Some really good results with max loads in a .357 Ruger trifecta!

[Macchina]

I have been loading for .357 for a few years now, but until a few months ago, I only had a Ruger 4.2" Sp101.

Recently I purchased a Ruger LCR (1.875" barrel) and a Ruger bolt action 77/357 (18.5" barrel). I got a Master Shooting Chrony recently and have been loading up to Max loads for a few bullet styles. Today I finished those load workups and was really happy with the performance of the top loads, especially from a snub!

It was 20 degrees today, and I've shot these loads through the SP-101 in the heat of summer, but will have to work these up again the LCR when it's warmer. There is a significant amount of snow in Northern Michigan right now. A very significant amount! To shoot today, I had to shovel a path I where our picnic table usually is, shovel 3' of snow off the table, then drag it through 4' of snow to get it in front of my backstop. I'm lucky it warmed up today, it was -8 degrees 2 days ago with wind chills in the -20's.








Note: these loads are max or above max, please do not load these recipes without working up to them in your own guns.

**All velocities are the average of 5 shots at 5' from the muzzle. I had a couple of off-numbers while getting used to the chronograph, these figures were thrown out.

Max H110: Hornady 158g XTP, 17g H110, CCI Mag pistol primer, heavy roll crimp:
LCR: 1124 FPS
SP-101: 1270 FPS
77/357: 1746 FPS

This load is above max for everyone but Lyman. The primers were perfect, extraction easy, and no other signs of high pressure found.
I am really happy with those numbers from the LCR! A nice 158 grain JHP at 1124 FPS is very redpectible and pretty much ends the compact 9mm vs 357 snub debate for me. I had the hard-plastic laser grips on the LCR and with a very thin leather glove, I had no problem shooting these. There definitely was some sting, but that's physics and I would have no problem with control especially using the laser to get back on target.

A note: Hodgdon's max of 16.7g of H110 delivers an average velocity of 1056 FPS from the LCR and nearly the exact same velocity as the 17g load when shot from the rifle.

Max Power Pistol: 158g LSWC, 8.4g Power Pistol, CCI standard pistol primer, medium tapper crimp:
LCR: 1100 FPS
SP-101: 1198 FPS
77/357: 1602 FPS

This load shows heavy, but not prohibitive, leading in the two revolvers. These bullets (Missouri Bullet Company) fit both of my guns well, but always lead a bit, I think it's a lube issue?

Recoil was defiantly lighter than the H110 burners above. I would love to work this load up with the XTP bullet...

I will post additional results and pictures when I get home.

 

[Macchina]

Also, I tested some aluminum-cased Blazer 357 158g JHP (Advertised as 1150 FPS from a vented 4" barrel). It clocked 810 FPS from the 4.2" SP-101 and 818 FPS from the LCR! It appears it's already running out of steam after 2" of barrel...

I wasn't expecting blazing speed () but I was expecting a lot more than 70% of advertised velocity. There are many .38 Special +P loads that do significantly better.

 

[gamestalker]

Don't ya just love working with H110/296. Honestly, based on it's short charge table alone, it's just about the best powder in terms of not requiring much of a work up when striving for a full tilt load. But that's because it's designed for one type of load, and only one. And it does it so very well every time, providing proper reloading technique is applied.

So, how do you like that M77? I have several of them, and I think Ruger makes a superior firearm, both handguns and long guns. And they are very capable of handling full house loads for those that enjoy that type shooting experience.

GS

 

[Kurastduuks]

Good write up! Love that sp101 I've got the same one and it's eaten up a couple thousand full power (or a little beyond loads and is no worse for wear. One tough little gun

 

[32_d3gr33s]

Where from michigan are you? I'm near grand rapids and did the same thing a couple weeks ago, digging through feet of snow... funny thing is I was trying loads for my lcr too. But I only went to 8.1 with power pistol and a 158 lswc. That was the most I decided to try in my lcr...

 

[Macchina]

Yeah, the full H110 loads in the LCR definitely let you know you're shouting a 357 (especially with the laser grips on) but I wouldn't call them uncontrollable or actually painful.

I really like the 77/357. This was the first time I shot it, and even with fill tilt loads, it was quite a pussycat. I see a lot of potential for this rifle. As far as the SP101, that is the gun that got me hooked on 357! It will shoot anything comfortably and had the best proportions I could ask for in a trail gun that is fun to shoot. I recently sold my pocket .380 so I could stock just 2 types of center fire handgun ammo (.40 S&W and .357 Mag). Therefore I needed a small handgun that used either of those cartridges, I went with the KLCR. This gun is not nearly as smooth as the SP101, but it does its job great. I had a S&W scandium 360, but that was to light for full power 357. The LCR is just right to be able to shoot all the ammo I load for the rest of my 357's. I am working on a lighter load for it (Power Pistol) but I'm not afraid to shoot any of my H110 loads through it.


The one thing that really surprised me about H110 was that higher max loads increased velocity the most the shorter the barrel! These were the velocity changes when going from 16.7 grains to 17.0 grains:

LCR: 68 FPS
SP101: 50 FPS
77/357: 3 FPS

 

[Macchina]

I am also in the process of working up some upside-down HBWC loads with moderate loads of W231 and am having really good results. I'm up to 1050 FPS (5 grains) with minimal leading and zero recoil. I'm always looking for a nice small game load and I think this is it. The difficult part of a small game load is it needs to hit at the same POA as your carry load... Therefore I need some something booking along pretty well, but never surpassing the speed of sound (1128 FPS) my goal is to get these going about 1090 FPS from the 4.2" SP101. I think I'll get there next week but I need to start shorting for accuracy before I can ever think about using them for hunting.

 

[Manny]

The KLCR/CT grip is my favorite carry gun, plus I have a 2.25" SP & just got a 6" GP100. I shoot .38+p almost exclusively and am sure glad to read your thoughts on recoil with the KLCR. So many times posts on them are full of whining about recoil, nice to read a different take.

 

[7mmb]

Nice trifecta of Ruger 357s! You are much braver than me in that Michigan winter. I'll stop complaining now about Utah winters now, we had rain in February.

I've got my own Ruger 357 trifecta: 2.25" SP101, 4" GP100 and 6.5" Blackhawk. Gotta love a Ruger 357.

 

[Macchina]

It was -5 degrees Fahrenheit this morning... Supposedly it's March...

I emailed CCI today about the miserable velocities out of their .357 "Magnum" ammo. We'll see if they have anything to say about claiming 1250 FPS on a loading that goes just over 800 FPS...

 

[Macchina]

The KLCR/CT grip is my favorite carry gun, plus I have a 2.25" SP & just got a 6" GP100. I shoot .38+p almost exclusively and am sure glad to read your thoughts on recoil with the KLCR. So many times posts on them are full of whining about recoil, nice to read a different take.

I read that a lot before I got the LCR as well. With the Tamer grips on the 357 LCR, the Power Pistol loads (158g @1,100 FPS) are fun rounds to shoot. Quite easy to hit 5 shots in a 5" circle at 5 yards in 5 seconds.

I'm not an abnormally tough guy. I'm very average sized guy and I'd say this LCR is fun to shoot magnum loads through.

 

[Macchina]

I heard back from CCI today regarding the retarded .357 Magnum velocities. The woman who replied said she:

when we tested the LOT# L24U5 it tested at 1155FPS out of a 10” SAAMI specification barrel, this is right in the middle of the drawing specification. Out of these short barrel firearms, I would expect the rounds to be in the ~800FPS range. If you are looking for ammunition that is tested and designed for these short barrel ammunition, you will want to look at Speer short barrel ammunition #23917 .357 mag 135Gr at 990FPS out of a 2” V barrel.

I asked her to test it in a 4" vented barrel just like their states should provide 1150 FPS: http://www.blazer-ammo.com/blazer_chart.aspx
It's pretty telling when the ammo does only 5 FPS faster in a 10" barrel!

 

[oldfortyfiveauto]

My 77-357 like the 158 XTP with 15grs of 2400 best. Great rifle, but can be picky with bullets to feed well.