357 Mag 125gr bullet for target practice

[BC38]

You said "target practice". Why use 125 gr.?

You said 1400 fps. Why so fast for the target?

Just wondering. If I were to need 1400 I would use a jacketed bullet. If I were target practicing I would use a 158 lead boolit. But that's just me.

Me too....

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I have quite a few 110gr conical coated lead bullets that make round holes ALMOST as neat as their 148gr coated lead wadcutter brothers...

Unfortunately, both require the same small pistol primer: when I was unsure of a decent supply going forward, I reloaded neither and opted for other bullets.

I guess it all depends: I have plenty 22lr bullets and it is usually just as much fun to shoot those at targets (IMHO)? But if I am reloading to practice for a serious SD bullet I don't hesitate to load, for example, plated or coated bullets at, hopefully, close to the same weight and velocity so I can shoot a bunch.

Oh, for the good old days of primers being commonly available! And CHEAP!

Cheers!

 

[stansdds]

You said "target practice". Why use 125 gr.?

You said 1400 fps. Why so fast for the target?

Just wondering. If I were to need 1400 I would use a jacketed bullet. If I were target practicing I would use a 158 lead boolit. But that's just me.

I agree. In 357 Magnum, a 125 grain bullet with a muzzle velocity of 1400 fps is more of a full power load, close to duplicating factory full power 125 grain JHP loads.

 

[StrawHat]

When I shot the small bore magnum, I cast 125 SWCs from a six cavity mold. Cast bullets do not have to be hard to prevent leading. To prevent leading, they have to be sized correctly for your revolver.

Kevin

 

[cowboy4evr]

StrawHat is correct , AND ----- and the internal dimensions of the revolver have to be the correct size ie: cylinder throats correct size , no tight spot where the barrel threads onto the frame to down size the bullet and no tight spot where there is the " roll " markings on the side of the barrel .
A revolver that is properly set up and cured of the above possible problem areas will not only shoot w/o the lead problem in the barrel but also be very very accurate . This has been my experience , YMMV , Regards Paul

 

[rhodesengr]

I am just courious why your .357 Magnum 125 gr "Target loads"
have to start at

1400fps ?

Good question. Since I don't hunt, I guess everything I shoot is for target practice. I tried to explain in the body of my post. I have various other lower energy loads.
158gr LRN 700fps (5gr AA5) in 38spl
158gr LHP-GC 1000FPS "FBI load" in .357 (8gr AA5)

But eventually I wanted to experience "full power" 357 mag. Looking at some commercial loads, I decided to sort of copy the Hornady 125gr XTP load. I ended up with 17gr of Enforcer. I am not sure of the exact speed I actually get. I tried to Chrono it but got some odd readings. I now have a Lab Radar that I will use to see what that load is actually doing (hopefully).

What I was looking for here was just a less expensive version of the XTP bullet so I can make and shoot more of them when I am in the mood for that "Full Power" 357 Magnum experience.

The Zero bullet looks pretty good. I'll probably get some. I did want to get more info about the 22 BHN lead bullets as a possibility.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Everglades marks up and sells Zero Bullets .

After years of buying direct from Zero I got tired of their idiosyncrasies when they took three week to ship my "in-stock" order with no communications as to why the delay.

Everglades has been minimally higher lately & they get the order out in a day of two & pack the product very well, without any hassles.

I can deal with Everglades as my first choice until Zero changes their ways.

.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

...But eventually I wanted to experience "full power" 357 mag...

And why not.

It's always a crowd pleaser when I take new shooters out in the desert to shoot some full house 357, especially in low light. After that it's, "Oh, you thought that fireball was cool?" and I let them shoot the Soviet M44's.

 

[rhodesengr]

I can deal with Everglades as my first choice until Zero changes their ways.

.

Good info. Thanks as I have not ordered from Zero before. I understand a lot of the smaller companies have various problem but I have found most of them to be amazing. For example, Rim Rock has always been great. Recently been buying Dillon enhancements from Uniquetek. They have been great. Lost more too. My slowest shipping experiences have been from Ballistic Products.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Good question. Since I don't hunt, I guess everything I shoot is for target practice. I tried to explain in the body of my post. I have various other lower energy loads.
158gr LRN 700fps (5gr AA5) in 38spl
158gr LHP-GC 1000FPS "FBI load" in .357 (8gr AA5)

But eventually I wanted to experience "full power" 357 mag. Looking at some commercial loads, I decided to sort of copy the Hornady 125gr XTP load. I ended up with 17gr of Enforcer. I am not sure of the exact speed I actually get. I tried to Chrono it but got some odd readings. I now have a Lab Radar that I will use to see what that load is actually doing (hopefully).

What I was looking for here was just a less expensive version of the XTP bullet so I can make and shoot more of them when I am in the mood for that "Full Power" 357 Magnum experience.

The Zero bullet looks pretty good. I'll probably get some. I did want to get more info about the 22 BHN lead bullets as a possibility.

I don't have any of your powders for any data but in my 686 6" and 125 jhp;

HS-6 got 1430fps
sr4756 did 1448 ...... (most Acc. load)
2400 put out 1502
and a mild load of CFE/w231 at 8.0 grs was accurate at 1240fps.

Nothing wrong with full JHP loads, just that 90% of my loads are medium to light loads, for my family members.

I know one can pass factory fps with the 110 & 125 JHP bullets
but I only used them on fast moving Jacks or Yotes, when out in the sage.

 

[tlawler]

After years of buying direct from Zero I got tired of their idiosyncrasies when they took three week to ship my "in-stock" order with no communications as to why the delay.

Everglades has been minimally higher lately & they get the order out in a day of two & pack the product very well, without any hassles.

I can deal with Everglades as my first choice until Zero changes their ways.

.

I didn’t know about Everglades reselling zero bullets, but they’re still pretty reasonable. I’ve bought .40 and 9mm in 2K lots when available and that drops the price per bullet significantly over 500 or 1K quantities AND they ship for free. I’m only 60 miles from Naples, so shipping is quick. So far, they have the cheapest FMJ projectiles I’ve found.

 

[Miracle Man]

I am just courious why your .357 Magnum 125 gr "Target loads"
have to start at

1400fps ?

Same thing I was thinking? I mean when I'm thinking target shooting I'm thinking couple hundred rounds or more. Having some fun.

Why punish yourself with full power loads? But hey to each his own.