The heaviest loading ive found so far is 158gr., Ive seen buffalo bore loaded a little hotter but every so often I come across threads and pictures of S&W's and ruger Redhawks with peices of the cylinder all over the place and in large letters saying they were using Buffalo Bore. What is the heaviest loading I can get in .357 and how much can my GP-100 take?
What is the largest loading in .357mag
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I've shot Buffalo Bore 158's out of my 4" GP100 (1475 fps/763 ft/lbs). It is the only load which gets a little uncomfortable. More of a concern is that in mine it sprayed blast back in my face. The box says the have a 180 gr LFN-GC at 1400fps which i calculated to 783 ft/lbs a 170 gr JHC at 1400 fps (740 ft/lbs) and a 125gr JHC at 1700 fps (802 ft/lbs). the velocities are from their box no a chronograph.
I decided to stick to Winchester 180 gr which are more comfortable and much less blast.
I decided to stick to Winchester 180 gr which are more comfortable and much less blast.
.45 Cal
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I think Corbon makes a 200 grain round, but I'm not sure of the specs on it...
MCgunner
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I STILL haven't bought a box of Buffalo Bore to chronograph. I don't think they'd be too much pressure for a GP100, though. I am still a little skeptical about their velocity claims, though. My hottest 180 grain hand load has somewhat sticky extraction, no pressure signs on the primer, in my Blackhawk. It's hot enough I won't put a lesser gun though the pounding, put it that way. I get 785 ft lbs with it in a 6.5" barrel. Some guns shoot faster than others, though, and test barrels tend to be closed breech, no barrel/cylinder gap. So, I will give Buffalo Bore the benefit of the doubt on their claims, but if they are getting those velocities, it's at the ragged edge of acceptable pressures I'd think, well, for a factory load. Most factory loads are well within SAAMI pressure limits considering modern day tort laws. I'll give 'em credit for big cojones, put it that way.
Giolli Joker
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ugaarguy
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Double Tap 200 gr. hardcast
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=152
"From a 6"bbl average velocity is: 1305fps!
Velocity: 1200fps / 4" Ruger GP-100
Muzzle Energy: 640 ft. lbs."
Cor-Bon 200 gr. hardcast
http://www.corbon.com/
"357 MAG 200 GR. HC CORBON HUNTER 1150 FPS/587 FTLBS"
http://www.doubletapammo.com/php/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=21_27&products_id=152
"From a 6"bbl average velocity is: 1305fps!
Velocity: 1200fps / 4" Ruger GP-100
Muzzle Energy: 640 ft. lbs."
Cor-Bon 200 gr. hardcast
http://www.corbon.com/
"357 MAG 200 GR. HC CORBON HUNTER 1150 FPS/587 FTLBS"
Now for a noob .357mag question what is hardcast?
Im looking for some hunting rounds, in the hunters safety course I took years ago they said we couldnt use hollow points and all of these hunting rounds say core lokt and have a hollow tip are these legal to hunt with in texas?
Im looking for some hunting rounds, in the hunters safety course I took years ago they said we couldnt use hollow points and all of these hunting rounds say core lokt and have a hollow tip are these legal to hunt with in texas?
Maker , Load # , Bullet Weight , Velocity , Energy, Test BBL
Federal, P357J, 180 , 1060 , 449, 4"
Federal, C357G, 180 , 1080 , 466, 4"
Winchester , S357P, 180 , 1180 , 557, 8"
Double Tap , WFNGC, 180 , 1300 , 676, 4"
BuffaloBore , 19A, 180 , 1400 , 783, 5"
Remington , R357M10, 180 , 1145 , 524, 8.375"
CorBon, HT357180BC, 180 , 1200 , 576, 4"
Double Tap , WFNGC, 200 , 1200 , 640, 4"
CorBon, HT357200HC, 200 , 1150 , 587, 4"
Federal, P357J, 180 , 1060 , 449, 4"
Federal, C357G, 180 , 1080 , 466, 4"
Winchester , S357P, 180 , 1180 , 557, 8"
Double Tap , WFNGC, 180 , 1300 , 676, 4"
BuffaloBore , 19A, 180 , 1400 , 783, 5"
Remington , R357M10, 180 , 1145 , 524, 8.375"
CorBon, HT357180BC, 180 , 1200 , 576, 4"
Double Tap , WFNGC, 200 , 1200 , 640, 4"
CorBon, HT357200HC, 200 , 1150 , 587, 4"
MCgunner
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There is no law against shooting hollow points in Texas. My favorite hunting load in my .357 blackhawk uses a 180 grain Hornady XTP JHP.
Hardcast means they used a hard alloy, which usually involves small percentages of antimony and/or tin, to cast the lead. It makes the rockwell hardness higher, fights leading in hot loads, and keeps the bullet from deforming when it hits flesh. This is a good thing for penetration on heavy game, but the Hornady 180 grain XTP has plenty of penetration on game like deer.
MCgunner
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Can you chronograph those for us? I would love to see some actual chronographing of the loads to verify claims. Perhaps I'll get off my cheap butt and order some for chronographing some day. LOL
There has been a post or two on different forums "validating" BB's figures (though I cannot remember if they were for the .357 Magnum or some of the other calibres BB loads). You might try searching on some of the other forums A point to remember is that BB (like DT) as a manufacturer has access to powders not readily available to indivduals. They don't have to go down to the local emporium and buy a can of 2400.
MCgunner
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What I would really like to see validated is the carbine numbers. Their claims for the 180 grain in a carbine are pretty fantastic. I'm thinkin' they might use some form of Hornady's loading technique with the "light magnum" ammo combined with an even slower powder than the 2400/W296 that's the norm in the .357. If the carbine results are true, I'll keep some Buffalo Bore on hand 'cause it basically turns the little carbine into a .30-30.
That's a neat little rifle and to have that sort of power from it, well, I'd hunt with it more. 
That 180 grain hard cast would be some pretty good hog medicine I'd think.
That's a neat little rifle and to have that sort of power from it, well, I'd hunt with it more. That 180 grain hard cast would be some pretty good hog medicine I'd think.Sport45
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I've seen the revolver spontanious self-disassembly threads too. But surely, you haven't seen one where a .357 Redhawk cylinder failed, have you? I guess it could happen, but it's hard to imagine. Here's a picture of a .357 Redhawk cylinder from Handloads.com. Talk about beefy!
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