Ok, So I'm A Long Time Hand Loader But New To Using Hard Cast Bullets. I'm Using Hunters Supply 125 Grain .357 FP with 6.5 Grains Of W231 In My 4" 586. The Makers Of The Bullet State The Hardness Is 15 And Good To 1600 Fps Without Gas Checks. Load Feels Great And Is Very Accurate, Haven't Seen Any Signs Of Barrel Leading. Does This Sound Like A Good Load To Some Of You More Experienced Using Cast Bullets? The Only Data I Had Was For Pure Lead Bullets And They Stopped At 5.5 Grains So I Just Worked Up To 6.5, Seems Good To Me, Just looking For Second Opinions Before I Make A Bunch Of Em. Thanks In Advance.

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Still got the shovel

I'm looking at Hodgdon/Winchester's website for .357 magnum loads for 125gr bullets, and I see W231 data for 125 Cast LRNFP in the range of 4.6 to 5.5 grains. Pressure tops out at 18,800 CUP. I see W231 data for 125 Hornady XTP in the range 7.3 to 8.5 grains, with pressure topping out at 42,700 CUP.

Cast bullets are definitely "slipperier" in the bore than jacketed, so on the surface, I would be comfortable trying the load you're using.

Do you have access to a chronograph? It may be useful to see how close you are to the 1600 FPS recommended maximum speed.

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NRA Certified Instructor & RSO

Sorry for the OT but I have to ask you. Why are you capitalizing the first letter of every word you type?

Yes, it's not strange for a properly fitting bullet if 15 BHN to show no leading below 1600 fps. I'm shooting a 12 BHN 158gr .358" bullet at just under 1000 fps with no leading at all.

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SWCA #3437

The Reason For Caps Is My Stupid Phone Has Done It Since The Last Android upgrade, Sorry About That. Yes, I Have A Chronograph But Its Sky Screens Broke AndI'm Waiting On Replacements. I Hate Not Having It.

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Still got the shovel

If that load is accurate, showing no signs of pressure at all and is not leading the barrel I would say you are good to go. I doubt a charge of 6.5gr W231 will exceed .357 Magnum SAAMI pressures with a 125gr LFN bullet since 5.5gr W231 only generates less than 19,000 CUP.

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SWCA #3437

That's Pretty Much What I Was Thinking As Well. Thanks For The Replies.

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Still got the shovel

Just joined the site... Also just started casting for 9mm. I am casting for a G22 with a Lonewolf 40 to 9mm conversion. I have slugged the barrel and its showing .355. I'm got myself a RCBS 09-124-CN and it has been dropping at 130gr. I have been resizing to .357 and running 4.0 gr of tight group. I have been getting slight leading and it seems that I have to seat them very short to get them to chamber. Should I be using gas checks? Or maybe resize to 356? Thanks in advance

I really doubt you will find much in the way of gas check'd 9mm bullets that are readily available.

As far as your barrel and bullet sizes, I've had better luck in my LW barrels using a harder bullet and keeping velocities as close to 1000fps with the 147gr Lyman mold.

I resize my bullets to .356 using the Lee bullet sizer after pan lubing. The few bullets I've sized using the Lyman bullet sizer for a bevel base has resulted in lots of wasted lube. One day, I'll get a custom plug for under the bullets so that I'm not wasting lube. (gas checks on the 357 bullets don't share this frustration)

Good luck!