Here's the deal. I traded my revolver for a 12"///357 contender. Went to the range today with some ammo I had loaded for the revolver. I love the 158 double struck plinker bullet from berry's mfg. I had loaded them for the revolver with 12.0 AA9. THE PROBLEM is these thin jacketed bullets aren't supposed to run over 1200 fps or you risk tearing them apart. I found they were chrono'ing at 1330 but were tack driving with no signs of coming apart. I can't find any data that says I can go lower than 12.0 of AA9 for the 158 jacketed bullet. Do I risk any problems dropping to 10.5-11.0 like a detonation load? Or is there another powder I should look at. It's kind of a wierd problem...with the revolver trying for 1200 was starting to show pressure with sticky extraction...now with the contender I'm trying to slow down to that.

why?

In 4-5 years here I've seen some crazy answers but I can't even begin to imagine what the last poster is trying to say.

quote:

I found they were chrono'ing at 1330 but were tack driving with no signs of coming apart

That is why I ask why..

you have a load that is ver yaccurate and with no signs of malfunction,, why do you want to change it..
Now can you imagine it?

Or perhaps you are reading the sig I have at the bottom of my postings and think it is part of my answer to you,, if so I can see why you would think it was a crazy response.

I guess I should put something around it so that it does not appear that way..

There does that look better?

blue dot or 2400 will get you where you need to be. as will unique. just use top-end .38 special +p load data.

Bucko..yes it was your signature that upset me...I thought it was part of your post. Re the question why...the answer was in my post. The manufacturer states they should not be run over 1200 fps or they may come apart. These are bullets designed to be cheap and accurate....plus cleaner in the barrel because they do have a jacket. (about $.08 ea). When I got the contender I called them when my quicklod program said they would most likely be faster. (I had 250 of them loaded up and certainly didn't want to pull them down.) They were emphatic that anything over 1200 fps could be bad news.
I want to get them down from the 1330 to about 1225 for extra insurance (on the next batch)even though it appears they are holding together.
Re the accuracy my red dot covers about 1.2" at 25 yds. My first 5 shots of this stuff went into .8" center to center so I am thrilled with my "Plinking" bullet. The recoil is minimal and the gun will be a joy to hand over to the wife and friends to take a few shots and may get some more people liking the handgun shooting sports.

quote:

Originally posted by delloro:
... 2400 will get you where you need to be. ..

+1 "2400" might burn a bit dirty, but it downloads very well.

Kraky, My prefered powders for the 357 and 158s are blue Dot and Lil' Gun, but they'd probably be alittle fast for you as well.

Two powders that have proven good results for me at slower velocities are AA5744 and Herco. May want to give either of those a try.

Good Luck

Reloader

Why not just use a .38 SPCL load?

https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2511043/m/846106578