Sierra Jacketed Hollow Cavity Bullets

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Overkill777

New member
I went to my local store to get some 158 grain XTP to load up some defensive type loads for my 357 magnum. They were out of the XTP but I found these Sierra 158 gr JHC:

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/8360/357-dia-38-cal-158-gr-JHC

I am working up a load using IMR 4227 and winchester magnum primers. Anyone use hollow cavity bullets? It says they are designed for quick expansion so I think they will work well for my application. I couldn't find much info on them out there.
 
You did well.

Sierra might be the most underrated handgun bullet manufacturer.

110's, 125's, 140's, 158's, and even 170's. They are all well designed.

As for the 158's with IMR 4227, Sierra 5th has no data for it :-(

It does have 4227 data for the 170gn though (14.5gn - 15.6gn).
 
Bullet base to cannelure

I meant to mention before updating the last post:

With the Hornady XTP 158, the distance from the base of the bullet to the center of the cannelure is .370".

With the Sierra JHC 158, the distance from the base of the bullet to the center of the cannelure is .345".

The result is a net increase of internal case space by .025" with the Sierras. So if you have a specific load recipe with the XTPs, chances are, you're not quite going to get as much velocity (or pressure) with the Sierras. Of course, do your work ups as usual. But ending up with slightly more powder with the Sierras to get the same performance is the likely possibility.
 
I like Sierra's JSPs better (I'm more a fan of penetration), but their JHCs are very well made, accurate projectiles. MY .357 has to do more than one job, so I can't optimize it for expansion in thin-skinned targets with a fast-expanding projectile (I may have to shoot through a windshield or car door, for example), but if I could, I'd probably use their JHC for defense.
 
Sierra bullets are good bullets. I've shot a lot of them in the past. My preferred bullet up until a month ago was the Hornady XTPs. After using the Nosler Revolver Bullets in 158g JHP, I've learned to like them better. They shoot a bit better out of all my 357s including my max. You're not going to get what you're looking for with 4227 in the mag. It takes a max case to get it to where it needs to be. There are better powders for the mag than 4227.....although it's one of my favorite powders in the max and my 45-70s.
 
Yeah i got the 4227 because that's all I could find at the time. I worked up to 15.5 gr and accuracy is very good.

I scored a couple pounds of h110 today though, so I think i will use it with the sierra 158 gr flat points for a hunting bullet.
 
those bullets are pretty sweet and hold together well. i just did a run of the exact bullet with the same powder. let me find my expansion pic. hold on a sec.
here ya go, tough bullet and expands way past .50




i think they are great bullets for a 3" plus barrel and good for HD. i agree with the above about preferring the JSP, but only if i were using for hunting purposes. the jsp mushrooms beautifully and smoothly with lots of good penetration, but i would want that much penetration for an SD round, i would rather have the energ stay in the body than have a good exit wound. but we all have ifferet preferences for different reasons, and none of us are any more correct than anyone else. either way, good bullet and good powder.

i run 15.0gr of 4227 witth taht bullet. manual shows 14.5-16.0max. the above poster said he thinks sierra has the most underrated pistol bullets out there, i dunno, but their 90gr sportmaster has got to be the most wicked .380 HP i have ever seen. and i love all their half-jacket magnum bullets, every one i have tested has stayed together almost perfectly and never lost it's cup
 
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No constant but change...

Looks like the JHCs they make now are tougher than the ones I remember. May have to test-drive a batch of them again.
 
I don't think they're underrated, they're just kinda' pricy. XTPs are more affordable, so they get more press.

Anyone have a minimum velocity rating (for expansion) for the Sierra 158 JHC?
 
Sorry to bring back an older thread but I have a relevant question.

I worked up a load using H110 and the Sierra JHC. I like 16.0 gr H110, but I shot up to 16.3 gr H110 (sierra manual max) which showed no signs of over pressure.

So I finally got some XTPs and wanting to try them out I started working up. I got to 15.0 gr H110 and I got some cases sticking in the cylinder. Not stuck bad, but they didn't just slide right out like usual.

This load is under the hornady manual max of 15.6 gr and the hodgdon max of 16.7 gr with this bullet and powder.

Is it normal for one type of bullet to show signs of pressure below published max while another bullet of the same weight can go all the way to published max just fine?

Does this have to do with what Nick_C_S was saying about distance to cannelure?

I may be being over paranoid when it comes to the cases sticking, I am just trying to be careful.
 
What revolver are you shooting? I have run 158 XTP's at Hodgdon max out of my GP-100 with no problem. I don't see a problem with your loads in any modern .357 (and they're all "modern" as far as firearms design and metallurgy). Cases don't necessarily have to drop out without assistance.
 
Would be good defense bullet. I'd prefer it over the XTP for that. The words "rapid expansion" wouldn't make it a first choice for deer hunting, where I'd opt for the XTP, but that's not your stated intent.
 
Sorry to bring back an older thread but I have a relevant question.
Click to expand...

It's your thread. You can do that ;)

(abbreviated) Sierra JHC shot up to 16.3 gn H110 (sierra manual max) which showed no signs of over pressure.

XTPs, got to 15.0 gn H110 and some cases sticking in the cylinder. This load is under the hornady manual max of 15.6 gn.

Is it normal for one type of bullet to show signs of pressure below published max while another bullet of the same weight can go all the way to published max just fine?
Click to expand...

"Normal" is a matter of perspective. But it is not all that unusual. That's why we do load work ups.

Does this have to do with what Nick_C_S was saying about distance to cannelure?
Click to expand...

It might play a role. I don't have any Hornady 110's to measure. But I would suspect that their construction design is similar to the 158's. Less case volume will increase the burn rate. It would explain why Hornady's load data has a lower powder charge than Sierra. But it is just speculation at this point.

I may be being over paranoid when it comes to the cases sticking, I am just trying to be careful.
Click to expand...

You should. Sticking cases is cause for concern. When I do a load work up with 357 and the cases start to stick, I don't go any further. Keep an eye on your primers too, and see if they're flattening.

I might try a few more at 15.0 gn. Maybe something strange happened with that batch.
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It's worth a second try. Obviously, since this is a re-test of ammo that had sticky cases, you'll want to be real careful and accurate with your charges. And I wouldn't load a lot of them - maybe a cylinder's worth. It also may not be a bad idea to do a few at 14.8gn and try those first.
 
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With the Hornady XTP 158, the distance from the base of the bullet to the center of the cannelure is .370".

With the Sierra JHC 158, the distance from the base of the bullet to the center of the cannelure is .345".
Click to expand...

That is not the case with the bullets I have. Set both bullets on their bases, the cannelures line up within half a cannelure width. The Sierra has slightly more length behind the cannelure.
158 jhc, 158 xtp.
 
Good Bullet, Not So Sure About the Powder

Frankly, I do not generally like IMR 4227 with the .357 - has given me more variable results than other powders.

Checked my log and saw that many years ago I loaded that exact Sierra JHC bullet with 4227 and it seemed to work fairly well, but identical load with a Hornady 158g JSP bullet (do not know the exact one) was absolutely TERRIBLE (not too many details, but my note in the log says "SUCKS! Really!!"). Problem was probably different base length or something like that changing the case volume, but I did not get those huge variations with the same two bullets when using 296 or 2400.

IMR 4227 is also one of the most expensive magnum powders per weight, so when I added those two things together, I just started avoiding it. Still have most of that original 1 lb can sitting on the shelf.
 
That is not the case with the bullets I have.
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My information was based on the data on bullet dimensions I keep. I do these measurements for each bullet I use and document them for future use. It often comes in handy; but that's for another post.

Unfortunately, I don't have any Sierra 158 JHC's to re-check. I have almost 600 of 158 XTP's though :). Maybe I'll pick up a box of them and do a re-measure - it's not like they'll go to waste. I remember the difference being visually substantial - but that's just memory.
 
With the Hornady XTP 158, the distance from the base of the bullet to the center of the cannelure is .370".

With the Sierra JHC 158, the distance from the base of the bullet to the center of the cannelure is .345".
Click to expand...

I stand corrected.

I went to my LGS today and bought some Sierra 158 JHC's to measure. Yeah, I actually spent $23 to take a cannelure measurement :D. I didn't need them, but I'll use them eventually.

I set the Sierra 158 JHC right next to a Hornady XTP, and the cannelures aligned right up. So where did I go so wrong? I looked up my records, and the Sierra bullet I was referencing was a Jacketed Soft Point. Oops. Sorry.

Looks like my original post is too old to edit.
 
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