Long range 357 magnum - bullet weight?

[boff180]

357mag at the moment (Uberti do the low wall in this calibre)

I don't want to mess around with Black Powder therefore due to the range velocity limit (2150fps) I'm also limited by my calibrate choices to essentially 357mag, 44spl, 44-40 or 38-55

Ideally I don't want to acquire equipment for yet another calibre therefore, if it's viable, 357mag fits the bill. However if more suitable 44spl might also although this would require adjusting my 44mag set up to make rounds.

Hopefully that logic makes sense.

Andy

[thibben]

Andy,

My 'gut' would say go for a heavier bullet and a bit more speed. Personally I would not load a 73 action up to the gills.

By limiting yourself to another 357 in the low wall you might be restricting 'other things'.

If you went for the 38-55 Low Wall you can easily do 100 yards but if you had the opportunity it could be loaded to work very well at longer distances, people use this case for silhouette shooting and that's out to 500m, but the weight of the low wall would make full loads a bit unpleasant so somewhere in between.

If wanting to stay with one cartridge then heavier bullets in both the 73 and Low Wall for the longer range,

BTW you state the MV limit, what is the energy limit out of interest, 2150 is pretty darn quick for a 357

Brgds Terry

[boff180]

Thanks for the advice, the long range load would be for the low wall but all I have to test it in at the moment is the 73... I don't want to buy the gun to find I can't shoot it accurately at the range I want.

The muzzle energy limit is 1496ftlb... its primarily a muzzle loader/pistol range.

The Lyman reloading manual details 357mag rifle loads for H110 for 125/140grn bullets in excess of 2,300fps

[JB101]

Back in he day for long range pistol I used 158 jsp and 2400 powder

[enfield2band]

Thanks for the advice, the long range load would be for the low wall but all I have to test it in at the moment is the 73... I don't want to buy the gun to find I can't shoot it accurately at the range I want.

The muzzle energy limit is 1496ftlb... its primarily a muzzle loader/pistol range.

The Lyman reloading manual details 357mag rifle loads for H110 for 125/140grn bullets in excess of 2,300fps

You don't need that kind of velocity for 100 yards. I shoot on a 100 yard range with a .357". For the lead bullet, 158gr I use 6.8 grains of Unique. The book says the velocity is 1,200fps.
I use copper jacketed hollow point for foxes (158 grain bullet) and I use 7.2 grains of Unique.

Accuracy is good for both loads.

I could swap to a 125 grain bullet for either load and I would expect a velocity of about 1,600fps. Both loads that I use are fine by me so I don't see any point developing another load/bullet combination.

.38" loads in a .357" magnum case are not very good. I have tried them. If you are using a .357" then i would select a load to suit it.

[simgre]

.38" loads in a .357" magnum case are not very good. I have tried them. If you are using a .357" then i would select a load to suit it.

Been loading "special" data in .357 and .44 magnum cases for nearly 30 years now in revolvers, semi auto pistols, carbines and rifles. Absolutely no appreciable difference in either. All things being equal using the magnum cases over the shorter ones give a very slightly higher velocity. May very well be due to the volume of gas that stays within the case prior to movement of the bullet. Has the added advantage of a shorter free bore to the leade and no objectionable ring of residue in the chamber with shorter cases. The final trade off is just a different powder to up the power level.

Aliant 2400 I found best for full house .357 with H110 a close second. Worked the other way round in .44.

[tacfoley]

Been loading "special" data in .357 and .44 magnum cases for nearly 30 years now in revolvers, semi auto pistols, carbines and rifles. Absolutely no appreciable difference in either. All things being equal using the magnum cases over the shorter ones give a very slightly higher velocity. May very well be due to the volume of gas that stays within the case prior to movement of the bullet. Has the added advantage of a shorter free bore to the leade and no objectionable ring of residue in the chamber with shorter cases. The final trade off is just a different powder to up the power level.

Aliant 2400 I found best for full house .357 with H110 a close second. Worked the other way round in .44.

Good post, this one.

Re: .38-55 - the usual bullet for this calibre is a 200 - 240gr Postell-type, but it is a finicky cartridge to say the least. Much experimentation can be needed to work up to a good load, and bullet moulds are not so easy to find this side of the ocean. It really is a long-range shooter - out to 600 yards, with fancy compressed loads of duplex powder, wads and perfect bullets necessary to get good results.

tac

[Simon_S]

I use a 3gr Tightgroup with a 180gr tc in my 357mag very good at 50m but would drop like brick at 100.
3 gr is the start load for 170gr 38spe.