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I'm loading up target rounds for my .357 Taurus 689 w/ 6-1/2" barrel.
My goal is to improve my proficiency with this revolver and have fun.
I'm using once fired .38 special and .357 brass, W231 and 148 gr. Berrys plated DEWC.
for the .357...
Modern Reloading and Winchester say the max load is 3.4 gr and list pressures/velocities from 17,600 CUP/908 FPS (Win) to 19,500 CUP/880 FPS (Lee).
for the .38 special...
Modern Reloading gives the max load as 3.3 gr and list pressure/velocity 16,100PSI/770 FPS, while Winchester gives the max load as 4.0 gr and list pressure/velocity 15,900 CUP/956 FPS.
COL for both assume seated ~ flush with the case, with differences between publishers being only 02".
So here's my questions.....
Why are these published loads limiting the 148 gr. wadcutter .357 charges so much? while other W231 loads for .357 routinely go over 40,000 CUP and 1,200 FPS?
I realize that other bullet styles are not seated as deep, but the allowed pressures are double for say 158 gr. jacketed bullets.
Are they assuming a lead or plated bullet and using velocity as the upper bound. I realize that Berry's says not to load up their plated handgun bullets past 800 FPS, but why would the load table use this? Do guys using lead wadcutters with gas checks hesitate to push the velocities faster?
I'm also confused why the max. .38 special charge for the same bullet is higher than the .357 charge. This doesn't make sense to me, as the .357 case is bigger and the guns allowable pressure is greater.
I conservatively loaded my first batch of .38 cases to 3.1 gr. and they felt like a pop gun. leaving me to check that the bullet cleared the barrel.
I shot the "max." .357 load this past weekend and it was very tame to say the least.
groups were not great.....though I hesitate to say this was the load and not me
I see recommended loads both on THR and Steve's pages that go up to 4.5 gr of W231 in for the .357 and based on my "little poppers" I have little doubt that this is safe.
I'm just wondering why my two published sources are limiting the pressures ont the .357 loads so much.
My goal is to improve my proficiency with this revolver and have fun.
I'm using once fired .38 special and .357 brass, W231 and 148 gr. Berrys plated DEWC.
for the .357...
Modern Reloading and Winchester say the max load is 3.4 gr and list pressures/velocities from 17,600 CUP/908 FPS (Win) to 19,500 CUP/880 FPS (Lee).
for the .38 special...
Modern Reloading gives the max load as 3.3 gr and list pressure/velocity 16,100PSI/770 FPS, while Winchester gives the max load as 4.0 gr and list pressure/velocity 15,900 CUP/956 FPS.
COL for both assume seated ~ flush with the case, with differences between publishers being only 02".
So here's my questions.....
Why are these published loads limiting the 148 gr. wadcutter .357 charges so much? while other W231 loads for .357 routinely go over 40,000 CUP and 1,200 FPS?
I realize that other bullet styles are not seated as deep, but the allowed pressures are double for say 158 gr. jacketed bullets.
Are they assuming a lead or plated bullet and using velocity as the upper bound. I realize that Berry's says not to load up their plated handgun bullets past 800 FPS, but why would the load table use this? Do guys using lead wadcutters with gas checks hesitate to push the velocities faster?
I'm also confused why the max. .38 special charge for the same bullet is higher than the .357 charge. This doesn't make sense to me, as the .357 case is bigger and the guns allowable pressure is greater.
I conservatively loaded my first batch of .38 cases to 3.1 gr. and they felt like a pop gun. leaving me to check that the bullet cleared the barrel.
I shot the "max." .357 load this past weekend and it was very tame to say the least.
groups were not great.....though I hesitate to say this was the load and not me
I see recommended loads both on THR and Steve's pages that go up to 4.5 gr of W231 in for the .357 and based on my "little poppers" I have little doubt that this is safe.
I'm just wondering why my two published sources are limiting the pressures ont the .357 loads so much.