Good choice. The 158gr RNFP-HP (hexgon hollow-point hole) are the ones that are double plated & rated to 1500fps. The 158gr with the solid RNFP is the superior plated bullet (SPB) & rated at 1200fps.
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.357 Mag Powder Puff Load.
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Good choice. The 158gr RNFP-HP (hexgon hollow-point hole) are the ones that are double plated & rated to 1500fps. The 158gr with the solid RNFP is the superior plated bullet (SPB) & rated at 1200fps.
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I don't think....
I don't think test barrels even HAVE a gap. Why in the world don't they use something that somewhat resembles real life.
My Speer #9 mostly uses a lot of real guns for testing, often a Ruger Security Six.
I don't think test barrels even HAVE a gap. Why in the world don't they use something that somewhat resembles real life.
My Speer #9 mostly uses a lot of real guns for testing, often a Ruger Security Six.
Anybody care to.....
We have affordable chronometers. Anybody care to invent and market a pressure measuring instrument that could be used by everyday gun enthusiasts? Maybe incorporating a 10" test barrel?
Actually, making a single bore cylinder that could be fitted to a gun matching the cylinder gap with a pressure port hooked to a transducer would be 'doable'. If it could be made to max size it would be able to be planed That's what they used in my old Speer manual.
This guy took four years to develop his system.
http://www.ktgunsmith.com/straingauge.htm
I also see you can buy an external strain gauge that goes around the barrel and is adjusted to correlate (how well?) standard testing for about $300. Serious reloaders with some cash to burn would probably see this as a deal.
We have affordable chronometers. Anybody care to invent and market a pressure measuring instrument that could be used by everyday gun enthusiasts? Maybe incorporating a 10" test barrel?
Actually, making a single bore cylinder that could be fitted to a gun matching the cylinder gap with a pressure port hooked to a transducer would be 'doable'. If it could be made to max size it would be able to be planed That's what they used in my old Speer manual.
This guy took four years to develop his system.
http://www.ktgunsmith.com/straingauge.htm
I also see you can buy an external strain gauge that goes around the barrel and is adjusted to correlate (how well?) standard testing for about $300. Serious reloaders with some cash to burn would probably see this as a deal.
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I am going to chrono the factory loads as soon as the store gets some more in I don't want to be shooting up my box of SD loads. I already shot up half of them just checking how they shot in this gun. I really don't need the chrono to tell they are really hot compared to my loads, but data on paper tells more then in the shooting. Don
Thanks for that info. I knew the Berry's plated I buy come in thick plated that will do 1500 but X Treme just said their plated would do 1500. I am not looking for that much speed anyway and probably couldn't get it out of this 4" barrel if I want it. 1200 would make me happy. Don
1500 fps with a 158gr bullet is like 800ft-lbs of energy. Way beyond what a 4" 357 can do. 1200 is hard but doable with powders like h110, 300mp, and the like. If you can't change powders, you might want to abandon that goal.
If you are trying to match a 125gr load, why aren't you using a 125gr bullet?
Oh sorry, I see now you said that. Yeah that seems a lot more achievable, though I wonder if you'll reach it. Your 158gr loads were not even making 200 ft-lbs of energy. You will be trying to make 400 ft-lbs with the 125gr. The lighter bullet should add a bit more energy, and you were using lower end charges, but still... That's a big change. My observations are that the energy for a cartridge at the max is in a fairly tight ballpark when reasonable bullet weights are used (125 and 158 are both within 15% of the original 140gr weight). Lighter bullets will have more energy, but not significantly more, although longer barrels will exacerbate this difference.
Anyway, only one way to find out what it will do, but my guess is you'll still be a bit short of the goal given you only have fast-burning powders to work with.
You can get well over 1300 fps out of a 4" 357 with 125 gr JHPs with a
full power load that is within pressure standards. You can also reach
1300 fps with 158 gr cast SWCs and stay at reasonable pressure with
the right load. Plated? I have no experience with, never bought any
and never will.
full power load that is within pressure standards. You can also reach
1300 fps with 158 gr cast SWCs and stay at reasonable pressure with
the right load. Plated? I have no experience with, never bought any
and never will.
I'm using powders that I can find.......
I'm using powders I never intended to because it was what I could find. I work to get the best performance with the gun, bullet and powder that I use. But I don't try to get magnum loads with Titegroup. It's not just unsuitable, it's flat butt wrong. It can't be adapted to simulate the properties at all. I'd like to use Gold Dots for my defense bullets but I have FTX because that's all I could find. Does it bother me? Not really. If you feel like you have to have hot to hottest loads you need a slower 'magnum' powder.
I'm using powders I never intended to because it was what I could find. I work to get the best performance with the gun, bullet and powder that I use. But I don't try to get magnum loads with Titegroup. It's not just unsuitable, it's flat butt wrong. It can't be adapted to simulate the properties at all. I'd like to use Gold Dots for my defense bullets but I have FTX because that's all I could find. Does it bother me? Not really. If you feel like you have to have hot to hottest loads you need a slower 'magnum' powder.
Hot loads....
I'm with you. Except with the added refinement of trying to hit a target, hot loads are essentially cherry bombs for 'adults'.
I'm with you. Except with the added refinement of trying to hit a target, hot loads are essentially cherry bombs for 'adults'.
My 686 6" loves the max loading of CFE pistol powder with the
125gr XTP bullet at 1221 fps at ten feet.
It is 23 fps slower than a full load of w231 powder and both
shot at point of aim in my revolver.
For the heavier bullets you will need to find Unique or HS6 or
slower powders for your best results. Not that you can't use
these medium fast powders but pressures will limit your fps.
Good loading.
125gr XTP bullet at 1221 fps at ten feet.
It is 23 fps slower than a full load of w231 powder and both
shot at point of aim in my revolver.
For the heavier bullets you will need to find Unique or HS6 or
slower powders for your best results. Not that you can't use
these medium fast powders but pressures will limit your fps.
Good loading.
I ran more test over the chrony today and I just confortable make IDPA REV minor 125gr FP Berry's plated over 7.5gr of CFE Pistol, and Federal Magnum Small Pistal primers.
Hi Vel 1070
Low Vel 1013
Avg Vel 1045
ES 57
SD 21 Magnum primers do make a difference as 2 of the 5 test loads dropped below 1000 with out them. The groups was very tight and I was really happy with the ES and DS. They are not mush of a 357 mag load but they sure shoot good and are nice to shoot. Just not going to get any more out of this powder. I went up to 7.6 which was listed as max load and it got me up to 1068 avg but the groups started to open up. Untill a better powder comes my way I am happy.
thanks everyone for the help. Don
Hi Vel 1070
Low Vel 1013
Avg Vel 1045
ES 57
SD 21 Magnum primers do make a difference as 2 of the 5 test loads dropped below 1000 with out them. The groups was very tight and I was really happy with the ES and DS. They are not mush of a 357 mag load but they sure shoot good and are nice to shoot. Just not going to get any more out of this powder. I went up to 7.6 which was listed as max load and it got me up to 1068 avg but the groups started to open up. Untill a better powder comes my way I am happy.
thanks everyone for the help. Don
I don't know what velocity you're looking for with 125 gr JHPs out of
a 4" barrel but if you're using H110 you better be prepared to use a
lot of it. With 125 gr Sierra JHPs I got 1370 fps out of my S&W 4" 28-2
using 17.5 grs of 2400 and 1285 fps using 8.2 grs of W231.
a 4" barrel but if you're using H110 you better be prepared to use a
lot of it. With 125 gr Sierra JHPs I got 1370 fps out of my S&W 4" 28-2
using 17.5 grs of 2400 and 1285 fps using 8.2 grs of W231.
Test today showed that Hornady Critical Defense 125gr FTX out of my 4" barrel is gettint 1428fps avg with the high being 1448. I was petty happy with that and they shot good groups.
15.0gr of H110 behind a 158gr RNFP X-Treme Plated clocked @ 1159fps avg with a high of 1256. For some reason adding .3gr lowered the avg to 1107 with a high of 1167. 15.0gr gave excellent groups with not to bad of muzzle flash. the extra .3 really increased the flash while reducing the velocity. The target also looked like the plating was coming apart on 3 of the 6 shots. I am going to try order some FTX later and give this quest up for a while. Don
15.0gr of H110 behind a 158gr RNFP X-Treme Plated clocked @ 1159fps avg with a high of 1256. For some reason adding .3gr lowered the avg to 1107 with a high of 1167. 15.0gr gave excellent groups with not to bad of muzzle flash. the extra .3 really increased the flash while reducing the velocity. The target also looked like the plating was coming apart on 3 of the 6 shots. I am going to try order some FTX later and give this quest up for a while. Don
