Jacketed Bullets in Full .357 Mag Load

[nhcruffler]

I was crusing the forum reading older posts when I read one that I did not understand. A few people mentioned that you should not use jacketed bullets in max .357 loads. Can anyone tell me why? I can see lead bullets as they tend to melt at those high pressures. But why not jacketed bullets? I actually did read my Lee reloading manual and I don, t recall any warning about jacketed bullets. Nh

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I've never heard of such a thing. I've been loading .357mag for 40+ years and there is not .38 jacketed bullet that can't be ran through a .357mag.

There was a problem with screaming 125gr jacketed bullet loads cracking the forcing cone in the K-frame Smiths but that was all I was aware of.

You can shoot 158gr maximum loads all day long if the gun is built heavy enough to handle the stress. (L and N-frame Smiths, Rugers, etc.)

Shooting maximum loads through any gun non stop will take a toll on the gun no matter who made it but the 125gr jacketed in K-frame Smiths were the issue because the forcing cone in the barrel had a flat spot on the bottom that weakened it and made it prone to crack with the maximum load speeds with the 125gr jacketed bullets.

 

[nhcruffler]

It sounded like BS to me. I was surprised no one caled them on it. I would have replied but like I said it was an older post .

 

[Blue68f100]

Never heard that. There is nothing wrong with Jacketed on Lead if done right.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

Are you sure it didn’t say ½ jacketed or semi jacketed bullets? I have herd some reports of the jacket remaining in the barrel and the core hitting the target with some hot 357 loads.

 

[rcmodel]

That happens with light or reduced loads using half-jacket or semi-jacket bullets.

At low pressure / velocity, The jacket sticks in the bore and the soft lead core continues on its merry way.

It simply does not happen with full power loads!

I can't imagine who said not to use jacketed bullets with max loads, or why they would say that?

Unless they were talking about copper plated bullets from Berry or Ranier?

rc

 

[Vol46]

As RC says, plated bullets like Berry's, or xtremes sometimes have velocity limitations that can be exceeded in hot calibers like .357 mag or .44 Mag when loaded to the upper limits of pressure/ velocity. Jacketed bullets are what you want to use for max velocity loads.

 

[41 Mag]

Yep as mentioned the half jacketed ones are not so wonderful to top end with, nor reduce load. The old discontinued Speer 146 SWC with it's half jacket cup was one of the major ones that this was warned against using in those manners. Mainly since you had to crimp over the leading edge of the cup with reduced loads you could actually push the core out of the jacket from inertia, from what I gathered from the Speer technician. I loved that bullet and sure wished they still made them.

All that said however, I have pushed the standard jacketed to as high as you would want to run them, and never had an issue.

 

[witchhunter]

That's what they are made for!

 

[rcmodel]

My Speer #10 manual includes the following warning for half-jacket 146 gr HP and 160 gr. SP bullets.

These bullets may separate core from jacket if fired at low velocities, with the possibility of the jacket remaining in the barrel.
The lighter charges shown for each bullet should be considered MINIMUM.

Now when it comes to the Max load data.
140 jacketed HP
19.7 W-296 = 1,460 FPS

146 half-jacket HP
18.5 W-296 = 1,513 FPS.

158 Jacketed SP
15.9 2400 = 1,335 FPS

160 half-jacket SP
15.7 2400 = 1,341 FPS.

I see no evidence they were not recommended for high pressure & velocity.
They just go faster with less powder is all.

rc

 

[KeithET]

146 half-jacket HP
18.5 W-296 = 1,513 FPS.

My favorite hot 357 load. Shot hundreds of these until Speer discontinued them. Wish they would bring them back. Never had any trouble with them. Can't imagine where the bs comment about jacketed and max loads came from.

KeithET

 

[rcmodel]

I loved them too!

I read a comment by Allen Jones, head ballistician at Speer back then, that they were forced to discontinue them.

Because people just refused to follow directions.
And loaded mouse-fart loads with them.
With resulting stuck jackets and gun damage.

Wish I had known they were going away.
I'd have bought a lifetime supply of the 146 HP's.

rc

 

[KeithET]

Because people just refused to follow directions.
And loaded mouse-fart loads with them.
With resulting stuck jackets and gun damage.

I suspected that was the reason. Real shame.

I like mouse fart loads as well. Just not with jacketed bullets. That's what Wad-Cutters are for.

Oh Well.

KeithET

 

[nhcruffler]

A lot of great replies! I have been looking for that page but cant find it. It could be that they were talking about semi jacketed or plated bullets. If I find it I 'll post the link.

 

[nhcruffler]

Well I just found the post. The refrence was to copper plated bullets , which in my mind meant copper jacketed. I didn, t even know they made copper plated bullets. Sorry for the confusion but its good to have it clarified now.