factory .357 158 JHP w/velocity similar to BB?

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hardheart

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Just trying to investigate possible alternatives currently out there. I have read Double Tap has been generous in their numbers. I would get Underwood, who may be slightly pessimistic in their numbers by some accounts, but the 158 is not available at this time. I would also like to stay under $1/round if possible, more along the line of UW (~56 cents/round before shipping).

I do not have reloading equipment. I currently have factory 158 gr. JHPs and JSPs advertised at 10% slower than BB, so suggestions for these are not necessary. I know that my firearms may not shoot to the same reported velocities. I also understand that I can get more go-fast by getting a nuclear 125 gr instead. I have a carbine, so if it turns out too hot for my revolver and wrists, I would shoot the box of rounds out of that and be done with it.

TIA for any information. If nothing else is out there, I will wait for Underwood to have more available.
 
Look at some of these loads and know that in some pistol the hottest loads are not wise to shoot. Hard on some revolvers. Several will push 158gr xtp bullets over 1500fps easily. Not sure if that will do what you need or not. http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357 Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun

I used some of these same loads 30 years ago and topped 1500fps with a 170gr speer sp with 2400 but used a 8" dw revolver to do it. Not an enjoyable loads.

I have chrony'd some of DT nosler 240gr sp ammo 2 years ago that advertize 1500fps and just topped that average in a 8" dw revolver so not all there loads are soft. Only DT load I have tried.
 
Of all the chrono vids I have seen on YouTube, the Underwood meets, or generally exceeds their published speeds.

Since you don't reload, I would just wait for Underwood to get more in stock.
 
I have NOT read the full blurb, so this is a sorta prima facie thing.

I print my own rounds, so no first hand knowledge.

HPR @ 0.64/round prior to shipping

"Tech Info:

Caliber: 357 Magnum
Bullet Weight: 158 Grains
Bullet Style: Hornady XTP
Case Type: Brass

Ballistics Info:

Muzzle Velocity: 1560 fps
Muzzle Energy: 865 ft lbs"

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/[email protected]&cm_mmca2=CustNum=103347887
 
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Thanks for the link, XGibsonX. Did some searching on HPR, seems a little inconsistent. Could not find out the test barrel length for the .357, but there were some complaints online about the seating on their 9mm, plus a wide velocity spread on their .223 with reman'd Lake City brass. Youtube video of the 124 gr 9mm XTP from a 92F and a 230 gr. .45 XTP from a G36 had velocities of 1017 and 755 fps, respectively. Expansion in water was also really poor. Doesn't seem too great.

Think I'll keep waiting on Underwood. Doing some math on the cost to start reloading, I'd have to shoot much more than I do to reach a break even point compared to finding decent prices on factory ammo. I should practice more often anyway, but I wouldn't plan on shooting full house 357 from my 3" SP101 that often. I put a couple rounds of 158 JHC and 180 FNHC Buffalo Bore through on Saturday. I don't plan on burning through cylinders of those too often, lol. The 180 even gave my shoulder a little punch out of the 20" R92.
 
Although I own and use a couple boxes of Underwoods .357 Jhp round with the gold dot, the round actually did not receive acclaim on Tnoutdoors 9 test

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gO9CNI8qV2I

Averaging around 1150 out of a snub and 0 expansion.

In comparison, Speers factory loading of the same bullet is estimated around 1200 ft/s out of a long barrel.

Thus, the underwood load has the capacity to launch the 158 gold dot at or near Speers intended long-barrel loading of this round, but out of a snub.

If your hand can handle it!
'
The expansion would be an issue, unless you are going for 24" penetration. On the other hand, gel and tnoutdoors "sim-media" does not equal clothing, flesh, and bone, with possible obstructions.

If you're shooting it out of a long barrel, do some testing. Sometimes, rounds are specifically engineered for a velocity range that when exceeded can result in bullet fragmentation and substandard performance. This may not be the case with the 158 gold dot, but it warrants further testing.

I'll also say that Kevin Underwood seems to be a stand up guy. I'd buy from them again.
 
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Look at some of these loads and know that in some pistol the hottest loads are not wise to shoot. Hard on some revolvers. Several will push 158gr xtp bullets over 1500fps easily. Not sure if that will do what you need or not. http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/de...l&type=Handgun

I used some of these same loads 30 years ago and topped 1500fps with a 170gr speer sp with 2400 but used a 8" dw revolver to do it. Not an enjoyable loads.

I have chrony'd some of DT nosler 240gr sp ammo 2 years ago that advertize 1500fps and just topped that average in a 8" dw revolver so not all there loads are soft. Only DT load I have tried.

I reserve my hot heavy bullet handloads to my Blackhawk for hunting, but I had no qualms about firing them out of an SP101. Kinda hurt with the stock grip and 180 XTPs at over 1300 fps from a 2.25" barrel, though. The Hogue helped a lot. :D

1500 fps is easy to achieve within SAAMI from a 6.5" barrel like my Blackhawk. Not quite so easy from a snubby. Many factories test with a solid breach test barrel that can run 10". Barrel length makes a difference. Buy your own chronograph, they're cheap now days and quite accurate!
 
I am really tempted to buy a chronograph. For the price of shooting in general, it isn't a crazy investment and would verify factory claims. And it would be more incentive to reload, since I could clock my efforts.
 
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