Range Test: .357 Magnum loads with 137 grain Venom Ballistics Lead Hollow points

[SMore]

Fellow forum member VenomBallistics provided me with prototype .357 Lead Hollow Points weighing 137 grains to test. I don't claim any particular expertise or skill, just a love of working with handguns and reloading. Here are my results for you to use as you see fit.

CAUTION: The following post may include loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge or may exceed safe limits for your weapon. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer or this forum assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Hat tip to jfh, ArchAngelCD and many other members of this fine forum for information and encouragement in the art of handloading.

137 grain Venom Ballistics .357 Lead Hollow points:




All loads used Starline .357 Magnum brass, CCI 500 primers.

First range day: 5/17/08 77 degrees, 41% humidity, wind S @ 10mph.

7.5 grains Unique
Ruger SP101 3"/ 1173fps avg./SD 21.5/ES 75
Smith 340MP 1.87"/ 1034fps avg./SD 15/ES 46

9 grains SR4756
Ruger SP101 3"/ 1176 avg./SD 33.9/ES 123
Smith 340MP 1.87"/ 1048 avg./SD 30.1/ES 95

8.8 grains Power Pistol
Ruger SP101 3"/ 1200 avg./SD 14.9/ES 49
Smith 340MP 1.87"/ 1064 avg./SD 13.5/ES 42

Second range day: 5/25/08, 89 degrees, 55% humidity, wind NW @ 17mph.

Penetration test using 8.8 grains of Power Pistol:
Shot into plastic trash barrel, penetrated 20+ inches of water and bottom of barrel, recovered in dirt. Expanded to .480":



8.8 Power Pistol:
Smith 640 2"/ 1125fps avg./SD 14.4/ES 40
Smith 66 3"/ 1235fps avg./SD 8/ES 26
20 yard target with Smith 66 3" (new gun to me, later adjusted sights after all loads printed high, now shoots to point of aim):


7.8 grains AA #5:
Ruger SP101 3"/ 969fps avg./SD 20.9/ES 54.6
Smith 340 1.87"/ 889fps avg./SD 16.9/ES 52.2
Smith 640 2"/ 873fps avg./SD 12.3/ES 32.8
Smith 66 3"/ 990fps avg./SD 11.9/ES 35.1

Wrapped up the test shooting quick controlled pairs at 10 yards with the 7.8 grain AA #5 from the 340 and 8.8 grain Power Pistol from the 640:


And, just to show that I can shoot a decent group, here's a 20 yard 5 shot group from a custom 3" Smith 1917 shooting .45AR/255 LSWC/6 grains Unique (779fps avg./SD 16.8/ES 46.7):


Conclusions:
1. My eyes have aged to where I have a hard time focusing on the front sight for precision shooting.
2. That, coupled with light weight short barreled guns, affected the accuracy testing.
3. I need to keep practicing, particularly with my primary carry guns, the 340MP and 640. As you can see from my choice of weapons, my main interest is in personal defense, not long range target shooting. All the weapons have either XS Big Dot or fiber optic front sights, except for the 1917, which has a gold inlay on the blade.
4. My intent was to find handloads comparable to the Speer 135 GDHP SB in .38+P and .357. The 7.8 AA#5 load matches well with the .38+P Speer load; and the 8.8 Power Pistol load matches well with the .357 Speer load. The 137 grain LHP's work well for this purpose.
5. It's great to get outside and do some shooting!

 

[Evil One]

Many thanks for posting this up.


Jim

 

[Z-Michigan]

That's a seriously tight looking crimp you have on those. Do you always crimp that tight? What kind of crimp die are you using?

 

[PotatoJudge]

I wonder why they decided on that weight of bullet. I would imagine a heavier version of that would be a better seller (160-180 grain). A LHP probably won't hold up to 1600fps, so why not make it heavier and run it at 1200?
Any idea of the hardness of those bullets?
Is there a way to soften the HP cavity while keeping the base hardcast?
Do hardcast hollow points tend to break apart or will they hold together okay?
Is there any chance scoring the HP cavity could help control expansion like many JHP use?

I really like the idea, but only have experience with swaged LSWCHP and hardcast and don't know much else about the performance or manufacture process of bullets like this.

 

[GSPKurt]

Tony at Venom Ballistics is a great guy, and I am sure he will heed your input on bullet weight. I did not know he was moving into .38 territory. Cool!

 

[38 Super Auto]

Is that lube in the crimp groove? I have never seen that in commercial bullets.

 

[trickyasafox]

venomballistics is a good company to work with. I ordered some of their 44 mag stuff and they were top notch. Lube is a bit messy but very functional

 

[VenomBallistics]

yes, that would be lube in the crimp groove.
Since I design the bullet, tooling to make the bullet, and even the tooling to make the tooling to make the bullet, I end up making the size dies and related punches too.
The lube issue is one that is best dealt with after the bullet has come out of prototype status. I can assure you the box of prototypes Smore has so bravely, and generously tested where every bit a mess my first lab samples tend to be.
After the design shows hope, work then goes into cleaning up that mess.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Sounds like fun! I wish I had the time, knowledge and equipment to do that.

Fred

 

[VenomBallistics]

and patience ... never forget patience.
:banghead:

 

[ReloaderFred]

I'm getting too old for the patience part, so I'd settle for the first three.

Fred

 

[VenomBallistics]

and here I thought that came with age