357 short barrel round

[dan-g]

Thanks for the clarification hook.

I just got back from the range today and I sent through my 38 plus p load for now. I started at my old 125grn hard cast lead rnd with 5.8 grns unique and finished with 6.3 grains, baby steps is always the way to go. (for anyone reading this these rounds are bieng fired in a 357 and yes there above my speer #14). I will get to the out door range next session and use there free Cronograph to find out where im at.

I will work up the 357 load when I get enough time to play around with my reloading gear. My lee pro 1000 is set up for 38 so its really easy to crank out some rounds. Im going to have to switch to my lee clasic for the 357 short barrels.

On a side note, my love afare with wood grips may have to end on my M&P 340. After firing off maybe 100 rounds through it im starting to feel it even at just the 6.3 grain load. I can normaly only handle 3 cylinders of 357 before Im done for the day. I might have to bust out those ugly hogue monogrips for it so I can continue testing or I could just put more rounds through my other 357 short barrel.

 

[dan-g]

Alright its been awhile but I finaly got to the range with some 357 loads. I tryed three loads and two prevailed. All rounds where fired in my S&W M&P 340 a 13oz gun with factory hogue boot grips.

first was the LSWHP 158gr with mag primers and 5.8 grains unique. This was a very nice round with almost the same recoil as my 125gr 6.3 grains unique practice round. acurracy at 50 ft was decent (all rounds in the torso of a 50ft 18x24 target) Unfortunatly some freinds wanted to go to the indoor range and it was raining so no chronigraph results yet. I will probably dial this round up to 6 grains of unique next range session and hopfull it will finaly stop raining so i can use the chrony. I am also thinking that I should try this in a 38sp case to get more power out of it when it comes to the chrony test.

Second round showing promise is the 125gr barnes lead free HP with 8.2 grains unique and mag primers. This round has an unfortunate muzzle flash even with unique and the recoil is the stoutest of the two. It acuracy was also acceptable but it does sting the hand a little to fire it at the end of a shooting sesion. I might dial this round down a bit.

 

[Missionary]

Good morning
I have a Model 13-3 (3") and a model 19-5 (3.5") that I carry down here laoded with 159 LSWC 158 cast of 25/75 ww to pure lead on top of 6 grains Unique. As this is a self defense load it is going to expand up close and in the 13-3 double taps are no problem. The M19 is even easier. I prefer a 165 grain + cast bullet same mix same powder charge. Lyman 358429 is a great example.
A heavy soft slug at a modest velocity is all that is generally needed to end a situation.