« previous next »
Pages: [1]   Go Down

Author Topic: RL7 in the .357 Maximum  (Read 620 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Selmer

  • Trade Count: (6)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 684
RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« on: March 06, 2009, 09:09:44 AM »
I have been having trouble getting good accuracy from H110 in the .357 Max Encore barrel I have (Coyote Guns mfr.) and decided to try RL7 before changing barrels.  WOW, what a difference!  I just got back from the range and with heavy charges of RL7 behind my cast 180 gr. GC bullet (Saeco #354 mold) and my 215 gr. GC (Lyman #358627 Lee 6 cav copy) I at first thought that my first shot hit paper and the rest flew off into oblivion, which has happened with other powders and these bullets.  Nope, the hole just kept getting a little bit bigger at 50 yds.  Next step is actually remembering a 9 volt battery for the chrono and trying these loads out at 100 yds.
Selmer
Logged
"Next to the glory of God, music deserves the highest praise"-Martin Luther
Any homo sapien with the proper chromosomes can be labeled a father, but it takes a man to be called "Daddy"-unknown

Offline LaOtto222

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3828
  • Gender: Male
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #1 on: March 06, 2009, 12:04:27 PM »
Good Job. I would be curious what velocities and Standard Deviations you are getting. RL 7 is only listed in one of my 5 (modern) reloading manuals. Of course they are all in pistol length barrels (10" - 14"). RL 7 is slower than most powders listed, but might just be alright in a rifle length barrel. I have a few pounds of RL 7 on hand and have a 357 Max so my curiosity is a little raised. I had not thought of using it in the 357 Max because it was not widely listed. I know that a few people do not like RL 7 because they claim that they get high jumps in pressure with little increases in powder. I have been working with it in a couple of 221 Fireballs I have and get good velocity and more predictable results than with Lil'Gun.

Looking forward to more field results - Good Luck and Good Shooting
Logged
Great men have vision and resolve to make dreams come true.

Offline LaOtto222

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (0)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 3828
  • Gender: Male
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #2 on: March 06, 2009, 12:08:25 PM »
Coyote Guns is not located too far from me. When I try to bring up their site, all I get is their title head. Are they still in business?
Logged
Great men have vision and resolve to make dreams come true.

Offline coyotejoe

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2937
  • Gender: Male
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #3 on: March 06, 2009, 01:52:43 PM »
I spent some time with the .357 Max a couple of years back and Reloader seven was my top powder with 180 and 200 grain bullets. I never tried it with cast bullets but why not? I had terrible results with Lil-Gun, extreme velocity variations and odd pressure spikes.
Logged
The story of David & Goliath only demonstrates the superiority of ballistic projectiles over hand weapons, poor old Goliath never had a chance.

Offline Badnews Bob

  • Trade Count: (34)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2963
  • Gender: Male
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #4 on: March 06, 2009, 03:01:50 PM »
I've had my best luck out of the .357 max useing IMR 4227 or AA 1680, Getting right at 2000FPS with an LBT style 180GC shot in my handie rifle. 8)
Logged
Badnews Bob
AE-2 USN retired

Offline Selmer

  • Trade Count: (6)
  • A Real Regular
  • ****
  • Posts: 684
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #5 on: March 06, 2009, 03:42:07 PM »
I'll be running those loads over a chrono within a couple of weeks.  I'll post the data and powder charges at that time, along with all the important velocity stats.
Logged
"Next to the glory of God, music deserves the highest praise"-Martin Luther
Any homo sapien with the proper chromosomes can be labeled a father, but it takes a man to be called "Daddy"-unknown

Offline sk330lc

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (55)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 1102
  • Gender: Male
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #6 on: March 06, 2009, 05:17:11 PM »
I've been using Reloader 7 In my 10" Contender with Hornady 180gr SIL Bullets with great Luck.
Great combination for me.   
Logged
Be True to What You Hunt!!!!!
SUPPORT THE GBO SERVER
http://www.gboreloaded.com/forums/index.php/topic,191112.0/topicseen.html

Offline cwlongshot

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (158)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9907
  • Gender: Male
  • Shooting, Hunting, the Outdoors & ATVs
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #7 on: March 07, 2009, 01:18:56 AM »
RL7 shot well for me as well. But I am not able to get enough powder in the case. I mean I am almost two grains below published max, zero pressure signs and the case is almost full. I do not really like compressed loads in such a small case. I find a very similar thing when loading the RL7 in my 375 Winchesters.... But at least with them, I get a good load. I feel more is there with the RL7 but I cannot get to it for powder capacity.

I have has my Maxi for many, many years and in that time I have loaded all powders out there, sans the vihtovor <SP> powders AA1680 is my best to date. H4227 is a close second. Only so because velocity is down. Accuracy is about the same. I get ever-so slightly flattened primers. I'm talking just enough to take the "roundness" out of them.

 I'm glad its working so well for you. Stick with it, as I have said so many times, all barrels/guns are different. I'm saving my RL7 for my 375 Winchesters.  ;D AA1680 is my MAXI powder of choice.  ;)

CW
Logged
"Pay heed to the man who carries a single shot rifle, he likely knows how to use it."

NRA LIFE Member 
Remember... Four boxes keep us free: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.

Offline coyotejoe

  • Trade Count: (4)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 2937
  • Gender: Male
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #8 on: March 08, 2009, 05:17:52 AM »
CW, if you stand your powder charged cases in a loading block and vibrate the block you can watch the powder settle lower. You can get about two grains more into the case that way. I hear that pouring through a long drop tube accomplishes the same thing but that seems like one more accessory to fool with. In the 375W or the maxie it seems that about the only difference between RL-7 and AA-1680 is that the later is just slightly more dense and you can therefore get a couple grains more into the case.
Logged
The story of David & Goliath only demonstrates the superiority of ballistic projectiles over hand weapons, poor old Goliath never had a chance.

Offline cwlongshot

  • GBO Supporter
  • Trade Count: (158)
  • Senior Member
  • *****
  • Posts: 9907
  • Gender: Male
  • Shooting, Hunting, the Outdoors & ATVs
Re: RL7 in the .357 Maximum
« Reply #9 on: March 08, 2009, 05:23:49 AM »
 You are correct, good tips!! I have about a 10" brass tube on the bench for this. It is better, but being its a straight, short colum of powder, I am just not comfortable compressing it into a one piece block. ot when AA1680 dosen't require the compression, yet is almost a 100% dencity and shoots so well for me.

 With the 30/06 I have also held the full up against the side of the vuibrator case cleaner and it settles in nicely.

CW
Logged
"Pay heed to the man who carries a single shot rifle, he likely knows how to use it."

NRA LIFE Member 
Remember... Four boxes keep us free: the soap box, the ballot box, the jury box, and the cartridge box.
Pages: [1]   Go Up
« previous next »