I feel pretty dumb asking this as I consider myself a good rifle reloader. I recently got my first revolver in a taurus 7 shot .357.
I went to the range today and was clocking only 1000fps (6" barrel) with rem 180's over 13.1 of w296. (30 degree weather)
This should have been a pretty mild load. Anyhow I noticed that the cylinder would sometimes bind/drag as I cycled the next round.
I was thinking the cases were backing out of their holes and rubbing on the frame of the revolver as the cyl went around. Is this a normal "happening"? I could see it with hot loads perhaps but this doesn't seem like a good thing with a possibly hunting gun. I have to admit that the nickel casings seemed a tad greasy even after quite a few rounds. Is it critical to keep the holes in the cylinders spotlessly clean?? Any advice.....thanks Kraky

13.1 is close to a max load and you could be seeing pressure problems if the chambers are tight.
are you crimping? if not the case may not be gripping the walls causing the case to stretch at the base. you can measure befor and after.
usually with over pressure loads the cases are hard to extract.
are the bullets cast or jacked?
If the barrel is ledded that will create some of your problem
1000f/s sounds about right for velocity.
forgot to mention are the primers backed out?
then you are over pressure 35to40K
Dave

I am crimping. I'll check the cases for stretch tommorrow...they are in the tumbler now.
I'll also check for primer backout.
They are jacketed bullets....the barrel was nice and clean when I started.
They extracted easy enough.
I know that's close to a published max load but I thought that the bullets should be doing about 1125-1175 at safe pressure. According to my quickload that velocity window (1125-1175)should only be making about 31K pressure.
I know my owners manual said not to excede 1450 fps with a 158 so I was thinking 1000 fps (even though it's a 180) was really anemic.
Do I need new sources???

Kraky:

Measure the OAL of each of 6 of your reloads. Load your revolver, shoot one or two rounds. Pull the other four and measure the OAL again. If they are longer, your crimp is not strong enough. The bullets may be pulling out due to recoil and dragging on the frame as you cycle the cylinder....

I'd bet this is what is happening.

MKane160

quote:

Originally posted by MKane160:
Kraky:

Measure the OAL of each of 6 of your reloads. Load your revolver, shoot one or two rounds. Pull the other four and measure the OAL again. If they are longer, your crimp is not strong enough. The bullets may be pulling out due to recoil and dragging on the frame as you cycle the cylinder....

I'd bet this is what is happening.

MKane160

yup.....that was my guess as well.

You guys are most likely right. The rem's have alot of lead sticking way out beyond the hornady's I started with. Thanks....I feel like an idiot. The crimp looked good enough but I thought I'd get a little better case life and not risk peeling off some nickel by not being super aggressive.