Xtreme .357 125 gr in rifle?

[Buck13]

I'll probably order some more plated bullets from Xtreme today on their 17% off sale.

I have some of their 158 grain SWC, which feed and shoot OK in my 24" Rossi 92, but hit a little high with the stock front sight (about 3 or 4 " high at 50 yards). I'll probably replace that sight eventually with a taller fiber optic sight, but for the time being, I thought I'd try the 125 grain flat-points.

Anyone have experience, good or bad, with that bullet? I have no reason to push them harder than .38 Special pressures for plinking, but I'm sure I'll load some in .357 anyway! Just because I can.

The 125s have no canneleur, so bullet setback in a full magazine with heavy loads would be my first concern...

 

[7mmb]

Xtreme makes their 125gr flat points with and without a cannelure. Here is a link to their 125gr flat points with cannelure.

Xtreme advises that their bullets should not be loaded above 1200fps. In my experience their cannelure isn't really a cannelure, just markings around the bullet where a cannelure would be. I put a light roll crimp there on my loads, just a half turn down on the FCD works perfectly. I've loaded their 125gr flat points hot before, with N110, and been ok, but I've also gotten leading with their 255gr flat points loaded too hot in my 45 Colt Blackhawk. Under 1000fps and they don't do that. I may have over crimped them and accuracy with several batches of those loads was terrible. I have loads for 45 Colt that keep that bullet under 1000fps with a light crimp and accuracy is outstanding. Hitting with a slow bullet is infinitely more effective than missing with a fast one.

If you want to load hot I would recommend getting a jacketed bullet. Save the Xtremes for inexpensive, and accurate, plinking and target shooting. Hot loads need a firm crimp to work properly and with plated bullets you will usually tear the plating with a firm crimp, and you'll get poor accuracy and leading.

 

[ddc]

Xtreme advises that their bullets should not be loaded above 1200fps.

From their website:

Load Info:
- Our Copper Plated Bullets can be run at mid-range jacketed velocities or higher end lead velocities. We do not recommend velocities over 1500 FPS (Feet Per Second) and only a light taper crimp.
Any velocities over 1200 FPS we recommend either our Heavy Plate Concave Base or Hollow Point products for superior accuracy. We do not recommend velocities over 1500 FPS (Feet Per Second) and only a light taper crimp.
- All of our Hard Cast Lead Bullets are approximately 18 on Brinell, our Cowboy lead bullets are approximately 15 on Brinell.

 

[edfardos]

I pushed xtremes to 1430fps in 44mag.. the plating comes off in the forcing cone every six shots or so. I pushed Berry's to 1200fps in 9mm, which left occasional shotgun patterns on the target. and no, i don't do this anymore, it was simply experimentation.

in my experience,
-edfardos

 

[7mmb]

Quote:
Xtreme advises that their bullets should not be loaded above 1200fps.
From their website:

Load Info:
- Our Copper Plated Bullets can be run at mid-range jacketed velocities or higher end lead velocities. We do not recommend velocities over 1500 FPS (Feet Per Second) and only a light taper crimp.
Any velocities over 1200 FPS we recommend either our Heavy Plate Concave Base or Hollow Point products for superior accuracy. We do not recommend velocities over 1500 FPS (Feet Per Second) and only a light taper crimp.
- All of our Hard Cast Lead Bullets are approximately 18 on Brinell, our Cowboy lead bullets are approximately 15 on Brinell.

I'm quite familiar with their load info. I also know that none of their .357" bullets are heavy plate bullets. I've loaded their 125 grain flat points to 1400+fps with no issues, and there are testimonials on their website from others who have done the same. I still feel more comfortable shooting Xtreme's bullets within their guidelines and using jacketed bullets for my heavy loads. A light taper crimp, or even a light roll crimp, isn't sufficient for the powders that will give you 1400+fps in 357 Magnum. They need a firm roll crimp to work properly. I load their 158gr flat points with Universal and a light roll crimp to around 1100 fps in my 6.5" Blackhawk and am very happy with the results. When the 296 or N110 comes out so do the jacketed bullets though.