Perfecta 357 mag, 158 gr, FMJ, 3" barrel 686

Mikeinkaty · Sep 8, 2016

Anyone know what velocity these are giving? I'm guessing it's under 1200. I've gone through 3 boxes so far with no problems. They appear to be very consistent. Also clean shooting. Much cleaner than Rem. 38 Special 130 gr. Not as hard shooting as Federal 158 gr, JSP.

coachray · Sep 8, 2016

My only experience with Perfecta ammo is with 115gr 9mm. I've gone through 4 boxes with no problem.

Ptarmigan · Sep 8, 2016

I, too, only have experience with the 9mm. But I shoot a lot of that with no problems whatsoever. It's good, Fiocchi made ammo, and at less than $10 a box for 9mm it gives most folks that don't reload an outlet for staying proficient.

I am curious what the .357 sells for. Are they boxes of 50?

Brasky · Sep 8, 2016

Ptarmigan said:
I, too, only have experience with the 9mm. But I shoot a lot of that with no problems whatsoever. It's good, Fiocchi made ammo, and at less than $10 a box for 9mm it gives most folks that don't reload an outlet for staying proficient.

I am curious what the .357 sells for. Are they boxes of 50?

Someone posted in another thread that they were $13 per 50. I've checked 3 walmarts and have not found any yet

Mulebuk Sam · Sep 8, 2016

Brasky said:
I've checked 3 walmarts and have not found any yet

And you never will until you understand the game.
I discovered it by accident at my local Wallyworld, only to bad they never carry what I shoot most.

Anyway I'm in there one day just browsing around and I notice a certain 2 or 3 people hanging close by the ammo section, which in itself would not have aroused my curiosity except these people I had seen several times before hanging around.

They got the 'inside scoop' on ammo delivery day.
Get it.

Brasky · Sep 8, 2016

Mulebuk Sam said:
And you never will until you understand the game.
I discovered it by accident at my local Wallyworld, only to bad they never carry what I shoot most.

Anyway I'm in there one day just browsing around and I notice a certain 2 or 3 people hanging close by the ammo section, which in itself would not have aroused my curiosity except these people I had seen several times before hanging around.

They got the 'inside scoop' on ammo delivery day.
Get it.

I know what days the one Walmart gets ammo deliveries, but none of the three have shelf tags for it. Plenty of 9, 40, and 45 perfecta but have never saw the 38 or 357

Mikeinkaty · Sep 8, 2016

The two Walmart's near me have the perfecta 357 mag for $17.63 per box, no limit on # of boxes. I bought 2 more last night. This is the Katy Texas area. Wait a minute, I think they rang up at like $16.?? Per box.

Goblin · Sep 9, 2016

You're correct that the Perfecta is about 100 fps slower than the Federal. 1,091 for the Perfecta and 1,213 for the Federal from my 6" Python.

Mikeinkaty · Sep 9, 2016

Goblin said:
You're correct that the Perfecta is about 100 fps slower than the Federal. 1,091 for the Perfecta and 1,213 for the Federal from my 6" Python.

That probably puts my 3" at about 1000 fps. The Federal rounds cost $26 at Walmart. Thinking about trying my hand at reloading. What velocity is the perfecta 38 Special rounds? Those short rounds really gets my pistol dirty! If I reloaded I could use the mag brass at lower velocity.

Brasky · Sep 9, 2016

Mikeinkaty said:
That probably puts my 3" at about 1000 fps. The Federal rounds cost $26 at Walmart. Thinking about trying my hand at reloading. What velocity is the perfecta 38 Special rounds? Those short rounds really gets my pistol dirty! If I reloaded I could use the mag brass at lower velocity.

If you want warmer loads check out the PPU 158gr SJHP. Available for about $19 shipped most places online

Mikeinkaty · Sep 9, 2016

Brasky said:
If you want warmer loads check out the PPU 158gr SJHP. Available for about $19 shipped most places online

No, I want cooler loads for plinking and to train my 13 yr old granddaughter. I would prefer the 357 brass. Shooting Remington 38 special, 130 gr, really got my 686 nasty! So I need the velocity of the 38 special.

Ok, apparently the velocity is around 950 shooting a 158 gr Mc round but they did not say what barrel length. I presume 4"?

Has anyone loaded a 357 mag down to 900-950 fps? I would probably opt for a 125 gr FMJ.

Brasky · Sep 9, 2016

Mikeinkaty said:
No, I want cooler loads for plinking and to train my 13 yr old granddaughter. I would prefer the 357 brass. Shooting Remington 38 special, 130 gr, really got my 686 nasty! So I need the velocity of the 38 special.

Ok, apparently the velocity is around 950 shooting a 158 gr Mc round but they did not say what barrel length. I presume 4"?

Has anyone loaded a 357 mag down to 900-950 fps? I would probably opt for a 125 gr FMJ.

So you're teaching a new shooter to shoot with 357s because the 38 specials make the gun too dirty?

Mikeinkaty · Sep 9, 2016

Brasky said:
So you're teaching a new shooter to shoot with 357s because the 38 specials make the gun too dirty?

She is not a new shooter. She handles my Buckmark well. If I reload then why reload different brass? Is there anything wrong reloading 357 mag brass at 125 gr, for 900 fps? Just asking.

Mikeinkaty · Sep 12, 2016

Trail Boss powder

Their data sheet says 3.5 grains of powder produces 875 fps with a 125 grain bullet in 357 mag caliber. That should be pretty good for plinking out to 30 yards with light recoil. It is a fast powder and is bulky. A double charge would be easy to spot as it would fill the brass to the brim, or more. All comments I've found say it is clean burning.

ArchAngelCD · Sep 12, 2016

Mikeinkaty said:
She is not a new shooter. She handles my Buckmark well. If I reload then why reload different brass? Is there anything wrong reloading 357 mag brass at 125 gr, for 900 fps? Just asking.

Why are you asking about reloading in the ammo forum. You will get more responses in the correct forum, the reloading forum which is just below the ammo forum.

You may have changed your mind for whatever reason but you were not asking about loading ammo, you specifically asked about a full power 158gr factory .357 Magnum load in your OP. Maybe it was because you were called out for worrying about a dirty gun instead of the 13 year old shooter, maybe something else but you did ask about factory ammo, not reloads.

As for loading your own ammo, all you need to do is load the max .38 Special load in .357 Magnum brass and you will have what you are looking for. W231/HP-38 is a better choice than Trail Boss if you don't like dirty guns.

Perfecta 357 mag, 158 gr, FMJ, 3" barrel 686

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