regarding which plated bullets could be used.

357 Sig Bullets For Reloading

Disclaimer: Use the following information at your own risk. I am not responsible for your actions.

Bullets that work well with a light cannelure groove and strong crimp, or, with just a strong crimp:

Rainier 124 grain flat point & 147 grain hollow point bullets (soft plated bullet; tested by me):
West Coast 124 grain flat point (soft plated bullet; tested by me):
Speer 125 grain Gold Dot HP (soft plated bullet; tested by me):
Oregon Trail Laser-Cast 122 grain flat point (hard silver-lead; tested by me):

Hard Jacketed Bullets that can work OK with little or no case mouth belling and a light crimp:

D&J 124 grain fmj flat points (tested by me):

Bullets I have not tested, although some folks have had good luck with the following bullets:

Hornady 115, 125, & 147 grain XTP JHP bullets
Sierra 90 & 115 grain JHP's
Montana Gold 357 Sig 125 grain FMJ;
Berry's 124 grain flat points (rated at a maximum of 1200 fps)

 

[Rule3]

Berrys can be loaded to 1,500 fps. Use them for 9mm or 357 Sig. I don't use them so no personal experience just what they say. here:

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i1...38_Super357_Sig_356_124gr_HBFP_TP_1000ct.aspx

 

[vaalpens]

Berrys can be loaded to 1,500 fps. Use them for 9mm or 357 Sig. I don't use them so no personal experience just what they say. here:

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product-i1...38_Super357_Sig_356_124gr_HBFP_TP_1000ct.aspx

Rule3, thanks for the information. I have been looking at these, but have not loaded Berrys before. At least they indicate it is for 357SIG, so I assume the risk for me will be low if I decide to try them out. I hate to waste money, so it seems they could be a safe bet to try out.

I have also been looking at PowerBond 9mm 124gr FP Plated Bullets but do not know if they could be used for 357SIG. A few years ago I think Jake from RMR gave them a good review. So they are definitely on my radar screen, as well as the new 124gr FP RMR thick plated bullets expected to be available toward the middle of January.

 

[sellersm]

Should be lots of posts here at THR about this topic... The key to the 357sig is the correct bearing surface length. The short little neck holds the bullet, not the crimp, so the bullet needs to give as much surface as possible for the neck to hold onto.

Hornady XTP & HAP work great. Berry's 124gr FP, Sierra has a FMJ that works, Xtreme plated works, Montana Gold as mentioned, works fine. Speer GDHP and TMJ work great. Nosler works. There are many...

 

[vaalpens]

Should be lots of posts here at THR about this topic... The key to the 357sig is the correct bearing surface length. The short little neck holds the bullet, not the crimp, so the bullet needs to give as much surface as possible for the neck to hold onto.

Hornady XTP & HAP work great. Berry's 124gr FP, Sierra has a FMJ that works, Xtreme plated works, Montana Gold as mentioned, works fine. Speer GDHP and TMJ work great. Nosler works. There are many...

sellersm, thanks for the information. I wondering which X-Treme plated bullet would work best. The 124gr FP does not have the thick plating, so I assumed the 124gr HP would probably work best. I have a few of those and will try it out.

I also sent X-Treme an email asking if they have a recommended bullet for 357SIG. To my surprise they came back with a 147gr RN with a .357" diameter recommendation. I think I need to call them since I would not think the RN would work unless it is a very short bullet head. I did call Xtreme and they indicated that the bullets to use are the 9mm 124gr FP and HP. The HP has the thicker plating and I will definitely try it out.

 

[sellersm]

Forgot to add a +1 for the RMR plated bullets, especially the 124gr FP thick plated.

As to Xtreme bullets, they're all thicker plated than the Berrys, so no issues with their 124gr FP or HP.

 

[Elkins45]

Believe it or not, my favorite bullet for 357 Sig is a Lee cast bullet originally intended for the 38 special. It's a 105 grain SWC. It has very straight sides and can be sized to .358. That gives it plenty of neck tension and the fatter diameter actually shoots better out of my P229.

 

[Otto]

What you want is a bullet specifically designed for 357Sig. Zero makes a 125gr. FP FMJ with the proper profile that provides sufficient neck tension.
Good tension is required to prevent setback. This bullet also works fine in standard 9mm loadings. Except for Gold Dots, I'm not a big fan of plated bullets.

 

[vaalpens]

Forgot to add a +1 for the RMR plated bullets, especially the 124gr FP thick plated.

As to Xtreme bullets, they're all thicker plated than the Berrys, so no issues with their 124gr FP or HP.

sellersm, thanks for the response. I have not seen the RMR 124gr FP thick plated listed yet. is it out but not yet on the RMR site?

Have you loaded the Xtreme 24gr FP and HP for 357SIG, and if you did, how did they perform?

 

[vaalpens]

Believe it or not, my favorite bullet for 357 Sig is a Lee cast bullet originally intended for the 38 special. It's a 105 grain SWC. It has very straight sides and can be sized to .358. That gives it plenty of neck tension and the fatter diameter actually shoots better out of my P229.

Elkins45, thanks for the heads-up on lead cast bullets. I don't cast my own bullets and do not load cast bullets. I have looked at the shapes of some of the cast bullets and I assumed it should be a good fit as long as it is a hard cast to handle the 357SIG pressures.

 

[sellersm]

sellersm, thanks for the response. I have not seen the RMR 124gr FP thick plated listed yet. is it out but not yet on the RMR site?

Have you loaded the Xtreme 24gr FP and HP for 357SIG, and if you did, how did they perform?

Don't think that RMR bullet is out? Send a note to longdayjake and he'll let you know...

I have loaded the FP, I think it was, and it was fine. I don't push my loads really hard, they're just target loads for practice. I save the MG and other FMJ styles for really fast velocities. I've also used a lot of the Berrys FP bullets, good results for practice.

 

[vaalpens]

What you want is a bullet specifically designed for 357Sig. Zero makes a 125gr. FP FMJ with the proper profile that provides sufficient neck tension.
Good tension is required to prevent setback. This bullet also works fine in standard 9mm loadings. Except for Gold Dots, I'm not a big fan of plated bullets.

Otto, thanks for the information about Zero bullets. I have been looking at them and I saw they have the 9MM (.355) Diameter) - 125 GR FPFMJ which is made specifically for 357SIG. They are now $110.65 per 1000, so it seems like a good price for a jacketed bullet. It would be nice to know if anybody has experience loading this bullet for 357SIG.