RMR 147 grain .357 Smiley Bullets

[Rat-Man]

I asked earlier about anyones experience with these bullets and there wasn’t many details available. I went ahead and ordered 1000 of them based on everyone’s happiness with their other products.

I was impressed with the construction, consistency and fast shipping of them for sure!

I weighed and measured a sample of them and created an album with pictures and information about them for future reference. If they shoot as good as they look, i will be more than happy with the purchase.

I intend to load these mostly as mid range .357 practice loads and will probably use the low end of 158 grain data using Enforcer powder that i recently acquired.

The album is located here.
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?media/albums/rmr-147-grain-357-smiley-bullets.374/

 

[Dudedog]

Hope they shoot well for you, I have always been happy with everything I have purchased from RMR.

 

[Rat-Man]

Thanks!

I am sure they will shoot as good or better than I am able too. My main concern was what loaded length I would end up with!
I finally decided to just order them and see, thought what the heck I can just shoot all 1,000 of them thru my Marlin 1894C one at a time if I had too.

Fortunately it isn’t a problem and they fit all my .357 caliber firearms perfectly.
They will undoubtedly be much better than the plated bullets I have been using!

Great product especially considering the price!

 

[lowcountry308]

I’ve worked up several loads with them and have had great results with my Henry lever gun.

Dots are 1” for reference. Both are 5 shot groups at 50yds.

 

[Rat-Man]

I was thinking about trying a load with 231 since i have a bit of that. I don’t have any CFE pistol to try and that load looks just as good.

Thanks for sharing your load results with me.

i think the 231 will be the first lighter load i try.

I hope my Marlin shoots those as well as your Henry.

Mighty fine shooting at 50 yards, especially if you are using iron sight!

 

[lowcountry308]

I hope my Marlin shoots those as well as your Henry.

Mighty fine shooting at 50 yards, especially if you are using iron sight!

i had to go with oversized MBC bullets for my micro groove 30/30 Marlin. If yours has the micro groove barrel you may want to keep that in the back of your mind.

I wish i could see the 1” target at 50yds with iron sights. I mounted a scope on the gun for Load work ups. Once i found a couple of good loads i took the scope back off. If i miss now i can’t blame it on bad ammo. Lol.

 

[Rat-Man]

My Marlin 1894 has the Ballard rifling, and will work with my .358 sized cast bullets but I only have a Lee 125 grain RNFP mold and it doesn’t shoot them near as well as jacketed bullets. I have a 158 grain 358311 mold but never used them in the Marlin since i am currently out of them and too lazy to cast any more right now.

I have trouble seeing those 1” dots that is why I bought a large roll of 3” ones to be able to see them at 50 yards and can’t see those at 100! lol

 

[Shooterjenkins]

I’ve worked up several loads with them and have had great results with my Henry lever gun.

Dots are 1” for reference. Both are 5 shot groups at 50yds.

was this a a standard col? I just got these bullets and have plenty of 231.

 

[blackd24]

I loaded 4.3 grains of HP-38 in a 38 SPECIAL case. I believe the OAL was 1.48. The recoil felt identical to my 158 grain lead/3.3 bullseye load.

I may also try them in 357 using 7.2 grains of BE-86.

when I shot them at the range out of my model 19 they didn’t seem very accurate, but it was a bad day shooting for me. I had a case of the lefts and the sun was in a weird spot. I just shot everything poorly. So I’ll have to try again soon to report on accuracy.

 

[blackd24]

Also beware if you’re using old mixed brass. I had really bad set back issues, like no neck tension. I used my starline cases and they were snug.

 

[rperyam]

I have loaded and shot 3,000 of these bullets in .357 cases. I have used 3.5 grains of Bullseye with an overall length of 1.560. This is a mild load but incredibly accurate in my 6 .357 Mags. I like a light load with my grandkids learning these guns. I even loaded them in .38 Special cases while I was waiting for Wadcutters to arrive and used 2.8 grains of Bullseye. They are excellent bullets and I have more ordered. Enjoy them.

 

[dredd]

They were doing some color fill on engraving at work today.
They were nice enough to sneak a few of these in.
I really want some Red ones, but I'll settle for this right now.

 

[KeithK]

I have loaded and shot 3,000 of these bullets in .357 cases. I have used 3.5 grains of Bullseye with an overall length of 1.560. This is a mild load but incredibly accurate in my 6 .357 Mags. I like a light load with my grandkids learning these guns. I even loaded them in .38 Special cases while I was waiting for Wadcutters to arrive and used 2.8 grains of Bullseye. They are excellent bullets and I have more ordered. Enjoy them.

rperyam

I just ordered 500 of these bullets and some starline brass for my 357, actually I ordered them for my sister in law I had sent her a sw19 to her during covid, I only have one 357 myself a 686, so I had to order brass and bullets as I had already sent her all I had. I was thinking I will load her up a bunch and some for me to have a little fun with mine. I'm thinking of using 2400 for powder and the new smily bullets as well as some 125 gr everglades bullets.

 

[longdayjake]

Can I just take a moment to let you guys know how good it feels to see people having fun with something that I make? I'm sitting here just on the verge of tears with the feeling that all my endless hours of work are being enjoyed by so many people. It's a humbling yet inspiring feeling.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Can I just take a moment to let you guys know how good it feels to see people having fun with something that I make? I'm sitting here just on the verge of tears with the feeling that all my endless hours of work are being enjoyed by so many people. It's a humbling yet inspiring feeling.

Good to know. I hope you also know how much we all appreciate the time you spend supporting this silly, amusing, fruitful and fruitless hobby of ours.

 

[Rat-Man]

Can I just take a moment to let you guys know how good it feels to see people having fun with something that I make? I'm sitting here just on the verge of tears with the feeling that all my endless hours of work are being enjoyed by so many people. It's a humbling yet inspiring feeling.

Thank you for all your work providing quality products at very reasonable prices!
I know that I am pleased with these bullets.

 

[Barbaroja]

Can I just take a moment to let you guys know how good it feels to see people having fun with something that I make? I'm sitting here just on the verge of tears with the feeling that all my endless hours of work are being enjoyed by so many people. It's a humbling yet inspiring feeling.

Build it and they will come. You make a great product, no surprise that you have so many happy customers. Keep it up!

……any plans to put cannelures on your .358 projectiles in the future?

 

[dredd]

Can I just take a moment to let you guys know how good it feels to see people having fun with something that I make? I'm sitting here just on the verge of tears with the feeling that all my endless hours of work are being enjoyed by so many people. It's a humbling yet inspiring feeling.

Great to see you here, Jake!

You and your entire crew set the Gold Standard in my opinion.

Thank you!

 

[bullseye308]

I want some smileys so bad, but I only shoot one load in my 357 and I cast it. I'm trying to convince myself to get another 357 just so I can shoot some of those. If I ever get my disability that is at the top of my list, a 4" 357 and a couple thousand of your smiley faced bullets. And 10k of the Nukes for the 9's. Thanks Jake et al for everything you do, it is much appreciated.

 

[paul105]

Bought a 1,000. Haven't tried any yet. When I get to it, i'll also try them in a 9mm.

 

[longdayjake]

Build it and they will come. You make a great product, no surprise that you have so many happy customers. Keep it up!

……any plans to put cannelures on your .358 projectiles in the future?

Not any for the near future. We have some other things we are working on that are super awesome though. And kinda secret.

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Jake,
When are those 40 and 45 bullet machines you posted on Fakebook gonna start rolling?

Hopefully your super secret project is a 30 cal.

 

[longdayjake]

Jake,
When are those 40 and 45 bullet machines you posted on Fakebook gonna start rolling?

Hopefully your super secret project is a 30 cal.

We have the machines about 90%. We are about ready to put the motor and wiring on. Then we'll have to make a collator from scratch so that will be a little bit of a delay. Also, we will have to figure out how we want to do the lubrication system. Turns out lube systems are stupid expensive and time consuming. Each fitting is like $15 or more and there's like 50 of them on the machine.

 

[DMW1116]

I have a great target load with the 147 grain HMW. If they shoot like that in 357 Mag I’ll probably try them at some point. I have a PILE of cast bullets to finish first though.

 

[Yamifrk]

Hey @longdayjake are you involved with unlimited ammo out of Arizona? If you are great but if not just wanted you to be aware.
https://unlimitedammo.com/product/9mm-124g-nukes/