357mag cases - The Firearms Forum

Kestral · 03-03-2011, 09:17 AM

We have been shooting many 1000s of 357mag over the last couple of years,but with the price now going ever upward,the lads are thinking of reloading.We have access to Unique & Bullseye, and of course 1000s of empty cases.and would like to ask if anyone has a load sorted out that would use a 357case,standard pistol primer,& 38spec solid base 148 grn W.C bullet at a 50yrd average.Any help would be most appreciated.

woolleyworm · 03-03-2011, 09:45 AM

I'm working up some of the very same loads myself. I ended up with 1500 wadcutters and a freebie pound of Unique. I won't be able to shoot any of the test loads until the end of next week, but I'll keep ya posted on what I find. I'll be shooting them from a Ruger BH-6.5"barrel and a SecSix -6" barrel.

carver · 03-03-2011, 10:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestral

We have been shooting many 1000s of 357mag over the last couple of years,but with the price now going ever upward,the lads are thinking of reloading.We have access to Unique & Bullseye, and of course 1000s of empty cases.and would like to ask if anyone has a load sorted out that would use a 357case,standard pistol primer,& 38spec solid base 148 grn W.C bullet at a 50yrd average.Any help would be most appreciated.

Do you own a reloading manual?

Kestral · 03-04-2011, 03:09 AM

Yes, Thank you I do,but its good I think to find out other peoples trials & experiments if any, as so many will be using the end results.and keeping on the side of caution seems a good idea to me.If you prefer that I just use the manual and dont bother asking questions just say so outright,not sniddy as it seems to be.

JLA · 03-04-2011, 08:05 AM

I have worked up several similar loads kes, but none with the full WC bullet. I always lean to SWC, RN and HP designs because i dislike the reduced case capacity a full WC leaves you with.. Does make for some economical shooting tho...

ozo · 03-04-2011, 08:09 AM

Easy......

Kestral · 03-04-2011, 09:35 AM

Thank you Gentlemen for your thoughtful replies.My problem is that we have 82 members of our Sunday morning pistol club,( they dont all come at the sametime)and they always leave it to me as the oldest member( in age that is ) to try everything 1st.This is why,I check out the manual,then ask as well, just in case anyone has had any problems,or as asked already, have worked out a good/safe load.As it appears it seems to be felt that it might not be such a good idea to use w/c as is, but to use bullets that dont seat so deeply.This I appreciated,and I will proceed with caution in trying various types until a satisfactory round is produced.

JLA · 03-04-2011, 10:00 AM

I tell ya soemthin i did try once with some HBWCs... I put a charge for a DEWC in the case and seated the HBWC upside down and had one hell of a hollowpoint! Fired into a bucket of water it flattened to about 1.5 inches in diameter and splashed all the water out of the bucket. No recoil whatsoever and they were loaded in magnum cases... Cool sheeeeiiiittt!!

woolleyworm · 03-04-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JLA

I have worked up several similar loads kes, but none with the full WC bullet. I always lean to SWC, RN and HP designs because i dislike the reduced case capacity a full WC leaves you with.. Does make for some economical shooting tho...

i shoot 38WC's and there's even less room in them, so I'm not too worried about a 357 case. I just like the crisp round holes they punch ! They're pretty impressive on soft materials as you stated too, just not much on penetrating power.

Daughter loves the 32SWL WC's, just a little pop and almost no recoil in the SP101. They're almost point of aim outa that 3" barrel too, so it's been good for her sight picture development.

JLA · 03-04-2011, 10:31 AM

nice!

Sandman · 03-04-2011, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kestral

Yes, Thank you I do,but its good I think to find out other peoples trials & experiments if any, as so many will be using the end results.and keeping on the side of caution seems a good idea to me.If you prefer that I just use the manual and dont bother asking questions just say so outright,not sniddy as it seems to be.

I don't think he was telling you to use the manual and leave the rest of us alone. Whether or not you had a manual was the first thing that popped into my mind as well, because of the way the question was worded. The guys on this forum are generally very safety conscious and want to make sure that someone doesn't just take advice without verifying that it is okay in a manual.

Kestral · 03-04-2011, 01:19 PM

Thank you Sandman for giving me the other side of the original answer,My apologies then to Carver.I must admit I did take it as if I was a complete dumbo,and should have looked at the manual first.I now understand however how easy it is to make mistakes,and that was one of them.Best regards to you all for putting me right.

03-03-2011, 09:17 AM	#1
Kestral V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Guernsey Channel Islands Posts: 355	357mag cases We have been shooting many 1000s of 357mag over the last couple of years,but with the price now going ever upward,the lads are thinking of reloading.We have access to Unique & Bullseye, and of course 1000s of empty cases.and would like to ask if anyone has a load sorted out that would use a 357case,standard pistol primer,& 38spec solid base 148 grn W.C bullet at a 50yrd average.Any help would be most appreciated. -->

03-03-2011, 09:45 AM	#2
woolleyworm TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: SW Fort Worth Contributor Posts: 4,883	Re: 357mag cases I'm working up some of the very same loads myself. I ended up with 1500 wadcutters and a freebie pound of Unique. I won't be able to shoot any of the test loads until the end of next week, but I'll keep ya posted on what I find. I'll be shooting them from a Ruger BH-6.5"barrel and a SecSix -6" barrel. __________________ . What are you gonna do, talk the alien to death? -- (on Sigourney Weaver's worry about Guns in Aliens) "Safety is something that happens between your ears, not something you hold in your hands." "I carry a small gun to compensate for my huge Blue press." .

03-04-2011, 03:09 AM	#4
Kestral V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Guernsey Channel Islands Posts: 355	Re: 357mag cases Yes, Thank you I do,but its good I think to find out other peoples trials & experiments if any, as so many will be using the end results.and keeping on the side of caution seems a good idea to me.If you prefer that I just use the manual and dont bother asking questions just say so outright,not sniddy as it seems to be.

03-04-2011, 08:05 AM	#5
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: 357mag cases I have worked up several similar loads kes, but none with the full WC bullet. I always lean to SWC, RN and HP designs because i dislike the reduced case capacity a full WC leaves you with.. Does make for some economical shooting tho... __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-04-2011, 08:09 AM	#6
ozo Advanced Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nashville TN Posts: 2,770	Re: 357mag cases Easy...... __________________ http://www.nranews.com/#/nranews, "ozo. you're off your rocker sir." -johnlives4christ http://www.prisonplanet.com/ -America,Bless GOD-

03-04-2011, 09:35 AM	#7
Kestral V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Guernsey Channel Islands Posts: 355	Re: 357mag cases Thank you Gentlemen for your thoughtful replies.My problem is that we have 82 members of our Sunday morning pistol club,( they dont all come at the sametime)and they always leave it to me as the oldest member( in age that is ) to try everything 1st.This is why,I check out the manual,then ask as well, just in case anyone has had any problems,or as asked already, have worked out a good/safe load.As it appears it seems to be felt that it might not be such a good idea to use w/c as is, but to use bullets that dont seat so deeply.This I appreciated,and I will proceed with caution in trying various types until a satisfactory round is produced.

03-04-2011, 10:00 AM	#8
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: 357mag cases I tell ya soemthin i did try once with some HBWCs... I put a charge for a DEWC in the case and seated the HBWC upside down and had one hell of a hollowpoint! Fired into a bucket of water it flattened to about 1.5 inches in diameter and splashed all the water out of the bucket. No recoil whatsoever and they were loaded in magnum cases... Cool sheeeeiiiittt!! __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-04-2011, 10:31 AM	#10
JLA TFF Moderator/Host Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Heart Of Texas Contributor Posts: 17,319	Re: 357mag cases nice! __________________ It takes 43 muscles to frown, 17 to smile, and 3 for proper trigger squeeze. The latest caliber or gear is no substitute for experience and skill. Rifles and cartridges don't make hits -- shooters do. Fact of life: After Monday and Tuesday, even the calendar says WTF!

03-04-2011, 01:19 PM	#12
Kestral V.I.P. Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Guernsey Channel Islands Posts: 355	Re: 357mag cases Thank you Sandman for giving me the other side of the original answer,My apologies then to Carver.I must admit I did take it as if I was a complete dumbo,and should have looked at the manual first.I now understand however how easy it is to make mistakes,and that was one of them.Best regards to you all for putting me right.