Making minor power factor in 357mag with plated bullet?

[Hoptob]

For awhile my standby revolver load was 4.2 gr. Titegroup under 125 gr. Xtreme plated bullet in 357 magnum brass. The load is cheap, accurate and dependable. But it makes only 800 fps from 4" bbl.

I am looking to increase the charge to make minor PF in a 4" revolver; with 125 gr. bullet it will take 1000-1050 fps. Has anyone here tried loading with more Titegroup under this or similar bullet? I would be interested to know how much higher can one go before the bullet starts tumbling. For example 5.5 - 6 gr. TG under 125 gr. plated bullet. Is it an accurate load or is it too much?

Any advice would be appreciated but I am particularly interested in experiences with Titegroup loads under plated bullet - have 8 lb keg of this powder.

Thanks.

Mike

 

[haggis]

According to Hodgdon, the starting load for a .357 Magnum 125 grain JHP is 6.8 grains of Titegroup which gives 1425 fps. I suspect that 5.0-5.5 grains or so will give you the velocity you want. Insofar as accuracy, you'll have to check that out yourself.

Buck

edit: The only time I've seen problems from plated bullets was when the crimping process cut through the plating. Once the plating is cut, it will shed from the core at even very low velocities, and accuracy is then problematic.

 

[*Klutch*]

I loaded .357 with Titegroup with Hornady XTP 125gr JHP and 7.5gr of powder and they move nicely but the problem is that Titegroup is not a magnum powder and the burn rate is very different from something like 2400 and you will get a huge muzzle blast out of your gun. Now while it's kinda cool the first time it happens, but only the first time then you start to wonder how much powder you are wasting. Anyway the point is keep the charges on the low side with TG or get some 2400 and make a light load. I would suspect that 5-6 grains would put you in the 1100fps range. If Hodgdon has a starting load of 6.8gr for a jacketed bullet you should reduce it by 10% for plated which 6.8-.68=6.12. I would probably start at 5.5 and crono if you have one...

 

[sar4937]

Maybe you could use a 158gr bullet and adjust the powder. 800 fps would make power factor with 158gr.

 

[SR]

I may have more questions than answers -

Why are you wanting to make minor PF with a .357 mag? If you're shooting competitions, most use the .38 special brass - the longer case can hang up when you're reloading. Minor PF is just a little over .38 +P.

I shoot a Berry's plated bullet for IDPA but I use a 158gr bullet (over titegroup). You might be able to start on the low end of load data for .38+p on the Hodgdon website and work from there if you're using the 115gr bullet.

 

[Hoptob]

I may have more questions than answers

It's always easier, isn't it

Anyway, thanks for trying to help, guys. You're right, there are many ways to make minor (and major) in 357mag. The reason I want to make minor with 125 gr. Xtreme plated bullet and TG is quite simple: I have lots of both stocked up. Sure, could also use 38spl cases. I know they'd hold but prefer 357mag cases for matches because it simplifies my reloading logistics - can use same cases for everything. I too heard that 38spl may be faster to reload. It has not been my experience, at least not in revolvers with full length ejector rods. I am not Jerry Mikulec though and perhaps just ain't good enough to know the difference.

If anyone tried 5-6 gr. TG under 125 gr. plated bullet, I'd love to know how well it worked. If no one did, I'll eventually try it myself and report the results here.

Cheers,

Mike

 

[josephthreedogs]

I use 4.1 Tite-group with 125G Montana Gold bullets in 38 special cases and get a PF of 135 in a 4' barrel.

 

[Hoptob]

That's really interesting, Joseph. So you get 1080 fps with 4.1 gr. TG under 125 gr. jacketed bulet in 38 spl cases. I get 300 fps less (!) with same charge under 125 gr. plated bullet in 357 mag cases. Barrel length is same - 4".

That's pretty high velocity for a load that's below Hodgdon minimum recommendation for 38spl (not +P).



Mike

 

[josephthreedogs]

That's really interesting, Joseph. So you get 1080 fps with 4.1 gr. TG under 125 gr. jacketed bulet in 38 spl cases. I get 300 fps less (!) with same charge under 125 gr. plated bullet in 357 mag cases. Barrel length is same - 4".

That's pretty high velocity for a load that's below Hodgdon minimum recommendation for 38spl (not +P).



Mike

Your correct, I reviewed my loading records last night and found these corrections.
With 4.1g of tight-group I am using 38 colt long brass, with 38special brass I use 5.1g of tight-group. Both of these loads make minor PF in my 4' Colt Python.