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357 Magnum, Help with "Mid-Power" reloads.
- Thread starter nitro-express
- Start date
nitro-express
New member
Lyman 358156 GC; The "Charm"
I got myself a Stainless (not new) Vaquero in 44 Mag and that has kept me busy. I had a heck of a time trying to find a load for it, one that wouldn't lead. I finally settled on a couple of loads that work nice, no leading to speak of and decently accurate, minute of cowboy for sure. The 2 bullets that work for me are a Lyman 429434 GC and a 429421. I can cast the -434 as soft as 11 before leading become an issue, I use 11.3 gr of WW 571 for it. That's also about as low as I can go before it starts to give me grief. It chronos at a hair under 1000 fps, about where I want to be. I cast the "Keith" @ app 15 and load it with 12.+ gr of WW 571 for about the same 1000 fps. I don't like to load this as it is long, jambs up my '92.
So i was thinking, perhaps I could use the same approach on the 357. So I cast up some 358156 bullets, using BHN 14, and holding the sprue to the spout to get as big a bullet as possible. I was able to size and lube with a 359. I loaded them behind 9 gr of WW 571, and it works very well. Not sure what it chronos but it sounds and feels good. Most importantly, no leading.
Thank you Skeeter. And I quote; "My favorite answer to the .357 leading bugaboo has been the use of Lyman's 358156 gascheck bullets, a Ray Thompson design. Properly cast, sized, and lubricated, this semiwadcutter slug approximates the shape of the Phil Sharpe original and sports a copper-shielded base that resists the hot gasses of the magnum powder charges. It is an exceptionally clean-shooting, accurate bullet for both light and heavily stoked .357 cartridges."
I got myself a Stainless (not new) Vaquero in 44 Mag and that has kept me busy. I had a heck of a time trying to find a load for it, one that wouldn't lead. I finally settled on a couple of loads that work nice, no leading to speak of and decently accurate, minute of cowboy for sure. The 2 bullets that work for me are a Lyman 429434 GC and a 429421. I can cast the -434 as soft as 11 before leading become an issue, I use 11.3 gr of WW 571 for it. That's also about as low as I can go before it starts to give me grief. It chronos at a hair under 1000 fps, about where I want to be. I cast the "Keith" @ app 15 and load it with 12.+ gr of WW 571 for about the same 1000 fps. I don't like to load this as it is long, jambs up my '92.
So i was thinking, perhaps I could use the same approach on the 357. So I cast up some 358156 bullets, using BHN 14, and holding the sprue to the spout to get as big a bullet as possible. I was able to size and lube with a 359. I loaded them behind 9 gr of WW 571, and it works very well. Not sure what it chronos but it sounds and feels good. Most importantly, no leading.
Thank you Skeeter. And I quote; "My favorite answer to the .357 leading bugaboo has been the use of Lyman's 358156 gascheck bullets, a Ray Thompson design. Properly cast, sized, and lubricated, this semiwadcutter slug approximates the shape of the Phil Sharpe original and sports a copper-shielded base that resists the hot gasses of the magnum powder charges. It is an exceptionally clean-shooting, accurate bullet for both light and heavily stoked .357 cartridges."
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My all time favorite mid-range load has been 358156 (felix lubed and checked sized to .359) over 10.0/AA#7. I'm currently messin' around with the Lee TL158SWC, powder coated, sized .359 thru a Lee push thru with the same powder and charge. Should feed a Rossi 92 without a hitch - haven't tried it yet. Good accuracy in handguns tested so far.
Skeeter Skelton's old working load (13.5 gr of 2400 with Lyman's 358156 gc bullet) generates 1150+ fps in my guns. 13.0 is just as accurate if that's too much recoil for you...
BTW: I size mine to 0.359" and cast them from Wheel Weights using the old NRA 50-50 lube formula...no leading and great (1.5" gps at 25 yds with good bullets from my Model 19 Smith). With throats at 0.359" and a groove dia. of 0.355", you may have your work cut out for you. I'd suggest sizing to 0.359" as you are, and playing with the alloy.
That gas check will make up for some of the sizing problem, and at 0.359' through the sizing die, I doubt you'll get leading to any extent. In my use, I seldom get the same size with the check as I do with the main, bore riding part of the bullet...the gas check seems to 'bounce back' up to a thousandth or so. If you're sizing to 0.359", I'd expect to see the check emerging at 0.360" unless you anneal it prior to seating. A good source of info on checks, their use and characteristics, are the guys over at Cast Boolit's. Best of luck, and try Skeeter's load, it's worked in every .357 I've worked with. Rod
BTW: I size mine to 0.359" and cast them from Wheel Weights using the old NRA 50-50 lube formula...no leading and great (1.5" gps at 25 yds with good bullets from my Model 19 Smith). With throats at 0.359" and a groove dia. of 0.355", you may have your work cut out for you. I'd suggest sizing to 0.359" as you are, and playing with the alloy.
That gas check will make up for some of the sizing problem, and at 0.359' through the sizing die, I doubt you'll get leading to any extent. In my use, I seldom get the same size with the check as I do with the main, bore riding part of the bullet...the gas check seems to 'bounce back' up to a thousandth or so. If you're sizing to 0.359", I'd expect to see the check emerging at 0.360" unless you anneal it prior to seating. A good source of info on checks, their use and characteristics, are the guys over at Cast Boolit's. Best of luck, and try Skeeter's load, it's worked in every .357 I've worked with. Rod
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