Just curious... Have any of you handloaded heavy (180 to 200 grain) hardcast bullets in your 357 Magnum revolver(s)?
I just returned from the gun range after shooting Federal Cast Core 180 gr LBT HC bullets, and would like to load Cast Performance Bullets (maker of Federal's Cast Core bullets), and curious if anyone has any experience with the 180 and 200 grainers they make. Which weight did you prefer? BTW my revolver is a stainless Taurus M66 seven-shot 357. I am very pleased with this model. ~~~Suluuq

Suluuq,

I have an old model 357 blackhawk that I've been shooting 200 gr cast out of. My mold is actually Cast Performances old production mold. I killed my chrony with an errant gas check from the 480, so don't know how fast they are going. The gun isn't the most accurate, or rather, not nearly as accurate as my 480, but shoots the 200's as well as any other bullet.

I figure in the 357, heavier is better, so like the 200's.

If you want to try some of the 200's, I can send some up your way. I don't think I have your p/o box handy, so pm or e-mail it me.

Rusty - I've shot probably every weight bullet made for the .357 bore and was really never impressed by anything over about 170 gr. The heavier the bullet, the more recoil...naturally. And then there is the decrease in velocity and worsened trajectory. I just never saw the pay off frankly.

There is a wonderful 170gr SWC bullet for .357 that I can't think of the number off the top of my head, but I always loaded it when I wanted a serious bullet in my pistols. But quite frankly I never saw it do anything a 150 gr bullet wouldn't do. I've got a 150 gr SWC (again I can't recall the number as I have not cast any in several years) but it was the most accurate and best all around bullet in both .357 and 38 Special alike.

Paul - I just refreshed my memory that you're from Alaska. You may wish to refute my comments about the heavy bullets. Feel free. What I wrote was certainly true for my neck of the woods. New Mexico is the land of the long shots and you need all the velocity and flat trajectory you can get. Extra bullet weight has little value down here.

Poking around in country with critters as large as Alaska...where long shots are probably NOT the order of the day...may indeed give merit to heavier bullets.

However, I'm still a little skeptical of any advantage over 170 gr bullet. JMHO

Though I haven't worked with many different 200 grain loads in a .357, I've always done well with 15.5 grains of W296 (only in a Ruger Blackhawk). With a 6.5" barrel, velocity is around 1,220 fps and it groups well.

Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com

FWIW contact Jim Taylor on his site-sixgunner.com and see if you can get to his archived articles. His partner in crime Paco Kelly has extensively shot critters with 180 and 200 grainers for years. Presently the archived articles can not be accessed, maybe he will send you the stuff. Personally, 357's are better defense rounds and I have more potent stuff at hand for handgun hunting.

I use a 180 grain LBT WFNGC and think it ideal over heavy loads of H110. It lifts the 357 into a plausible if not ideal deer and pig round for those who don't need lightning like kills. I still like more oomph and typically use a 44 in a revolver and 357 max in contender.

regards,
Graycg

Thanks for the replies.
On another note, I'm not too fond of the rubber grips that came with my revolver (too thin and deep front to back for my hands), and have made a 'prototype' set of laminated wood. Knowing what mistakes I made on this set I'll take better care reproducing a nicer set soon.
BTW I have two sets of loading dies, but NO shell holder! Anyone wanna sell a spare? ~~~Suluuq