Bullets for .357 Magnum rifle.

[Vaquero]

Thanks Ed.
Considering gas checks too.
You got an opinion on bullet works cast stuff out of Breckenridge?

 

[Charlie]

Vaquero, I did some reading on early hollowpoints (jacketed). Seemed they didn't mushroom as they wanted because the jackets were too high up on the ogive. That may work out great on the ones I sent you as their jackets are high up next to the lead and may allow the bullet to penetrate the shoulder of the hog more before they expand. Just a thought.

 

[Vaquero]

Vaquero, I did some reading on early hollowpoints (jacketed). Seemed they didn't mushroom as they wanted because the jackets were too high up on the ogive. That may work out great on the ones I sent you as their jackets are high up next to the lead and may allow the bullet to penetrate the shoulder of the hog more before they expand. Just a thought.

Sounds good!
I hope to know something tomorrow.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Thanks Ed.
Considering gas checks too.
You got an opinion on bullet works cast stuff out of Breckenridge?

I'm not familiar with them, but if they're made here- they gotta be good.
Really, of the stuff made here or used to be: Oehler chronos, Texan reloader presses, some commercial reloaded ammo folks,
a few custom gun builders, a couple of bullet casters.... Ya don't hear much bad about any of them.

All my casting gear was RCBS, a few Saeco items, a big handfull of Lyman items, Midway flux, and Hornady gas checks.
Between all the dies, sizer/lube press, lubes, molds & handles, etc., I have nothing but good words for any of them.

For mass produced cast bullets, the machines are pretty much automated.
Once its set up and adjusted- ya hit the 'go' button, take finished products out the far end, and they're all perfect.

 

[orbitup]

Here is where I got my 44 bullets.

Leadheads

 

[Vaquero]

Brief update.

Hornady xtp
Sierra semi jacket hp
Magtech semi jacket sp

All rounds exceeded 1700 fps with no signs of high pressure.
As indicated, I fired through a 16oz water bottle, 1" pine board and 1/2 gallon jug of water.

158gr xtp- shards of lead and copper jacket imbedded in pine board. Impressive hole in board. Half gallon jug destroyed.
No slug found in stop box. Exploded,

Sierra 150gr hp- water jugs and board destroyed. No remnants of projectile found. Exploded.

Gemtech 158gr sp- All media penetrated and destroyed. Jacket seperated 5" into stop box. Nicely expanded lead core found just adjacent. We have a winner!

More in depth report and pictures due tomorrow.

 

[orbitup]

Cool. Looking forward to the pics.

 

[Vaquero]

Oh,
4"Ruger Blackhawk = 1100 fps
Rossi m92 20" = 1700 fps

Exact same loads.
Got a lot of chrono data to digest and cipher on.

 

[Younggun]

Testing bullets is fun.

 

[Vaquero]

Testing bullets is fun.

It really is.
I need a sand box. That damp clay is messy.

 

[Charlie]

You ruined one of the bullets I sent you .................... shame on you!

 

[Vaquero]

Ok guys. The numbers are in. All cases were trimed to spec so crimp pressure would be consistent. All rounds were loaded with 15.0 grains of H110, winchester small pistol magnum primers. Pictures will be in following posts due to an ornery tablet.

Hornady XTP 158gr
avg. 1741, sd 35.54, ft lb 1050
(for some reason 30% of these loads will not chamber in the rifle or revolver. I just measured a few bullets out of the box. All were .357)

Sierra sjhp 150gr
avg. 1749, sd 26.38, ft lb 1020
(no cycling issues)

Magtech jsp 158gr
avg. 1690, sd 18.10, ft lb 1000
(no cycling issues)


HORNADY, SIERRA, MAGTECH
left to right.

 

[Vaquero]

the remnants of the xtp.
these shards are all I could really find.

 

[Vaquero]

recovered magtech. I washed the muddy clay off and weighed these.
147.2 gr retained.

the catch box was made of 1/2" pine and filled with native soil, so I expect a bit better weight retention on flesh and bone targets.

Now to work towards accuracy.

 

[Winger Ed.]

Brief update.


Gemtech 158gr sp- All media penetrated and destroyed. Jacket seperated 5" into stop box. Nicely expanded lead core found just adjacent. We have a winner!
.

I found 158s are the deal in .357 rifle, mine anyway.
Like 180 gr. .30-06- they are just a good all around fit.