Riomouse911
Member
I finally escaped the house for a few hours and got to shoot four of my coated-bullet handloads through the L-frame 686+ .357 Mag. I used Unique powder, CCI small pistol primers and mixed-headstamp cases in both .38 and .357 loads
Most of my shooting was at B-27 sized silhouettes, but I did fire one series of 14 rounds (2 cylinders full) at some 6” bullseye targets that I picked up somewhere, two handed DA at 15 yards.
The first load was in .38 Spl. Cases, 4.5 gr. Unique under an Eggleston .358 dia 158 gr SWC. This is an easy shooting load in the 4” L frame that shoots right-on vertically in my revolver. (All of my shots went to the right of the bullseye with this revolver today.)
The first .357 load was the same Eggleston .358 dia 158 gr SWC over 6.5 gr Unique. This load is a mid range magnum load that shot a little bit lower than the .38 loads did and the gun didn’t like it very much.
The next was an Eggleston 146 gr. RN over 6.9 gr Unique. This had a lot of flash (certainly not H-110 flash, but more than the others by far. The gun shot this load about as consistently as it shot the 158 gr SWC .357 Mag load.
The last load is a bit heavier power and recoil wise, a now-discontinued Ibejiheads 165 gr RNBB over 6.9 gr Unique. (The OAL of 1.650 barely fits in the L-frame and recessed K-frame cylinder, it did not fit in my Dan Wesson 15-2 with the recessed chambers.)
These were really smoky when fired, almost like shooting uncoated plain lead/lube bullets. Since Ibdjiheads has stopped showing revolver bullets for sale on their website the smokiness may be one of the reasons.
As expected the recoil was more than the other loads, but not excessive or abusive at all. These shot to almost the same POA as the faster 146 gr loads.
Obviously these 4” to 5.5” 15 yard offhand groups aren’t match winners, but I don’t claim to ever be good enough to compete anyway.
For me it’s fun just to go shoot, finally seeing the fruits of your labor at the reloading bench.
I have IMR Target, Promo, Unique, HP-38, AA-5, Power Pistol, Enforcer and Bullseye on the shelf, does anyone have any .38 and .357 loads for these coated lead bullets (146 RN, 158 SWC and 165 RN) that they find shoot really well for them?
Stay safe.
Most of my shooting was at B-27 sized silhouettes, but I did fire one series of 14 rounds (2 cylinders full) at some 6” bullseye targets that I picked up somewhere, two handed DA at 15 yards.
The first load was in .38 Spl. Cases, 4.5 gr. Unique under an Eggleston .358 dia 158 gr SWC. This is an easy shooting load in the 4” L frame that shoots right-on vertically in my revolver. (All of my shots went to the right of the bullseye with this revolver today.)
The first .357 load was the same Eggleston .358 dia 158 gr SWC over 6.5 gr Unique. This load is a mid range magnum load that shot a little bit lower than the .38 loads did and the gun didn’t like it very much.
The next was an Eggleston 146 gr. RN over 6.9 gr Unique. This had a lot of flash (certainly not H-110 flash, but more than the others by far. The gun shot this load about as consistently as it shot the 158 gr SWC .357 Mag load.
The last load is a bit heavier power and recoil wise, a now-discontinued Ibejiheads 165 gr RNBB over 6.9 gr Unique. (The OAL of 1.650 barely fits in the L-frame and recessed K-frame cylinder, it did not fit in my Dan Wesson 15-2 with the recessed chambers.)
These were really smoky when fired, almost like shooting uncoated plain lead/lube bullets. Since Ibdjiheads has stopped showing revolver bullets for sale on their website the smokiness may be one of the reasons.
As expected the recoil was more than the other loads, but not excessive or abusive at all. These shot to almost the same POA as the faster 146 gr loads.
Obviously these 4” to 5.5” 15 yard offhand groups aren’t match winners, but I don’t claim to ever be good enough to compete anyway.
For me it’s fun just to go shoot, finally seeing the fruits of your labor at the reloading bench. I have IMR Target, Promo, Unique, HP-38, AA-5, Power Pistol, Enforcer and Bullseye on the shelf, does anyone have any .38 and .357 loads for these coated lead bullets (146 RN, 158 SWC and 165 RN) that they find shoot really well for them?
Stay safe.
