Is the 158 grain 1500 fps

W

WhatRecoil

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A reality in a semi custom loading or a strictly RYO Proposition for 357 mag, in a Ruger GP100.

From my experience and what I've read, 357 is a pussycat from the factory compared to the good old days. I had a buddy who loaded up some 110 HPS that could make a deaf cat jump and run from 50 yards away.....and no I wasn't aiming at the cat!!!

Also in your opinion who makes the quickest speed loaders for the GP100? I'm used to moon clips:D
 
Early claims of a 158 at 1510 fps were based on 8.75" barrels.
Phil Sharpe said the factory bullet, based on his design, could be driven faster than a Keith style.
 
Barrel length really matters in magnum revolvers. Yes, 1500 fps from an 8" or longer barrel is a reality with a lot of loads. Most modern guns don't usually have more than 6" and 1500 fps is unlikely, but possible. DoubleTap and a few others show 1500 fps from 6" barrels. Go to 4" or shorter and it ain't gonna happen.

Some interesting data

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html
 
I've clocked some of my handloads (158 gr hard cast bullet) at 1,500 out of a 6" GP100. For whatever reason, they only clocked in at 1,400 out of my Dan Wesson with a 6" barrel even with a tight barrel gap.
 
The GP100 wll be my new bedside buddy

Now that my 610 has been retired. The 158 grain at 1500 is too much for the house but a 125 grain at true 357 velocity is something I'll be after. Most of the factory offerings are no more than a hot 9mm. Now if you put HSTs in a 9mm I don't see a negative. The 158s would be woods/outdoor fodder choppers

I don't ever use non factory ammo in a self defense load up for obvious reasons. A 6 inch barrel 357 is not a weapon that one should be having to ask performance questions over.

I read somewhere that 357 has lost over 50% of its punch in factory loadings because so many gun makers are constantly shrinking the frame size.

Kind of a quandary but not unsolvable.

Since. GP100s are readily available a moon clip conversion comes to mind as well
 
BB .357 specs:
From Buffalo Bore website:
2. 4 inch S&W L frame Mt. Gun

a. Item 19A/20-180gr. Hard cast LFN = 1375 fps
b. Item 19B/20-170gr JHC = 1411 fps
c. Item 19C/20-158gr. Jacketed Hollow Point = 1485 fps

1485 is close enough to 1500, especially out of a 4 inch barrel.
BB's test results have been alway right on as they test out of actual guns and state the test results specifically.
 
That'll get Er done

I bet a 6 in barrel makes those buffalo bore 158s scream like a mashed harpy and hit like a freight train!! Pricey stuff but I figure about 50 is all I need
 
The highest velocity I've achieved with a 158 is 1320 f/s. That was a Sierra 158 JHC, with 16.6gn W296 (in compliance with Sierra 5th), though a Smith 686 8-3/8". That same round clocks at 1291 f/s through a 686 4", btw.

I have no need or desire to drive a 158 hollow point any harder. It's pointless. Once it's over 1200 f/s, the bullet is going to hit as effectively as it's going to hit. Anything more is going fast just for the sake of going fast.
 
1500 fps 357

Lyman 4th edition cast bullet hand book claims their #358311 160 gr runs 1463fps with a max load of H-110 from a 4" barrel.A 6 incher would I guess put it over 1500.This is their round nose mould.
 
Timothy75 - see my post above. I'm pretty sure that was with 158 gr SWC and 14.8 gr of 2400.

I'm not 100% sure though. That load is my go to load for magnum loads, but I do dabble with other powders as well (H110, Lil Gun, etc.) so it's possible that 1,500 could have been with one of those, but most likely it was the 2400.
 
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A few years ago S&W offered ammo with some impressive velocities. I'll see if I can find the docs.

I have not loaded 158s as I prefer the 125 JHP in the 357. I have taken this bullet to 1725 FPS clocked from a 5" Model 27. Really barks in an indoor range.
 
Does any one happen to know what 15grs of 2400 with a 158swc in a 6'' barrel does in reality?
timothy

I my standard load is 15.5 grs. of 2400 using Lyman 358477 150 gr bullet (actually cast about 155 gr).

In my issued service revolver, a 4 in Model 28, its average velocity is a hair over 1300 (avg 1310 if I remember right), in my 6 1/2 in Model 27 it was a bit faster.

I really don't pay attention to hyper velocity reports. I'm more concerned about control ability and accuracy.

At 1300 my Model 28 works, I can shoot it and over the years I've killed a lot of moose at vehicle vs. moose encounters. Even killed a buffalo with it.

I did find out that when shooting bowling pins I had to back off the powder. As the pins get shot a bit the above load goes right through the pins without knocking them over or taking them off the table.

The same bullet works better on pins between 900-1000 fps.
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Does any one happen to know what 15grs of 2400 with a 158swc in a 6'' barrel does in reality? Thanks
Click to expand...

There is a very sharp crack to go along with the very loud muzzle blast, a decently impressive flash, and the bullet exits with considerable speed!
:D

Beyond that, each gun seems to be an individual on specifically what numbers you will get over the chronograph.

Some time ago, back when I was still using a chrony, a friend brought over his model 19 6", and a 18" Marlin carbine. I supplied a 6" model 28, and a 6" Desert Eagle for comparison.

The ammo used was 125gr JHP and a case full of 2400. (found out later it was a load from the rifle section of the manual).

The results were;
M19 1620 fps
M28 1670 fps
DE 1720 fps

Carbine 2200 fps

Three different 6" guns, 100fps difference between them, shooting the same ammo.

sorry I don't have data for a hot 158, but I would expect a similar pattern. Some guns are slower than others.

The only way to know, precisely what your gun gets with a specific load is to test your gun. Nice to know, but practically meaningless.

I have come to not obsess over a handful of fps. Because, frankly, no matter what the book says, no matter what the maker says, what you or I get from our guns can be different. Almost always close, but if you get exactly what they did, I's consider it serenditipity.
 
Here's an ad from around 1970 and the 158 grain 357 is at 1530 FPS.

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SaxonPig - I have certainly questioned some of your conclusions in the past but that ad is a fascinating exhibit. It would be nice to know the length of their test barrel. Thanks for posting that.
 
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