TC contender .38/.357 loads

[Random 8]

I have some ideas on where to go with this, but wondering if anyone has any pets in this category.

Just picked up a new 10" .357 barrel and am looking for something to feed it. Uses will be casual shooting and IMHSA field pistol to 100m, so loads need to stay stable at a distance. I do not cast myself, but shoot a lot of purchased cast bullets and would like to go this route. A dedicated LR load using a jacketed bullet would be a possibility. I will likely test such a load over H110 "just because".

I presently have a small supply of Penn 158 TC, a larger supply of Magtech 158 rn which were surprisingly accurate in my Henry single shot rifle. I have a large supply of ACME wax lubed 125 TC. Am open to other bullets if someone has a favorite I should check out.

I have a variety of suitable handgun powders from Red Dot to H110 including the venerable Unique. I have mostly .38 spl brass but a small supply of .357 brass presently in empty status and generally reserved for "bear" loads.

 

[WestKentucky]

The 357 barrel I had really liked to be loaded HOT. As in 360 Dan Wesson range. Not 357 max, but not far from it either.

 

[dannyd]

For regular plinking any 38 or 357 loads will do; IMHSA is another matter 170 or 180 would work better than light bullets sometimes don't do well out to 100 meters.

 

[PO2Hammer]

IHMSA has rules about target damage, the half scale chickens targets really get beat up by full magnum loads.
When I shot Field Pistol years ago I used 38 spl lrn or light hand loads in my G2. (or 22 wmr)
If it were me, I would try the cast tc with enough Unique to get to about 900 fps.

 

[dannyd]

When I shot Hunters pistol NRA and IHMSA Field pistol; people would use different loads for different animals. I didn't use 357 long switched to 30/20 TC way better round. Don't get me wrong love 38/357 have 12 revolvers, 2 Tc's, 1 encore and 2 lever guns, but there are better rounds for silhouette.

Unique is always a great choice for 357 and 158 swc is the gold standard.

 

[dannyd]

Po2 Hammer: FF sailor?

 

[Random 8]

When I shot Hunters pistol NRA and IHMSA Field pistol; people would use different loads for different animals. I didn't use 357 long switched to 30/20 TC way better round. Don't get me wrong love 38/357 have 12 revolvers, 2 Tc's, 1 encore and 2 lever guns, but there are better rounds for silhouette.

Unique is always a great choice for 357 and 158 swc is the gold standard.

Yes, the .32-20 or .22 Hornet would be better choices, but I shoot the sport casually, and already have the components and dies .357/.38 in inventory. If I ever got more serious about it, a .22 Hornet would probably be on my shopping list. I also shoot revolver class field pistol with the .357, so it's good to keep the holds relatively consistent.

 

[dannyd]

Yes, the .32-20 or .22 Hornet would be better choices, but I shoot the sport casually, and already have the components and dies .357/.38 in inventory. If I ever got more serious about it, a .22 Hornet would probably be on my shopping list. I also shoot revolver class field pistol with the .357, so it's good to keep the holds relatively consistent.

I understand shot a Ruger Blackhawk before I could afford one of the New TC's.

We haven't had ether sport here in 20 years unfortunately.

 

[PO2Hammer]

Po2 Hammer: FF sailor?

FF 1063 USS Reasoner, ‘85-‘89.

 

[dannyd]

FF 1063 USS Reasoner, ‘85-‘89.[/QUOTE





Didn't ride a Knox's class just the Perry Class; nothing like being a "Frigate Sailor" one step about seeing the world in John Boat.

 

[cfullgraf]

I shot a 10" 357 Magnum T/C Contender in IHMSA handgun silhouette in the early 1980's. I use primarily full power 357 Magnum loads with 158 grain jacketed bullets. They were pretty reliable on the 200 meter rams.

At the time, the only choice of heavier jacketed bullets were Sierra 170 grain fmj or Speer 180m grain soft point rifle bullets (.358" dia).

For 100m, I'd still use 158 grain bullets and up. These days there are more bullet choices. With full power loads, there is plenty of sight adjustment for the 200m rams so 100m range would be no problem.

Of course, at 100m you may not need the velocity for a reliable knock down of the rams. The reduced recoil helps with reliable shot placement.

An aside, I shot unlimited with my Contender with a Super 14 7mm Int. Rimmed barrel.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Look into 180 rnfp. I've had the best results in 357 using them with handguns and rifles.
With my carbine I can consistently hit a reduced ipsc target at 200 yards.
I want a 357 contender. But have only seen 30-30 ones.

 

[dannyd]

Look into 180 rnfp. I've had the best results in 357 using them with handguns and rifles.
With my carbine I can consistently hit a reduced ipsc target at 200 yards.
I want a 357 contender. But have only seen 30-30 ones.

I cast a 180 RNFN, but if you need to buy them Missouri Bullets as a good bullet especially their coated bullets.

 

[Random 8]

Look into 180 rnfp. I've had the best results in 357 using them with handguns and rifles.
With my carbine I can consistently hit a reduced ipsc target at 200 yards.
I want a 357 contender. But have only seen 30-30 ones.

I had to buy one. 7 TCU and .44 mag barrels came with it. Just recently sourced the .357 octagon barrel at a local auction. I use the 7 TCU for any sight big bore. It is a hoot! Also good for using up the many partial boxes of 7mm projos I've acquired over the years from .280 rem experiments. Still trying to get rid of the .44 barrel, as I have little use for the caliber. I would hunt with the 7, and shoot close targets with the .357.

 

[Random 8]

I cast a 180 RNFN, but if you need to buy them Missouri Bullets as a good bullet especially their coated bullets.

I've looked at both the WFN and the LRN 180s at MBC. Either would probably be suitable. Wish I could get them cast in a softer alloy, as I don't feel the need to hot rod them with H110. Will probably start out with the 158s I have in medium loads and see what happens. May try a little more work with the 125s also. I've run them fast in the Henry rifle with good accuracy and no leading.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I've looked at both the WFN and the LRN 180s at MBC. Either would probably be suitable. Wish I could get them cast in a softer alloy, as I don't feel the need to hot rod them with H110. Will probably start out with the 158s I have in medium loads and see what happens. May try a little more work with the 125s also. I've run them fast in the Henry rifle with good accuracy and no leading.

I prefer the WFN for hunting. For general target shooting the RNFP was better. I've settled on Coated bullets whether I cast then or buy them.
Coated hard cast shoot just as well from my 38s as they do running compressed loads of h110 in my 357. I would like a swaged coated 180 for my purposes.

 

[dannyd]

I use the WFN I cast and the MB one out to a 100 yards off the bench with no problem using Unique powder.

 

[25-20 WCF]

Field Pistol is not big bore. The targets are easy to knock down, and low recoil is desired. Maintaining accuracy at 100 yards is the most important factor. I shot FP for years with a .30 Carbine barrel and 130-grain cast bullets loaded to around 1000 fps. This gave low recoil and kept the bullet from going trans-sonic (which can disturb the bullet accuracy). The OP may need to use a heavier bullet in his .357, but he doesn’t need high velocity. My M28 was very accurate with 5.5 grains of Unique under a 158-grain cast bullet.



.

 

[GarrettJ]

I shot these groups at 200 yards using my 14" Contender. It's sighted for 100 yards, and I wanted to see what kind of drop I got at the farther distance (about 15"). This was with 158 gr. XTP and 16.5 gr. H110. Velocity for these is 1620 fps at the muzzle. It would be a bit less from your shorter barrel, obviously.

 

[Random 8]

For anybody still following this thread, did some casual load work today with HS-6. Penn 158 TC and Hor 158 XTP. Fired over 7 and 9 gr HS-6 respectively in Fed .357 brass with CCI SPM. Both loads were rather mild through the contender, with acceptable accuracy and drop for IHMSA field pistol. Nice tight groups at 25, with a slight edge to the XTP load. Fired 5 of the cast load at each of the silhouettes (paper) at regulation distance and would have scored an 18. I can't blame the misses on the ammo. Turkeys are hard!, and I'm tending to pull right with my gun.

I will likely try the 125s over a stout .38+P load (maybe ++) next and see if the groups hold up at short and long range. I have a lot of .38 brass...likely a lifetime supply...and .357 brass is hard to come by these days. My standard plinker load of 4.5 gr HP-38 was somewhat disappointing through the contender. We'll see what happens when I bump up the velocity. Will probably also try a slower load with Red Dot or Unq and see how they fare.

 

[Bfh_auto]

For anybody still following this thread, did some casual load work today with HS-6. Penn 158 TC and Hor 158 XTP. Fired over 7 and 9 gr HS-6 respectively in Fed .357 brass with CCI SPM. Both loads were rather mild through the contender, with acceptable accuracy and drop for IHMSA field pistol. Nice tight groups at 25, with a slight edge to the XTP load. Fired 5 of the cast load at each of the silhouettes (paper) at regulation distance and would have scored an 18. I can't blame the misses on the ammo. Turkeys are hard!, and I'm tending to pull right with my gun.

I will likely try the 125s over a stout .38+P load (maybe ++) next and see if the groups hold up at short and long range. I have a lot of .38 brass...likely a lifetime supply...and .357 brass is hard to come by these days. My standard plinker load of 4.5 gr HP-38 was somewhat disappointing through the contender. We'll see what happens when I bump up the velocity. Will probably also try a slower load with Red Dot or Unq and see how they fare.

Would 38-44 loads for your goals? I really like the idea of a 357 contender. You would want to use a red X or something to mark them.
I really like lathe turning out the name of the cartridge.
We did that on 30-06 brass when it went to 7.7 jap.

The right powder with 38 +P should be pretty decent for a target load. While still keeping other 38s out of danger.

 

[AJC1]

Curious if a more pointed bullet would help in a contender. Is it a single load or some type of mag. The 180 sil bullet has a tiny meplat so it may be close enough. I've never shot a contender so I'm unfamiliar with the form factor.

 

[Random 8]

Yes, they are single load. Just dump them in the tube. COL is quite flexible also, they seem to have a long leade. I've looked at the SIL bullets. They are more intended to push the .357 or DW or Max out to 200m rams. I'm hoping to find what I need with an easier to source and less expensive 158 that can do double duty in revolvers. If someone made an old long RN hollow base 158 in a medium-hard alloy I'd be happy with that. MBC makes one BHN 12 I will have to try. TC is as close as I can find in a magnum alloy due to short .357 cylinders out there.

I also have a lot of those 125 TCs. I'm planning to eventually convert to all 158s, so I'd like another outlet to use them up. They are a relatively hard alloy and I've had luck pushing them medium-fast in the Henry single shot and a 6" TaurM66.

 

[Random 8]

Did some more looking. MBC has a RNFP at 158 of a hard alloy I may have to try. I'll probably get a box of the softer long RN and a box of these. They hid the hard alloy ones in the rifle section! Penn no longer makes the TC 158 I dearly love except in a coated version. I have had NO luck with coated bullets, having tried both MBC and ACME versions. Maybe Penn will be better? My findings have been inferior accuracy and stubborn coating fouling affecting POI after several rounds. Starting fluid or carb cleaner was needed to get the red out of my lands and grooves with ACMEs coating in 9mm. I hate change.

 

[AJC1]

Did some more looking. MBC has a RNFP at 158 of a hard alloy I may have to try. I'll probably get a box of the softer long RN and a box of these. They hid the hard alloy ones in the rifle section! Penn no longer makes the TC 158 I dearly love except in a coated version. I have had NO luck with coated bullets, having tried both MBC and ACME versions. Maybe Penn will be better? My findings have been inferior accuracy and stubborn coating fouling affecting POI after several rounds. Starting fluid or carb cleaner was needed to get the red out of my lands and grooves with ACMEs coating in 9mm. I hate change.

I've only used powder coat, do you have the same problems with hi-tech. They claim to be very different but I wouldn't know.