SSN Vet
Member
Revolver is an old Taurus 689, with a 6.5" vent rib barrel, which has historically been very accurate for me.
I've tried several different loads with Berry's plated 148 DEWC & 148 HBWC using both .38 and .357 cases, and W231. I've also loaded the Zero 158 JFN with both W231 and downloaded it with 2400.
None of these "target loads" have been very good.... though full power magnum loads continue to shoot just fine.
So, after burning through another batch of 148 gr. dissappointments, I switch over to my newest experiment using Rem 6-1/2 primers with 14 gr of 2400 pushing the Zero pills.
First I load up some very old Federal factory 158s, so I can have a mental baseline to judge the report and recoil of my full power hand loads.
My target is a 1" orange dot sticker on a sheet of letter size paper.
First shot at 50 ft. hits the bottom edge of the orange. Second shot touches the first at 8 o'clock. The third shot is ~1/4" below the second. Now I'm thinkin' I just might shoot a group worthy of a letter home to momma. The fourth shot is 1-1/2" high and the fifth is ~2" low. Sorry momma, no letter this week.
This is still good shootin' for me, and a huge imporvement over my target load failures.
My full power reloads go on to deliver similar performance, and there's no sign of the 6-1/2 primer causing any kind of over pressure with the 2400. Primers are still rounded on the corners and recoil is just less than that of the Federal factory rounds.
So I'm thinking this .357 likes to shoot magnum loads and am ready to pack it in with the target loads.
Or maybe I'll give it another try with lead HBWCs.
What do you guys think?
Ps. I did have two of the 6-1/2 primers that failed to set off.... even after three taps. And I've never had that happen b4 with this revolver. Perhaps they weren't fully seated? Or perhaps the 6-1/2 is too hard for handgun use?
I've tried several different loads with Berry's plated 148 DEWC & 148 HBWC using both .38 and .357 cases, and W231. I've also loaded the Zero 158 JFN with both W231 and downloaded it with 2400.
None of these "target loads" have been very good.... though full power magnum loads continue to shoot just fine.
So, after burning through another batch of 148 gr. dissappointments, I switch over to my newest experiment using Rem 6-1/2 primers with 14 gr of 2400 pushing the Zero pills.
First I load up some very old Federal factory 158s, so I can have a mental baseline to judge the report and recoil of my full power hand loads.
My target is a 1" orange dot sticker on a sheet of letter size paper.
First shot at 50 ft. hits the bottom edge of the orange. Second shot touches the first at 8 o'clock. The third shot is ~1/4" below the second. Now I'm thinkin' I just might shoot a group worthy of a letter home to momma. The fourth shot is 1-1/2" high and the fifth is ~2" low. Sorry momma, no letter this week.
This is still good shootin' for me, and a huge imporvement over my target load failures.
My full power reloads go on to deliver similar performance, and there's no sign of the 6-1/2 primer causing any kind of over pressure with the 2400. Primers are still rounded on the corners and recoil is just less than that of the Federal factory rounds.
So I'm thinking this .357 likes to shoot magnum loads and am ready to pack it in with the target loads.
Or maybe I'll give it another try with lead HBWCs.
What do you guys think?
Ps. I did have two of the 6-1/2 primers that failed to set off.... even after three taps. And I've never had that happen b4 with this revolver. Perhaps they weren't fully seated? Or perhaps the 6-1/2 is too hard for handgun use?