110 gr viable 357 weight?

[M29since14]

I had an older friend, a bit on the thrifty side, who owned a M66 Taurus revolver with 6-inch barrel. We shot it quite a bit. I don't recall any problems and I have seen worse looking revolvers that cost more money.

I don't know if it would have stood up to the same amount of shooting as a Model 19 S&W. What shooting we did with it was perfectly satisfactory. I usually provided my own handloads (#358156 and 13 grains of #2400). The Taurus handled those loads just fine, and it was surprisingly accurate.

The stocks that came on the gun were actually more comfortable in my hand than the S&W target stocks on my 19-3, but unfortunately not nearly as pretty. All in all, it was a nice enough revolver for maybe 60% the cost of a Model 19.

 

[Forrest r]

My new Hornady manual says you can push these out of a 8 in barrel with 10.0 gr of PP at 1500 fps! I'm not going to even try for that. 8.5 gr of PP at 1300 fps seems more reasonable. And I've only got a 4" barrel.

Just some random thoughts:

10.5gr of pp pushing a 110gr jacketed hp in a 6" bbl'd 357mag is in the +/- 1450fps range.

That 9.0gr load of unique is in the +/- 1300fps range using a 4" bbl. (lyman 48th shows 10.0gr of unique pushing a 110gr jacketed hp 1392fps in a 4" bbl)

You already have an extremely accurate load that is within your +/- 1300fps requirements.

Myself, I'd stick with that 9.0gr unique load and enjoy 100 rounds of extremely accurate hard-hitting ammo that you can rely on hitting what you're aiming at. The alternative is burning 40/50/60 bullets trying to find a load with a different powder that will perform at the same level as what you already have.

 

[Hair Trigger]

110's and 125's in magnum loads have the reputation of cracking forcing cones in K frame magnums and increasing flame cutting of the top strap in all .357's.

That said, loading them at less than full blast levels with faster powders is fine for target use, but I wouldn't use them as PD loads. They lose energy too fast and don't penetrate as well as heavier bullets, even though you can get them close to light speed at full boogie.

AA#7 and AA#9 work well with the 110's, and if you really want a cooking fast round, Power Pistol can get you past 1600 fps from a longer barrel (6 or 8").

If you want to do some .38 Spl +P, AA#5, Titegroup and Power Pistol can do it.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Hornady .38 caliber 110 grain XTP is decent in your two inch revolver loaded to .38 Special +P velocities.

My LGS stocks Hornady products and for Black Friday Sales they always offer great deals on items that don't sell well. 110 and 125 XTPs are always BOGO so 50% off.

 

[Luke Duke]

Hornady .38 caliber 110 grain XTP is decent in your two inch revolver loaded to .38 Special +P velocities.

My LGS stocks Hornady products and for Black Friday Sales they always offer great deals on items that don't sell well. 110 and 125 XTPs are always BOGO so 50% off.

Mine is a 4" Taurus Tracker. Why it enjoys light bullets IDK. I have a 1st run GP100 half shroud barrel that does not like light bullets. But, if you load 158's cast or jacketed at Full Tilt Max loads , just shines. Laser beam from muzzle to 100 yards.
Not looking for that performance out of my Taurus. 38+P+ , light 357 ish.

 

[Luke Duke]

The winner for the day was 9.0gr of Win572 and those 110XTP. Runner up was 9.0 of Unique. 9.0 of PP didn't shoot bad had some fliers and it was loud and flashy. Really starting to like 572. 14 rounds in just a smidge over an inch. Take that all day.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Mine is a 4" Taurus Tracker. Why it enjoys light bullets IDK. I have a 1st run GP100 half shroud barrel that does not like light bullets. But, if you load 158's cast or jacketed at Full Tilt Max loads , just shines. Laser beam from muzzle to 100 yards.

In a previous RCBS Manual they had a good article why quoted velocities may differ greatly. My brother bought a Chronograph because velocity was a big deal to him. I prefer tight groups. He had a fit when his prize 357 Magnum six inch could not match the velocities I got from my four inch and they were both Model 19s.

At 100 yards my Model 29 four inch out performs my six inch.