357 Mag. Rifle Loads w/Swaged Plated Bullets

[dabuehl]

What are some velocity limits using 125 gr. flat nose plated swaged bullets in a Henry rifle 20 inch barrel. I use 2400 power, can you suggest a recipe?

I considered 14 gr. of 2400 with a 125 gr. bullet but I believe that the mv will be too high for the swaged plated bullet.

Need some expertise on this one.

 

[JLDickmon]

most generally, you use lead bullet data for plated bullets..

 

[buck460XVR]

Depends on the brand/type of plated bullet and the thickness of the plating. Not all plated bullets are alike. Go to the manufacturers website, they will generally tell you the velocity limits and whether to use lead or jacketed data.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Depends on the brand/type of plated bullet and the thickness of the plating. Not all plated bullets are alike. Go to the manufacturers website, they will generally tell you the velocity limits and whether to use lead or jacketed data.

^^^ This ^^^

How do you know the lead core is swagged?
It might not matter if the plating is thick.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Generally, you'll want to keep plated velocities to no more than about 1,250 fps, but some of the heavier plated bullets are good up to about 1,500 fps. You'll know if you overdrive them, since they'll strip the rifling and tumble.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[buck460XVR]

I considered 14 gr. of 2400 with a 125 gr. bullet but I believe that the mv will be too high for the swaged plated bullet.

Yep....odds are that will be too fast for a standard plated bullet. Probably make around 1700 fps. As ReloaderFred stated, even the thickest plated bullets are generally only good to 1500 fps. I'd look at using Unique with recipes giving at least 900 fps outta a revolver to start. Anything less may result in a stuck bullet.

 

[dabuehl]

Thanks all, great support.
Two solutions:
1200 fps loads (manufacturers recommendation)
Dig deeper and buy a better bullet. (on order)

I will use all your suggestions.

Thanks again.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

I've pushed both Berry and Xtreme plated 125 gr flat points to about 1350 fps in my Rossi Model 92 with a 20" barrel without any noticeable bullet issues, using both Unique and HP-38. I'm shooting with a ghost ring sight, thick glasses, and old eyes, so don't ask for group sizes. Compared to factory Remington .357 Magnum 125 gr JSP at about 1460 fps, I considered it close enough and backed down since I'm only shooting paper, but I think I could have pushed closer to 1500 fps.

The problem was that I can't adjust my sights down enough to shoot to POA at 50 yds. Backing down to a little under 1200 fps brings POI closer to POA at 50 yds. At 100yds, I'm in the sights' adjustment range.

I'm now experimenting with158 gr bullets with Unique and like the results so far. Next try is some H110 with Xtreme's 158 gr PHP that they say are thick plated can be pushed to 1500 fps (actually they imply that all their bullets can go to 1500 but recommend 1200 excepted the concave base heavy plate HP's).

 

[ssyoumans]

I run 158gr Xtreme plated bullets in my 20" Rossi. 8.7gr True Blue gave 1,520 FPS. Felt this was too fast, loaded up 9.1gr Blue Dot gave 1,426 FPS. Still a bit fast for plated (although I didn't see any ill effects after 10 rounds). Switched to 38 Special cases and a +P load of 6.0gr of Power Pistol (MAX charge), gave 1199 FPS. The rounds fed a lot better using the 38 Special cases. I also loaded up some with 5.2gr Unique (max charge) in those 38 Special cases for 1142 FPS. These 38 Special +P based loads are my plinking loads for the Rossi. Seems to top out the 1250 FPS limit (I didn't know about this 1500 FPS mentioned above). They are very accurate and feed very well, my Rossi doesn't feed the 158gr PSWC out of 357 Mag cases that well, even when I load them a bit shorter than the crimp lines.

For 357 Mag, I generally run a 130gr FMJ (RMR had some a while ago) using 16gr of 2400 for 1968 FPS or 125gr JHP with 296 for over 2,200 fps. They are screamers out of that long tube.

 

[buck460XVR]

The problem was that I can't adjust my sights down enough to shoot to POA at 50 yds.

Skinnedknuckles...I had the same problem with my Rossi. Put a taller front sight on it, problem solved. The little carbine is a tackdriver now with virtually any load I shoot.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

Which front sight did you end up using? I tried one and didn't like how it fit the dovetail. Thanks.