MissouriCrowinMass
Member
I took the day off to help my wife with her car. It's been raining so much in the NE - I haven't done much shooting lately. Recently, I've started reloading .357 and .38 Special for a Ruger GP 100 - 6" that I bought used.
Attached is a picture of a few targets. All but the top were shot off my range bag for support. Previously, I reloaded 50 .357 Mag cases with 148 grain Rainier Plated Wadcutters using 4.4 grs. of Universal. These shot terrible. 6 shot groups were bigger than fist sized at 50' supported. I took the rest and decided I had not crimped them enough? I was arfaid of damaging the plating. These are the re-crimped plated Wadcutters and they shot much better. Lesson I Think - Don't neglect the crimp.
I'm setting these Rainier Wadcutters with 1/10" protruding. If I try to load them flush, I think the die's bullet setter touches the case as the case bludges a little under the bullet? Do you guys have any experience on how best to set BEWC's? I'd also apprecaite any advice on the loads. I'm just punching paper and I try to load plated as if it were lead.
I also shot some .38 Special cases loaded with 158 grain LRN Better Bullets and 3.8 grains of Win 231.
What I think I learned:
1. Crimp is important with .357 loads.
2. It sure seems that the slower bullet shoot higher like everybody says.
3. Grip is so important. I try to set my grip like the books' say. I try to push-pull. I have big hands and I hold thumbs straight out. I think that if the side of my off-hand thumb touches the pistol....my shots push right. I seem to shoot much better if my thumbs offer no pressure? When you think of it, the bullet doesn't go where the barrel points when you pull the trigger - they go where the barrel is pointing when they leave the barrel.
4. I love the GP-100. I shoot it almost as good freehand as supported. I'm no marksman but I shoot enough pistols to like this revolver, alot.
PS - Is it hard to get powder in the NE! Kittery didn't have any Bullseye, Win 231, Power Pistol or Unique last week! They did have Universal......my first loads trying it. Kind of crunchy going thru the Powder Measure......
Attached is a picture of a few targets. All but the top were shot off my range bag for support. Previously, I reloaded 50 .357 Mag cases with 148 grain Rainier Plated Wadcutters using 4.4 grs. of Universal. These shot terrible. 6 shot groups were bigger than fist sized at 50' supported. I took the rest and decided I had not crimped them enough? I was arfaid of damaging the plating. These are the re-crimped plated Wadcutters and they shot much better. Lesson I Think - Don't neglect the crimp.
I'm setting these Rainier Wadcutters with 1/10" protruding. If I try to load them flush, I think the die's bullet setter touches the case as the case bludges a little under the bullet? Do you guys have any experience on how best to set BEWC's? I'd also apprecaite any advice on the loads. I'm just punching paper and I try to load plated as if it were lead.
I also shot some .38 Special cases loaded with 158 grain LRN Better Bullets and 3.8 grains of Win 231.
What I think I learned:
1. Crimp is important with .357 loads.
2. It sure seems that the slower bullet shoot higher like everybody says.
3. Grip is so important. I try to set my grip like the books' say. I try to push-pull. I have big hands and I hold thumbs straight out. I think that if the side of my off-hand thumb touches the pistol....my shots push right. I seem to shoot much better if my thumbs offer no pressure? When you think of it, the bullet doesn't go where the barrel points when you pull the trigger - they go where the barrel is pointing when they leave the barrel.
4. I love the GP-100. I shoot it almost as good freehand as supported. I'm no marksman but I shoot enough pistols to like this revolver, alot.
PS - Is it hard to get powder in the NE! Kittery didn't have any Bullseye, Win 231, Power Pistol or Unique last week! They did have Universal......my first loads trying it. Kind of crunchy going thru the Powder Measure......