357/44 Bain & Davis load data wanted?

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm glad I could help.

 

[6GUNSONLY]

I have an old Hodgdon manual (#23, 1979) that has a .357-44 page. I can take a pic of it and text or email it to you. I can't post pics right now. PM me if you want it.

 

[Pantera Mike]

I have an old Hodgdon manual (#23, 1979) that has a .357-44 page. I can take a pic of it and text or email it to you. I can't post pics right now. PM me if you want it.

Here is the page referenced above, which shows the same data as the other Hodgdon sources above.

Thanks!

 

[Pantera Mike]

I just received this from Louis Ohland, who runs the 357/44 B&D website referenced above. Apparently this is some of the later data that was supplied by Bain & Davis.

Five pages of PDF, which I had to divide into two halves to meet filesize restrictions.

 

[Pantera Mike]

Using all the data referenced above, today I loaded some experimental rounds. Five rounds each, going from 20.0 to 24.0 grains of WW-296 in half-grain increments. I am by no means convinced that I will be able to go all the way to 24.0 grains without suffering from excess pressure, so at the first signs of flattened primers, difficult extraction, or the dreaded case setback, I will stop there and likely back off a half grain or a full grain, and then load up a bunch and start shooting for real.

My new-to-me Model 27 is still in California Gun Jail but I hope to be shooting by mid-May.

Thanks again to everyone who has helped with this project!

 

[Protocall_Design]

Be careful on the loads for the M27. A Contender can easily handle pressures that will destroy a revolver cylinder. Federal primers may give pressure signs sooner than other ones, can't say for sure about that.

 

[Pantera Mike]

Yes, thanks for the warning. I intend to tiptoe with extreme caution here. I am well-versed in the use of a bullet puller and have no qualms about crying ‘enough’ before getting to the max load. I will be using Winchester WLP primers (suitable for both standard and Magnum loads) with WW-296.

Here is the latest data I found, from the June 2015 issue of Handloader magazine, where the feature article is load development for the 357/44 Bain & Davis in the T/C Encore. As you so aptly point out, they can withstand far greater pressures than a mid-century revolver, so I would be reticent about them for my Model 27 application, at least without thoroughly testing loads far below these.

 

[Pantera Mike]

I don’t know if cross-posting is allowed, so you can read the results of my first range trip in my other 357/44 B&D thread....

Need 357/44 B&D info