Overdue trip to the range today with some bulk 158gr. LRN from Magtech. Worked well with a couple cylinders each through a 10-5 and 36-1 at seven yards. A tad smoky with some unburned flakes in the barrel with no more than the usual film left at the cylinder gap.

Pushed some through a 581 and all six keyholed with a somewhat spread group. Reloaded with American Eagle (Federal) 158gr. LRN and shot the best group of the day just unloading DA downrange. Finished with some PMC .357 158gr. JSP. Did OK.

No ideas as to what happened, I should have at least tried another cylinder of Magtech with the 581 but I'm not a big fan of indoor shooting... a little goes a long way. Had a Broward sheriff dumping mags to my right and a guy instructing his girlfriend to my left. He was cool and she was cute and could shoot.

Just was curious enough to post wondering if any had any ideas why one round would tumble and not another.

Sometimes when you shoot a paper target without a solid backer the holes can look like the bullet is keyholing but it's just the paper moving when hit making it appear that way.

As for little Smokey, that is the lube on the lead bullets you are seeing. It's more noticeable indoors.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

A couple of years ago I picked up 100 rds of Magtech 158 gr. Forget the price but I remember that it was about the same price it cost to reload. These weren't reloads tho. I got keyholes with it in a 4" Mod 66 and 4" and 5" Mod 10s. At least 4 out of 6 rds. At 25 yards the keyhole rounds would be all over the paper. Only thing I could figure was undersized bullets. Never bought Magtech since in any caliber.

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183rd FBINA

Magtech is poor quality ammo, putting it nicely. Put another way....it is garbage. I've seen more problems with guns, that just happened to be shooting Magtech ammo, than any other. "Magically", in most cases, a switch to better ammo solved the problem. Very poor accuracy, function issues, the occasional overloaded round, etc. This is both with semi-auto ammo, as well as their revolver loads.

So, do yourself a favor.....don't waste any more of your money on Magtech ammo.

I load the Mag-Tech LRN in my J frame 2" and 686 6" .........

10 to 20 yard shots do not keyhole when I use a cardboard backing behind my paper targets.
I have had RN or WC designs keyhole on "Hanging" paper targets, though.

You might try a SWC and see if things improve?

I use their 146 LRN 38 S&W in my old British No 2 revolver. Shoots to point of aim between 7 ~ 15 yards & gives good accuracy. Not too dirty, and usually available - what more can I ask for.

Never had a problem with their 158 gr. RNL or SWC. Use it in my snub model 10s & 15s out to 25 yards with good accuracy. Same with the 4" & 6" Highway Patrolmans out to 50 yards. A little dirty but respectable groups and no key holing