Eliakim wrote:

"I now test the first five from a box by measuring cartridge #5 before and after firing the first four through the cylinder of my little S&W 340Sc revolver. If #5 doesn't grow by more than a few thousands of an inch I figure it is good to go."

This should be SOP for any ammo that is intended for self defense of any kind (2 or 4 legged).

I had some Remington factory 158gr JHP +P ammo that neck tension was so poor, you could turn the bullets in the case with your fingers -- they would pull badly in the 340PD. This was 7 years ago. FWIW, they chronoed 750 fps from the 1 7/8" 340.

I have loaded/shot 185gr (yes 185 not 158) LFNGCs over a max charge of Lil'Gun (Hodgdon Load for 180gr Win Partition) in the same 340 and have had no bullet movement at all. These chronoed 1,020 fps from the 1 7/8" 340.

One box of Magtech .357 mag 158gr JSP factory ammo had little or no crimp and crimp jump was common -- these were shot in my 3 1/4" 386 PD. In this case, I just reseated the bullets and applied a heavy roll down crimp -- no more problems.

Here's a picture of the Magtech ammo after shooting several rounds first.



Paul