Chronied today.

19.0 grains of WC-820 averages about 1980 FPS.
18.5 gives just over 1900 fps and a little better accuracy
19.0 grains of H-110 gave about 1800 and the best group of the day, but only by a hair.

All groups shot from a 22" barrel H&R rechambered to .357 Max. Rem brass, Win SR primers, C358-180-RF water quenched.

Fifty yard groups running very consistent, 7/8" to 1 1/2" and I think I pulled one in the biggest group.

I can't wait to test loads in the 10 and 14" barrels. I got 1750 fps out of the 10" with 180 SSSP and 20.4 of my lot of WC820 (this load can NOTR be fired in hot weather (just like the H110 warning in the Hornady Manaul says).

Thanks. I'm following this closely.

How does your NEF's barrel handle lead at that velocity (close to 2000 fps)?

Hobie, no sign of leading, no deterioration of accuracy in 60-80 rounds. Not even slight signs of high pressure. I suspect I could shoot for days or weeks without bothering to clean it. I did once put a thousand rounds of old .38 Special WC down it in two afternoons, and all it really needed after that was to have the chamber brushed out.

However, I am not shooting an NEF. I'm shooting an H&R of late '80s vintage. There have been changes since then and I am not sure how my results would translate to a current NEF. Additionally, my bore has had a good many thousand rounds down it, overwhelmingly mild cast bullet loads. My guess is that it is at that sweet stage of very well broken in but not having even slight erosion.

I'm very well pleased with this bullet. My groups at 1900 fps average at most 1/4" larger than the WC loads that have been the most accurate for many years. I really could stop right here and be happy.

I'm even happier. Detected a minor amount of play in the buttstock and tightened the through bolt up. Fliers went away. Shot group after group with 19.0 grains of WC-820 at 50 yards, and never got a group that I could not touch the two widest holes with a quarter. I'm about 125 rounds away from the last cleaning and have no signs I need to clean anytime soon.

I think I'm done. I'm sitting on about 15 pounds of WC-820, the rifle is shooting this load as well as it has ever shot anything, and I'm pushing a 180 grain cast bullet at just under 2000 fps.

I love that WC820. I wish I'd have found out about it 10 years ago.

I have went though at least 20# of WC820 in the last 4-5 yrs. Most of it in .357 mag, 30-20,44 mag and some in milsurp rifle loads. I still have 20 or so lbs left. The load with the C358-180-RF is 11.5gr of 820 in my 10 inch Contender .357 mag, very accurate out to 200yd rams in NRA sillywet. Recoil isn't bad and it takes the rams over with ease. The sight settings are easy to remember too, up 10 clks from chickens to pigs, 10 more for turkeys, and 10 more for rams. I love that new mould, I can empty my 20# pot in no time and end up with about 600 perfect bullets. A lot faster then my 2 cavity RCBS 180 Sil and its more accurate in my .357's.

Pb head

Owing to the extreme foresightedness, and unmatched generosity of one of our fellow boadr members, who shall remain unnamed - NOT! It was Courtney Plater! - I aquired one of these molds.
After my first casting session - Man, they pile up quickly, do't they? - I thought those bullets looked familiar... They are!
While LAR might have been their daddy, the momma is surely the LEE 315gr gc .44 bullet. They are a near spittin' image! Small differences allowed due to lineage.
I can't wait to see what they'll do out of the 10" Contender!

Sounds like you've done well! Sorry about mis-IDing your rifle. That's what I get typing too fast and thinking too little.