200 Grainers for .357--load data?

[Cosmoline]

I picked up some 200 grain Cast Performance slugs for the .357. I've got a little bit of data on them, suggesting 10 grains of 2400 or 6 grains of Unique. I'm inclined to give the 2400 a try but I'm posting to see if anyone else has worked up loads for these bullets.

 

[loadedround]

Cosmo, I did some searching and have found the following reloading data in an older Alliant brochure. Loads are for 200 gr Lead bullets in the 357 mag:
Unique 6.0 gr @1105 fps
2400 10.0 gr @1245 fps

38 Special:
Unique 3.6 gr @780 fps
2400 7.1 gr @890 fps (+P load)
These loads are to be considered MAXIMUM loads and I suggest you back off 10% and work up. Hope this helps you out.

 

[Landric]

1245 fps seems pretty optimistic for 10 grains of 2400. I only got 862 fps with 9.5 grains and a 200 grain Lyman 358430 out of a 4" L-frame. 13 grains of 2400 got 1155 fps out of the same gun.

 

[Starter52]

6.0 Unique sounds like a good safe load in a .357 revolver.

 

[Cosmoline]

Thanks!

 

[_N4Z_]

http://www.diyballistics.com/.357 Mag Carbine Tests.html

bottom of the above report is testing of 200gr hardcast .357mag from carbine. dude used lil-gun powder. don't know how much this will help you, but its interesting.

 

[Cosmoline]

From the test N4Z posted:

50 yard impact velocity should be around 1350 and energy should be 809 ft/lbs. The amount of penetration I got from this round was surprising, but may have been due to warm temperatures making the test material softer than usual. Still, at 50 yards, this bullet went right through a 10" test block and another 5" of paraffin blocks. I was not able to recover the bullet, but I'm guessing by the diameter of the cavity that expansion was minimal and weight retention high.

This is the third report I've seen of outstanding penetration from these CP 200's. Another account in the midway reviews reported penetration on par with a mid-weight .44 Mag. I may end up using them as my backup bear load.