125 gr flat point plated 357

[Waterboy3313]

I went to local sports shop to pick up some 158gr lead cast semi wad cutters that I have been using for a while now with great results. What I wanted was gone along with just about everything else on the shelf. I've been thinking about changing over to a coated or plated bullet for a while but I like to stick with what works for me. Generally I punch paper or ring steel out to 50-60 yards just plinking.

I grabbed a box of 125 gr flat point plated bullets pretty much my only option available locally today. I really dislike to change up what works and it looks like I will be doing a work up this week. Is anyone using a 125gr flat point plated bullet with titegroup? I'm actually surprised to see such a big gap from minimum to maximum powder charge listed for a 125 gr lead bullet.

I would be curious if anyone else is using this bullet/powder combination in a 357 or 38 special and what works for you.

 

[frankmako]

i use to use the 125 fp berry plated and 125 sierra fp in a marlin 1894cb (24 inch barrel). 5.8 of titegroup was my load for nra pistol cartridge silhouette matches.

 

[Waterboy3313]

I did a very small work up on a 125 gr Hornady XTP bullet and 5.7gr Titegroup and it flattened the primers so bad I was scared to use the few I had left.

 

[PO2Hammer]

No Unique?

 

[Waterboy3313]

No Unique?

No I'm pretty new to reloading I'm only about half way through my second pound of titegroup. It's all I really know but it works good in my pistols for my intended use. I kind of like that old saying "If its not broken don't fix it."

I need to experiment more with different powders and different bullets but keeping things that work make life a little easier. Maybe after this bottle is gone I will try something else.

 

[frankmako]

I did a very small work up on a 125 gr Hornady XTP bullet and 5.7gr Titegroup and it flattened the primers so bad I was scared to use the few I had left.

did you chronograph the load. i never flatten a primer with my 5.8 load. i am shooting a 24 inch lever action rifle. out of a 20 inch rifle barrel i use 6.0 titegroup with the 125 fp bullet. still not a hot load around 1,300 fps. my current load is 6.5 titegroup with 158 hp bullet that runs 1,295 fps in the 24 inch barrel. all loads feel like a 22 mag. also i use mag primers. mag primers give me 20 fps more and a cleaner burn. if you don't have one get a chronograph, they don't cost much and will pay for themself in the long run.

 

[Waterboy3313]

I don't have a chronograph yet. It's definitely on my list of things to buy. I load for 2 different 357 pistols as well as a 45 acp and a 9mm. I've worked up all of my loads in very small increments and have found what seems to work without pushing most loads much higher than middle of min/max recommended charges. I generally gravitate towards heavier bullets over the lighter weights.

The 125gr Hornady XTP bullets I got were in a mixed batch from RMR. I welcomed them as a good reason to try something different than I normally would buy. I didn't really get enough of them to cover a full range work up. Like I mentioned I like to keep in my comfort zone but I really want to try something different. If I had a chronograph I'm sure I would feel a little more comfortable with trying more things. I normally wouldn't buy a bullet like the XTP for my use but the price was right.

 

[SASS#23149]

There are many great sellers of cast bullets, and some offer coated . When you can't find some locally try Brazos.I like that they offer sample packs at a good price, let's you try some without ending up with hundreds if your gun doesn't like it, etc
T&B, and Badman also great to buy from

 

[lordpaxman]

I would be curious if anyone else is using this bullet/powder combination in a 357 or 38 special and what works for you.

I worked up a .38 load with a 125gr plated bullet and 4.4gr Titegroup at 1.445” COL. It was a very mild load at Vavg=789 out of a 6” 686. With the heavy gun the ladies find this load enjoyable.
I did not do any .357 Titegroup workup as I typically run slower powders for the full power loads.
If the online data doesn’t have your bullet, for plated I use a similar jacketed bullet data at the start to mid-range. You mentioned looking at lead data and a wide range - for .357/125gr lead I see 4.0-5.4gr, to me that’s not a wide range. I would urge caution at using lead data for plated since many years ago when plated first came out it was typical to use lead data, and that’s when I stuck one in the barrel with a starting lead load. When I do load for .357 vs .38, the primers do move a bit more, but that’s a magnum. Good luck!

 

[RealGun]

Load data indicates that load should be okay, so if there are pressure signs, the cylinder throats may be tight. Sticky extraction could come with that though. What was that like? Mine are all done to .3575, since I shoot mostly lead bullets.

p.s. fast powders can give sharp recoil at magnum levels, indicating pressure spikes. A lighter load with TG or getting a real magnum powder should make a very noticeable difference. The moderate magnum load I like uses AA7.

 

[Waterboy3313]

You mentioned looking at lead data and a wide range - for .357/125gr lead I see 4.0-5.4gr, to me that’s not a wide range.

I was thinking it was a pretty wide range for Titegroup. Most of the loads I have looked up for Titegroup seems to vary from min/max around 8 tenths of a gr. I was surprised to see a 1.4 gr spread.

Load data indicates that load should be okay, so if there are pressure signs, the cylinder throats may be tight. Sticky extraction could come with that though. What was that like?

I have encountered sticky extractions with 5.9 gr of titegroup with a 158gr LSWC. My GP 100 seems to be ok with 5.7gr.

 

[Bill M.]

I shoot a lot of the Berry plated 125 grain FP with Trail Boss. Sometimes with Titegroup. I get about the same shooting results with both powders and prefer the Trail Boss for loading. I can see it easier in the case. Very light recoil with either powder. The cases are a bit dirtier with the Trailboss.

 

[joneb]

What 125gr plated bullets are these? Is there a max velocity for these bullets?
I mostly use 140-158gr for 357 magnum, 125gr print 2-3" low given a similar pressure, if I use a reduced pressure (lower velocity) with the 125gr bullet the POI rises.
For mild 357 magnum loads with 125gr bullets I use Accurate #5 or W-231, I'm sure there are many powders in this range that work well.

 

[Waterboy3313]

What 125gr plated bullets are these? Is there a max velocity for these bullets?

They are HSW. I normally buy these in 158gr swc and load those to generic lead cast swc with great results. Not much of anything I have found on them. Every time I try to look them up it seems about all I have found goes to Buffalo Bore.

I'm not trying to push these with full Magnum loads. I just want something decent for general plinking. I started getting everything set up to do a work up but only got as far as priming the prepped cases. I figured I would load 6 of each in tenth grain increments from 4.2gr up to 5.0 gr of TG. I hopefully get them done tonight or Saturday for a planned Rance trip early Sunday morning.

I'm thinking this will give me enough info to narrow it down to what works or at least get in the ballpark for more testing.

 

[Riomouse911]

No Unique?

I prefer 6.0 gr Unique and the Berrys 125 Gr plated TCFP. A nice shooting load out of my model 64.
Stay safe.

 

[Waterboy3313]

I had a change of plans. I finished up my work up Friday night and shot them this morning. 4.8gr seems to be the best I found. I shot this at 10 yards. I also noticed this Gp100 is very sensitive to how my finger pulls the trigger.