357 Magnum ES/SD

[FOTIS]

I am having a hell of a time getting my 357's getting a good SD.
Specifically with the 125 grain bullets (XTP's). I have tries VH N110, H110/W296, Lilgun etc. Variation of over 100 fps from bullet to bullet sometimes. It is not the cylinders either.
I have tried different primers but no joy.


Anyone has anything on this?

 

[xphunter]

Sorry-No help here.
I have never run 125's...Always 158's
Have you played with crimp yet or even a different crimp die?

 

[FOTIS]

Actually my friend is having the exact same issue and he's using 158 grain bullets still somewhere between 25 to 100 ft per second difference we have used leaf Factory crimp dye wedding dies RCBS dies same difference

 

[xphunter]

The way we did load development when I was doing my 500 yard 357 magnum steel goal, was chronoing our loads changing the crimp tension until we got into single digits. Thinking we might have used the lee crimp die...That has been a minute since we did that.

How are your groups on paper at 100 yards?

 

[FOTIS]

Ernie I'm shooting these things from 10 to 25 yards I have no idea what they're doing past that. You know I'm a magnum rifle guy not a handgun guy

 

[xphunter]

Ernie I'm shooting these things from 10 to 25 yards I have no idea what they're doing past that. You know I'm a magnum rifle guy not a handgun guy

Understood.

Are you wanting to hunt with this 357 Magnum?

If so, what would be your comfortable max distance?

 

[PJGunner]

I only run my home cast bullets in my handguns and for cartridges like the .357 and .44 Magnums run a fairly stiff roll crimp. Unless your bullet has a cannelure to crimp on, you'd just about have to go with a taper crimp. I'm not sure just how tight one can make that type crimp. In either case, no pun intended it might help to have all brass trimmed to the "trim to" length and then do a crimp.

Another thing you might try is carefully weigh each charge before placing it into the cartridge case. That's not something I would ordinarily do but something to try to eliminate the possibility of even slightly uneven charges are the problem.
Paul B.

 

[xphunter]

In either case, no pun intended it might help to have all brass trimmed to the "trim to" length and then do a crimp.

Another thing you might try is carefully weigh each charge before placing it into the cartridge case. That's not something I would ordinarily do but something to try to eliminate the possibility of even slightly uneven charges are the problem.
Paul B.

Well SAID!

 

[RL338]

Fotis are you weighing your charges or throwing them? With multiple powders and primer tried , I would think you would have hit a good load.

 

[xphunter]

In either case, no pun intended it might help to have all brass trimmed to the "trim to" length and then do a crimp.

The importance of this consistency, allows your crimp to be consistent, which can have a impact on MV.

 

[FOTIS]

I'm not hunting with it I just want each shot to be I don't know 25 ft per second or so extreme spread

 

[xphunter]

Have the throats been uniformed?

Grouping at 25 yards?

Try several groups with all 3-shots or all 6-shots from the same cylinder-Mark it with a sharpie to make sure you are using the same one.
Curious as to what that brings you in terms of accuracy.