357 Mag heavy bullet loads

[jeepmann1948]

Anyone use the heavy bullets in their 357 Handi's 220 to 200 gr ?

[Lucky Joe]

I will be shooting the 215 gr. Lyman hand cast slug in my .357 barrel. I can cast bullets from .74 gr to the 215 grain one. Makes the .357 very versatile.

[Badnews Bob]

Mine never cared much for anything over 187 but it shoots 180s so well I quit doing load work.

[mechanic]

Mine does not like heavy bullets.  I load 158 cast and 180 jacketed.  The most accurate is the 158, with the 180 "good enough".  200 grain just didn't cut it.  Groups opened up to 6".

[gomerdog]

I received my receiver from a factory 444 Marlin with a new 357 Mag accessory barrel on Monday. Gonna shoot it tomorrow for the first time with Hornady 180 gr. XTP's. Maybe they're not heavy enough for your tastes, but I'll let you know how they shoot anyway.

Jeff

[cwlongshot]

Jeeper,
 I'm also not a fan of that heavy a bullet in the Lil mag. Even in my Maxi, 180's are top performers. I load my mags with 158/160 cast and 158FP XTP's for deer. I like the balance of speed and energy/bullet performance. Normally I am a "heaviest for caliber" kind of guy, but that's for bigger calibers than 35. Even then, its the bigger 35's like the whelen.

I'm sure you can/will find something to suit your needs.

[zoner]

my 357 shoots 158 gr bullets in the same hole. Someday i will try the 180's. The 158 gr leaves the muzzle faster but will shed velocity faster than the 180(momentum).....when you reach the point where they are running at the same speed,from that point on the 180 should be a better killer.....

[gomerdog]

Shot the new 357 Mag barrel today, and the results were dismal. Sprayed 'em all over the place at 100 yards. As they were the only jacketed bullets I had loaded, I did not shoot anything else. Back to the drawing board for that one.

The good news is that my 30/30 Handi put three rounds of Hornady 170 FP's into about an inch at 100 yards and is ready for an upcoming antelope hunt in Sept.

[briannmilewis]

I have read a number of places that L'il Gun powder and heavy bullets (180gr and up) are a great combo for the 357 Mag.

[maglvr44]

I have read a number of places that L'il Gun powder and heavy bullets (180gr and up) are a great combo for the 357 Mag.

I use a flat base 200gr. hard cast over 13gr. of Lil Gun, it is a DEEP penetrating and extremely accurate load in my "$65 DIY Handi", however my rifling is sharper than that of the typical Handi barrel.

[JerryKo]

This thread got me thinking I have never shot anything but 158gr cast thru my mag.  I shoot ok with it but nothing to brag about...but its only been a plinker since I picked it up.   Well let me tell you...I loaded up some 200gr Hornady SPs and I am tickled pink.  Now I know 25 yrds and open sights dont mean anything but I shot seven bullets with .5 gr increments from +1300 to 1683fps with LilGun and they all were within an 1.25" of each other.  AND MOST OF THAT WAS VERT. STRINGING from velocity diff.  I recovered the last one and it had completly mushroomed in the soft berm.  I was looking to reach a max load...but showed NO high pressure signs yet.  I do think I am nearing the limit of powder burn though because the last 1.5 gr spread yeilded smaller velocity differences from the rest of the shots.  I do have maxi brass in route....   
Anybody care to post their max velocities with lilgun or h110 and a 200gr jacketed?  I'm curious because I think I'm past book values.

Jerry

[BrokenFang]

I load 200 grain beartooth over 10.5 grains lil gun . out of a 16 inch carbine around 1400 fps.  1200fps give or take in my 4.5 inch taurus revolver . my street load

[JerryKo]

Just checked Hornady manual, and I am in starting 35Rem velocity range with this setup.  Makes me want to call Lilgun...Lilwonder.  Thanks brokenfang.  Street load sounds lethal!

How bout anybody with the Maximum and 200gr loads.  What kinds of velocities you guys seeing in the Handi.

Jeepman1,...thanks for starting this thread.  It really is helping me see the value of these 357 barrels.

Jerry

[Badnews Bob]

I get 2000FPS with 180gr GCLFN and I am no where near max loads in my max.

[PHATINJUN]

I tried to do some 200gr in mine with the 360DW cases they worked but but were right on the edge of problems . Have settled in on the 158's and with the zing you can put in them see no need to go heavier anymore and I like heavy bullets. Kurt

[JerryKo]

Thanks guys, but Kurt...what kinds of problems?  Keyholeing or accuracy or seating with longer brass?  Let me know.  I dont want to run headlong into problems!
Jerry

[PHATINJUN]

Jerry I was still trying to zip them down range fast and got into pressure problems pop opens ,blown primers that type of thing. I was mostly trying to see how fast I could keep them. As I have my 45 Colt for the heavy thumper stuff and now the 500 SW. So I went back to the 158's that hit very accurate and with plenty of punch @100. Kurt

[BrianB]

I load 200 grain beartooth over 10.5 grains lil gun . out of a 16 inch carbine around 1400 fps.  1200fps give or take in my 4.5 inch taurus revolver . my street load

Are you sure those numbers are correct?  The speed sounds high.  As I recall, according to my data, I was only getting about about 1500 fps with 16gr Lil' Gun and 158gr XTP's out of a 6" GP100. Just looking at Hodgdon's data, they list 180gr bullets at 1279fps with 13gr Lil' Gun.  Hard to believe a 200gr bullet and less powder almost equals in speed. 

[zoner]

i'm gonna stay with the 158 gr bullets in my 357 mag.....my cast 158 gr load will shoot in the same hole,158 gr Federal hydra shoks(factory ammo) will do 3 shot 1" groups....and i plan to try the xtp's in 158 later on...if i need more gun i can use the m94 32 special