357 magnum Chronograph data for Ruger 77/357 rifle and S&W revolver

[Charlie-AKA]

Here are some chronograph results I did this past weekend. No revolutionary discoveries were made but I thought I'd post them just to add to the online information about this caliber and also the performance of the new Ruger 77/357 rifle as compared to a 6" revolver.

This is the first time I ever used a chronograph so there was one mistake I made, and that was going into it with a freshly cleaned revolver barrel and a cold bore. That may have thrown off the results of the first string I shot with Power Pistol.

Conditions: 70 degrees, overcast, not humid (not humid for North Carolina), no wind.
Elev.: 600 ft.
Location: Central North Carolina

Guns: Rifle is a new production Ruger 77/357 bolt action with only about 200 rounds through it before this test. Cold bore, recently cleaned, no fouling shots.

18.5" stainless steel barrel, 1:16 right hand twist




Revolver is a new production (made in January 2013) Smith and Wesson model 586-8 Classic with a 6" barrel. I've put at least 3000 full house magnum rounds through it since buying it last October. It's a super accurate shooter, though I have eroded the forcing cone quite a bit due to excessive use of H110 loads. Nowadays I mostly shoot the more medium speed powders through it, predominantly Power Pistol because I have a lot of that stuff and it's good powder. For super charger rounds in the revolver I use 2400 and use H110 only for the rifle rounds.




357 magnum: All cartridges used CCI Small Magnum pistol primers and a mixture between Remington, Federal, and PMC Brass. I did stick to one brand of brass per load though, to keep results uniform. All bullets were seated to the top of the crimp groove and a heavy taper crimp was used. I'm not sure I can say what the COL is




Revolver results:

7.7 grains Power Pistol with Missouri Cast Bullets 158 grain hard cast LSWC (their "357 Action" bullet)

Note: These were the first shots fired through a cleaned, lubricated gun with a cold bore. I neglected to do any fouling shots and the cold bore probably accounts for the large velocity difference between the first two shots and the last three.

1106

1147

1192

1187

1192



7.7 grains Power Pistol with Penn Bullets 158 grain hard cast Truncated Cone
1213

1204

1209

1213

1233

Avg.: 1214 ES: 29 SD: 11




7.7 grains Power Pistol with Zero brand 158 grain JSP

1065

1045

1061

1070

1045

Avg.: 1057 ES: 25 SD: 11




14.2 grains Alliant 2400 with Missouri Bullet Company 158 grain LSWC ("357 Action")

1337

1375

1344

1338

1320

Avg.: 1342 ES: 55 SD: 20




Now for the 357 magnum Rifle results.




7.7 grains Power Pistol with a Zero 158 gr JSP

1340

1342

1340

1364

1377

Avg.: 1352 ES: 37 SD: 17




15.8 grains Hodgdon H110 with a Zero 158 grain JSP

1654

1646

1654

1683

1629

Avg.: 1653 ES: 54 SD: 19




18.5 grains Hodgdon H110 with a Montana Gold 142 grain FMJ spire point.

1854

1846

1819

1864

1859

Avg.: 1848 ES: 45 SD: 17

*Note: This was the cleanest burning load. Almost no smoke or smell. As my shooting with the rifle improves I've noticed this is a very accurate load and has a higher POI than the 158 grain bullet.




Just a few observations:

1. 2400 uses almost twice as much powder as Power Pistol but the velocity is only about 150 fps more.

2. 12.5" more inches of barrel gave me about 300 fps more velocity on average when my 357 mag load using the 158 grain JSP and 7.7 grains of Power Pistol.

3. Power Pistol is good stuff but you never see much info about it regarding 357 magnum, and I NEVER see load data for it using cast lead bullets.

4. The Ruger rifle seems to be accurate with every bullet weight I've tried (125, 142, and 158 grains). I'm shooting open sighted for now with the stock sights (I actually like them just fine, though I wish they could be adjusted without a screwdriver) but in a few weeks I'll get a Leupold 3-9x40 or something like that and see what kind of accuracy work I can do. All my 50 yard groups were in the 2" range but I'm sure I can do better with a scope. It's probably a 1 MOA rifle. I also shot a steel barrel lid at 250 yards in 25 mph wind (this was on a different day in a different location than the chrono test) and the bullet drop and windage actually wasn't too bad. I only had to have the bead on the front sight covering the barrel lid and then off set my aim about one front sight width to compensate for the horrific wind.
I hope you guys find this data useful.

-Charlie

 

[Forrest r]

pp is one of my favorite powders, use it in 357's, 38spl p+ & 45acp p+.

Some interesting reading, tests from other shooters (bbl lengths/velocities).

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: Home

 

[moxie]

Nice work. Thanks.

Curious why you are using a taper crimp. A good roll crimp into the cannelure is normative.

 

[Charlie-AKA]

Nice work. Thanks.

Curious why you are using a taper crimp. A good roll crimp into the cannelure is normative.

The Lee taper crimp die is just what I've been using and I'd read it doesn't make a big difference if you taper crimp instead of roll crimp.
Why should I roll crimp?

 

[Nick B]

How was the feeding using the Zero 158 JSP bullet ?
Also how was the recoil ?

 

[moxie]

The Lee taper crimp die is just what I've been using and I'd read it doesn't make a big difference if you taper crimp instead of roll crimp.
Why should I roll crimp?

Well, the reason I'm asking is because most folk roll crimp .357 mag, especially in revolvers, to prevent "bullet jump." This is simply the bullet creeping OUT of the case under heavy recoil. If you are getting sufficient case neck tension to keep the bullet in place without roll crimping, that's cool. Have you measured any rounds in the cylinder before and after firing a few rounds to see if they've moved? The faster 2400 loads you've got would be the most likely to do this. Taper crimp is usually used with auto rounds and light recoiling revolver rounds mostly to enhance feeding. The taper crimp doesn't increase case neck tension, nor does it help with bullet jump.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I'm considering buying the Ruger rifle. If I do I wiil no doubt test some loads with a new chrono and 2400 using 158 gr which I have plenty of.

I especially like your assessment of the rifles accuracy. Even 2 moa would make me smile.

 

[Jebus35745]

Interesting cause I have the Marlin lever in 357. I like the Ruger and would like to hear what accuracy you get with the scope. Ohio now allows a rifle in a pistol caliber for deer. Larry