Well I will be using this for two roles. Range use from .38 Special loaded down to around 750fps and also for .357 Magnum use full tilt. So I plan to use it from the bottom to the top on load scale.

38 < link

I like the look of the RNFP but I'm open to suggestions.

Xtreme doesn't recommend exceeding 1200fps for these slugs, if I remember correctly.

That said I use their products very frequently. I've been running 125 FP, 158 FP, and 158 SWC from about 800fps to a little over 1000 fps. The accuracy is excellent, especially over fast shotgun flake for this velocity range. I load these in .357 brass over 3.8 to 4.0 grains of Clays, and it's a tack driver in all my Smith's.

If you plan on using them for full tilt .357, you will likely be exceeding 1200 fps. If that is the case, I wold recommend looking at the 158 gr hollow points. They are heavy plated and can be pushed to 1500 fps.

That is what I use in my Henry rifle. I don't push them all that hard, but between being a magnum, and the extra velocity gained by the 20" barrel, it is hard to stay under the 1200 fps speed limit. I used to use the TCs in both my model 10 and the Henry. I had to be picky about the powder and how much of that powder I used.

The HPs run a little more than the regular plated, but they keep things simple for me. To save a little money, I use two different bullets for my Henry and my model 10. I started out with the idea of finding a single bullet that would work for both. The Xtreme HP fits the bill for that, but I found that coated bullets were easier to get a decent accurate target load, and were a little cheaper. I can get good accuracy from plated in the .38, but I had to search more powders and load data to find a nice accurate combo. In my experience, the middle and slower speed powders worked better with plated, especially in .38 loads.

I have found that keeping two different bullets on hand is not an issue.

As noted above the Xtreme "Heavy Plated" and "Hollow point" bullets are recommended for velocities over 1200 fps, but the maximum recommended velocity is still 1500 fps.

That said, I've pushed the .357 bullets to 1600 fps in my 20" and 24" Rossi rifles. However accuracy is in the 5 MOA range compared to 2 MOA to 2.5 MOA for Hornady XTPs.

And, I can push Hornady XTPs to 1800 fps (and 2200 fps with 125 gr XTPs) with no issues, while the Xtreme plated bullets start to show indications of jacket separation in the form of significant fliers.

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In .30-30 I've been able push their 150 gr flat points up to 1775 fps before the accuracy goes south in my 1885 High Wall ad accuracy is in the 1.5 MOA range.

I have had their 158 Lswc bullet down to an average of 522fps in my J frame snub nose and up to 1024fps in my 6" M19-5.
At 357 magnum speeds from 1250 to 1320fps there will be leading in the 6" barrel.

For FULL 357 loads I would want a copper jacket of some kind, to make clean up a lot easier.

In a 6" N frame I can get the 158gr XTP up to 1340fps.

I go with the 158gr RNFPs. They seem to do a little better than the TCFP (with the same load) but probably more personal preference. I load them (taper crimped) in 357 cases only, with moderate speed powders, & work-up loads only occasionally push them into the "erratic range".

I have tried their 158gr HP but don't have a routine need for it's extra capabilities.

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Waiting for the break of day

I shoot a lot of Berry's 158 grain round nose plated in my .357 range loads. It's just under 1200 fps and really accurate. I think that bullet is rated for up to 1400 fps? I could be wrong on that however, I really like that bullet and shoot quite a few of them.

I have shot 1,000s of Extreme and have never been disappointed. Speaking ONLY FOR ME, I like the full wad at up to 1,200 fps. They smack the heck out of anything they hit from steel to fur.

I use the RNFP , 158 grain bullet from xtreme for my .38 special loads, I would not use them for full blown .357 loads, only loads under 1500 fps.

So does anyone have a good link to some 4" barrel .357 magnum bullets that would be best at full tilt?

Rocky Mountain Reloading

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Stopsign,

I load .38 Special target loads with the 158 grain plated semi wadcutter from Xtreme and LOVE it.

The same load of this bullet over 4 grains of 231/HP 38 is low recoil and accurate in many different revolvers from my Model 60 J Frames to 3" K Frames to the 4" 686-1. It also makes a pretty good small game load and is really fun to shoot through the Rossi lever action .357 carbine.

I load actual jacketed bullets for full throttle .357 Magnums over 2400 or 296.

The bullet that I have found to give the best accuracy when fired through the same revolvers and the carbine is the Hornady 158 grain XTP hollow point. Great out of the revolvers and AWESOME out of the Rossi carbine with the same loads.

Link to it is here: Hornady XTP Bullets 38 Cal (357 Diameter) 158 Grain Jacketed Hollow