Fooped
Resident HK Guru
Hey folks,
This little ditty is to ask a couple of questions but also to offer some experience that I've had when reloading .357 Magnum.
A few years ago, when I started reloading I bought all of my tools/press and components and set about reading everything I could find about reloading. Uncle Fester and I set out reloading .38 Special to start, given that it was a low pressure load, and we started light and took our time. Things went well, and I branched out into other calibers, and all was well.
Until I got to .357 Magnum. I had been, up to this point using plated bullets (also referred to as TMJ) and when I looked up load data for these bullets, the answer was always the same: load to the same specs as a lead bullet and/or reduce the charge weight by ten percent. So I did, and no matter what I tried from this point, at Magnum velocities the bullet plating would seperate from the lead and fly out of the forcing cone area like little razors, causing nasty little cuts in my arms, and those around me!
Needless to say, I immediately discontinued this load once we determined that the problem was the bullets. On another reloader's advice, I tried relaxing the roll crimp (he thought that the bullet was too tightly crimped and was literally tearing itself apart when the primer was struck.).
Same thing, little shrapnel flying out of the revolver back toward the shooter.
I don't shoot much .357 Magnum, but I've run out of the factory ammo I bought at the time, and I'd like to get back into this caliber (largely to feed the sweet new Colt Python I bought last month ). So, I bought some Magtech 158 grain JHP bullets, and now I'm ready to go!
Here's what I've got:
1000 Magtech .38/.357 158 JHP bullets
1000 CCI small pistol magnum primers (#350 I think?)
All the brass I need
Either W296 or 2400 in quantity (I'm open to other powders)
A hungry Colt Python
All the tools and some spare time
(I also have some .38/.357 125 JHP screamers that I'd like to load as well. Don't remember the brand on these, I'll check tonight. Any insight on this bullet weight would also be much appreciated! )
I'd also be down for using a recipe that is more economical where charge weight is concerned, without making the tolerances so tight that a .1 grain deviation causes an issue. For example, I'm using Unique right now for my 9mm load, and while it's a very forgiving powder, I'm using 5.6 grains per load. The Titegroup load is about 4.5-4.8 IIRC.
I want to make a load that's reasonably accurate (I'm more of a "hit a clay at 35 yards" kind of guy. I couldn't care less about shooting from a rest and putting all the rounds through the same ragged hole), and I want it to go BOOM. Not KA-BOOM mind you, just BOOM.
I guess the moral of my story is: Avoid plated bullets for Magnum velocities and load in short runs until you're SURE the load is what you want (safe)!
I'm also all for being "shown the light" where the plated bullets are concerned, if there's someone here who's had good luck with those in a .357 Magnum recipe. If not, I'll probably just use them for .38 Special plinker loads.
Thanks very much for reading, and hope that this helps any new reloaders out there!
This little ditty is to ask a couple of questions but also to offer some experience that I've had when reloading .357 Magnum.
A few years ago, when I started reloading I bought all of my tools/press and components and set about reading everything I could find about reloading. Uncle Fester and I set out reloading .38 Special to start, given that it was a low pressure load, and we started light and took our time. Things went well, and I branched out into other calibers, and all was well.
Until I got to .357 Magnum. I had been, up to this point using plated bullets (also referred to as TMJ) and when I looked up load data for these bullets, the answer was always the same: load to the same specs as a lead bullet and/or reduce the charge weight by ten percent. So I did, and no matter what I tried from this point, at Magnum velocities the bullet plating would seperate from the lead and fly out of the forcing cone area like little razors, causing nasty little cuts in my arms, and those around me!
Needless to say, I immediately discontinued this load once we determined that the problem was the bullets. On another reloader's advice, I tried relaxing the roll crimp (he thought that the bullet was too tightly crimped and was literally tearing itself apart when the primer was struck.).
Same thing, little shrapnel flying out of the revolver back toward the shooter.
I don't shoot much .357 Magnum, but I've run out of the factory ammo I bought at the time, and I'd like to get back into this caliber (largely to feed the sweet new Colt Python I bought last month ). So, I bought some Magtech 158 grain JHP bullets, and now I'm ready to go!
Here's what I've got:
1000 Magtech .38/.357 158 JHP bullets
1000 CCI small pistol magnum primers (#350 I think?)
All the brass I need
Either W296 or 2400 in quantity (I'm open to other powders)
A hungry Colt Python
All the tools and some spare time
(I also have some .38/.357 125 JHP screamers that I'd like to load as well. Don't remember the brand on these, I'll check tonight. Any insight on this bullet weight would also be much appreciated! )
I'd also be down for using a recipe that is more economical where charge weight is concerned, without making the tolerances so tight that a .1 grain deviation causes an issue. For example, I'm using Unique right now for my 9mm load, and while it's a very forgiving powder, I'm using 5.6 grains per load. The Titegroup load is about 4.5-4.8 IIRC.
I want to make a load that's reasonably accurate (I'm more of a "hit a clay at 35 yards" kind of guy. I couldn't care less about shooting from a rest and putting all the rounds through the same ragged hole), and I want it to go BOOM. Not KA-BOOM mind you, just BOOM.
I guess the moral of my story is: Avoid plated bullets for Magnum velocities and load in short runs until you're SURE the load is what you want (safe)!
I'm also all for being "shown the light" where the plated bullets are concerned, if there's someone here who's had good luck with those in a .357 Magnum recipe. If not, I'll probably just use them for .38 Special plinker loads.
Thanks very much for reading, and hope that this helps any new reloaders out there!