357 Magnum revolver problems

[RiverRider]

SOMEWHERE---don't ask me where, I read that the S&W PC 327's barrel is rifled by some new process (I don't recall what it was called, but it was some kind of electrochemical process IIRC) that is suspected of being the root cause of lower velocities in these guns. It does not make a whole lot of sense to me, but there seems to be little known about it and I've seen nothing authoritative published.

 

[FOTIS]

Problem with 357 Magnum trr8

Hey guys I've got a Smith & Wesson from the performance center it's a 327 8 shot with a 5-in barrel. No matter what loads I have put into it so far it's always very very slow. I tried the 125 XTP

smith-wessonforum.com

 

[salmonchaser]

Problem with 357 Magnum trr8

Hey guys I've got a Smith & Wesson from the performance center it's a 327 8 shot with a 5-in barrel. No matter what loads I have put into it so far it's always very very slow. I tried the 125 XTP

smith-wessonforum.com

I thought rifle cranks could get technical. I read through the responses you received on the S&W forum. Those boys are dialed in!

 

[FOTIS]

I found out a few things after today's shoot.
The pistol is very accurate. Now if you increase the charge you will get your target velocity without any excess pressures, at least none that were visible to me. Moreover it is almost impossible to get full velocities with lighter bullets. With the updated .003" gap I got 1310 fps with the 125 xtp Hornady American Gunner factory.

With hand loads the125 xtp did 1400 fps with h110. Cases just dropped out of the cylinder.

The big surprise were the 165 Matt's hard cast with gas check. With Lil gun I reached 1401 fps!! Same as the 125!!! Recoil was harsh and again cases fell right out of the cylinder no problem. I will drop the load a grain and a half or so and keep it at around 1250 or so. That should be good for anything.

 

[xphunter]

Glad you got things figured out.
Hunting with the 357 or setting up for other things?

 

[FOTIS]

Ernie with the 165 Keith style hard cast at 1250 and 8 shots to boot and the light weight (scandium frame) I think it would be the perfect camp gun or walkabout gun.