Think I will give up the 357 Mag

[Tioal]

First let me say I have a 223 Handi I am very fond of.I have over the years cast loaded and shot quite a few 357 loads in my handguns.I thought that with a supply of cheap bullets the rifle would be great for low cost mid bore fun at short range.I was able to get a handi 357 off a local auction.It has 16.5 inch barrel wood stock Williams sights and scope mount.I set off to the range with a box reloads of cast bullets.I was rather dissappointed to get 4-5 inch groups at 40 yards.Even more so when noting 2or3 were keyholes on the target.I have been reading a lot on the web about standart chambers and the long throat they have. This I already found out when I examined my rifle and measured the chamber.I have tried 3 cast bullets of differnt type and manufactur along with 2 powders .I went full load and slow speed load.All give 1or2 keyholes per 10 rounds.When I try 158 grain jacketed the gun shoots 1 to 1.5 inch at the same 40 yards with a half dozen loads none of which were realy worked up but just taken from the load book.So while the rifle is ok with jacketed it does cost almost as much as my other center fire rifles.I also know about the raem it to Max.I cant find brass and do not want to put any more time and money in it. Thought about 44Mag or 45 LC but the same issues with chamber seem comon along with over size bore on 44Mag.Think I will just sell it and go back to my revolvers.I still think it would have been a great idea and I would buy an other Handi if it was a rifle caliber.  Tioal

[Spanky]

 

[ratdog]

try 358 diameter bullets 170 grn wad cutters if that doesn't dump it had same problem sent gun back to Remington got good shooting barrel and it shoots my cast 158 grn wad cutters like it should.got a 44 barrel when i sent gun back it's a shooter.

[jeepmann1948]

These guys here are razzing you a bit,but not in a bad way. If you are not happy with it put it up for sale here in the Classfieds after you look at what they are selling for.I assure you it will not last long at a fair price. They usually sell in just a few minuets .
Good Luck
George

[Singlebarrel]

Tioal, I understand completely.  I had problems with a 44 Magnum Handi.  I finally gave up on it and put a shotgun barrel on the receiver.  Like the song says, you have to know when to hold them and know when to fold them.

[gcrank1]

Your bullets are too small a dia.

[thejanitor]

Welcome to GBO-I had the same problem with 3 calibers I tried cast in.... get the fatter bullet and you will tighten up the group and quit tumbling!  Keep it it is a fun rifle to have......   thejanitor

[petemi]

Same story here.  My .44 Mag/Super does well on .433 cast.  Would probably do even better on .434s if I could find them.  Jacketed shoot better than cast in the smaller diameters.  Keep it and play with it.  You'll find the right combo.

Pete

[quickdtoo]

Just a reminder, buying/selling/trading isn't allowed in discussion forums on GBO except by paid sponsors. If you want to buy/sell/trade, post it in the classifeds or keep it private. 

Tim

[mattri]

PM sent.

[Tioal]

Thanks guys good thoughts all.The question is how much time does one wish to spend on one gun when there are so many yet to try? If I try more it woulld be first gas check cast then larger bullets. Problem is gas checks sell by the 1000 at about $35 and I do not have a mold. I like fatter bullets but my current mold drops at .358. I could also try harder and softer alloy that will also change drop size. Most cast bullets by supplyers run either 357 or 358 so getting 360 might be tough. The will to find the answer is some what strong but the will to try some other firearms with the money is also strong.I guess the real facter will be if some thing used hits the auction or gunshop before I run out of things to try. Thanks agin Tioal

[quickdtoo]

As has been said, shooting undersize cast bullets is the likely cause of the problem, if the bullet you're using will easily drop into an unsized fired case, it's too small, there are many cast bullet mfrs that sell oversize cast bullets by the 100, both PB and GC, so order a hundred and give em a shot. I measured a fired case from my 357Mag, a .360" bullet should push in, so that's where I'd start as that's about as big as they make em, they'll size to the bore when they're fired, cast bullets don't have to fit the bore like a jacketed bullet, the bigger, the better as long as they'll chamber. 

Tim

http://www.montanabulletworks.com/357.html

http://www.montanabulletworks.com/358_Rifle.html

http://www.beartoothbullets.com/bulletselect/index.htm

[gcrank1]

Couldnt have said it any better myself  .............should also mention that undersize lead bullets, especially evidenced by tumbling, will, well, lead your barrel; not conducive to accuracy. Hard, but undersize lead still leads, but soft bullets of the right dia. wont lead even if driven pretty fast. FME, you wont get much of a change in dia. by changing alloys in that 'small' a mould, but every little bit helps. Since you have it, why not cast up some softish (say, 50/50 wheelweights and soft lead) ,hand lube and use as cast dia., and (BTW, I dont generally like or use gas checks) and load them up to about a 1250+ fps level.
Please do try it and tell us what happens! Remember, all shootin' is practice, and the wisdom comes by the journey.

[revbc]

Try some Ranch Dogs.....mine shoots like this.  It's a maxi though, never did shoot the mag.

[OldSchoolRanger]

What the other guys said about "undersized" bullets.  If it were me, I would keep the barrel, it took me a long time to get one, and I'm very happy with it.

Try a box of factory ammo, that will most likely prove to you it's the bullet diameter that's causing the barrel to shoot the way it is.  If your still unhappy, you could get rid of the barrel in the classifieds like jeepman1948 said, literally within minutes of posting it for sale.  That should give you a hint that the .357Mag barrels are good shooter.

[Tioal]

Great advice and a couple of offers.Nothing new headed my way so my new plan is to first shoot up a couple boxes of jacketed bullets to prove that it is not me or the rifle.If that goes well like we believe it will I will revisit the cast bullet. I really like the fat bullet idea.The bore for 1 inch down from crown slugs at .3575 so I thought my .358 size was fat enough but I will try fatter if I can find them.This right after I prove all is well with the jacketed.Let us face it all shooting is fun and problem solving is also if it does not drag on for more then say a year. Thanks again guys

[gcrank1]

With cast bullets the critical fit is in the throat.

[jackddavis]

Mine was shooting all over the place when I first tried it. After much cussing over several test firings. I noticed a "rattle". Checking it out, I found that the factory mounted scope base was loose. I removed the screws to locktite them and noticed they were not even centered correctly. The scope base was mounted crooked. I junked it and replaced it with a 12" picatinny. Now it shoots everything I put in it to the point of aim. For light target loads, it loves the 148 gr. HBWC's and it does well with the 158 gr. SWC's, too. I'm extremely happy with my .357 mag. now. I've been experimenting with Hornady XTP's and FTX's in "custom" loads and posting the results on my web-page here; http://www.metalsmithpro.com/357MagnumRifle.htm
 
 

[Goatwhiskers]

FWIW, my Maxi bore slugs right at .357 groove dia. and absolutely loves .359 GC boolits.  Goat