Chronograph data 357's

[Miracle Man]

Okay so in between the pouring rains this morning I managed to sneak in a few rounds through chronograph. I planned on shooting a lot more but Mother Nature had other plans, anyways:

S&W model 19 4 " 357 magnum

Load 1 - 140 gr Hornady FTX 13.0 grs H110 CCI SPM primer

FPS 1104, 1099, 1095, 1099, 1077, 1070

Load 2 - 140 gr Hornady FTX 13.5 grs H110 CCI SPM primer

FPS 1117, 1141, 1104, 1059, 1108, 1098

And today was my lucky day. I walked right into a really nice S&W 586 6" and I'm now the proud new owner.

S&W 586 6" 357 magnum

Load 1 - 140 Hornady FTX 13.0 grs H110 CCI SPM primer

FPS 1130, 1170, 1143, 1155 started pouring again and I quit.

I'm grinning ear to ear on this Smith. I'll post pics in a minute.

 

[38SPL HV]

You want even more fun, expand your bullet use to cast bullets in your revolver.

 

[Miracle Man]

You want even more fun, expand your bullet use to cast bullets in your revolver.

Yes sir I'm heading down that road next.

 

[Nevada Ed]

In my two latest 357 Magnums.

I got very good accuracy out of the 140 gr XTP bullets and that also did
better in the accuracy dept than the 135 Gold Dot in my M49 snub nose.

Keep a few boxes if you can.

 

[Miracle Man]

In my two latest 357 Magnums.

I got very good accuracy out of the 140 gr XTP bullets and that also did
better in the accuracy dept than the 135 Gold Dot in my M49 snub nose.

Keep a few boxes if you can.

Yes they shot very well in both revolvers, from what limited shots I got.

I set the chronograph up 10' from the bench and behind it probably 25' was a set of gong targets. I was going to set up a paper bullseye but I didn't take the time due to rain clouds, anyways. I happened to be lined up right with the top pretty small maybe 3" gong. I hit it almost every shot. Missed once or twice?

I'd guess they would have been decent groups at 35-40 foot range.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Hodgdons has significantly higher START loads foe both WIN 296 & H110: I have heard there may be a problem loading down (downloading?) magnums with those powders...

Just an FYI.

Cheers!

 

[Miracle Man]

Hodgdons has significantly higher START loads foe both WIN 296 & H110: I have heard there may be a problem loading down (downloading?) magnums with those powders...

Just an FYI.

Cheers!

Yes sir

For the Hornady 140 gr FTX Hodgdon recommends a starting load of 12.0 grs, max 14.5 grs

 

[colt_saa]

Yes sir

For the Hornady 140 gr FTX Hodgdon recommends a starting load of 12.0 grs, max 14.5 grs

Congratulations on the new revolver

As a long time H110 user, that sounded pretty light to me as well.

H110 does not play well at low pressures so I looked to what the Hodgon site shows

It is interesting that Hodgon lists loads for that projectile almost 10,000 PSI below what the 140 XTP is loaded at.

I never really looked at the construction of the FTX, not sure what is different in that projectile

I know that is what the website says, but for me I would be looking toward a different powder for those pressures and velocities. Perhaps 231

H110 has always been a FULL Power only type of powder.

For decades I have loaded many thousands of the Winchester 125 JHPs with 21.7 grains of H110

 

[alwslate]

OP you can get about the same velocity with about half as much powder if you use powders like 231, Longshot and Power Pistol as your reduced loads of H110. Better consistency also.

 

[dave1918a2]

Must be something with bullet construction. the new Hornaday doesn't even list H110 for the FTX. Max velocity listed at 1300. But it does show 18.4 as a max load for the XTP with 1400 velocity.

 

[Just another 22 shooter]

Miracle Man, do you trim the brass to 1.240" per the Hornady Loading Manual?
I played around with the 140 FTX last year and figured out that for my uses, I don't need to trim the brass to 1.240" the way Hornady tells you to in my 9th Edition Manual. Seating the bullet to the cannalure, the cartridge loads and feeds in my Marlin 1894 and it ejects a loaded round with no problem. I'm not posting my load because it is not in any manual and it is above any max loads listed that are out there. My gun shoots this load consistent sub moa groups at 100yards, which is all I ask of the gun.

 

[Miracle Man]

Congratulations on the new revolver

As a long time H110 user, that sounded pretty light to me as well.

H110 does not play well at low pressures so I looked to what the Hodgon site shows

It is interesting that Hodgon lists loads for that projectile almost 10,000 PSI below what the 140 XTP is loaded at.

I never really looked at the construction of the FTX, not sure what is different in that projectile

I know that is what the website says, but for me I would be looking toward a different powder for those pressures and velocities. Perhaps 231

H110 has always been a FULL Power only type of powder.

For decades I have loaded many thousands of the Winchester 125 JHPs with 21.7 grains of H110

I'm a longtime H110 reloader for 44 magnum and 45 LC but I'd never used anything but 2400 and Blue dot, in 357.

I only had the model 19 and read on here and other places about the K frame not being very good at digesting 125 gr XTP with the cut away forcing cone, (thanks guys.)

So I thought I'd try these 140 FTX's and yes I was a bit surprised they (Hodgdon) recommended like 4 grs. lighter IIRC starting load for these. They kind of remind me of muzzle loader bullets for sabots. It seems to me it has a fairly long bearing surface from the ogive to the base. Perhaps that's the reason? I'm not sure I like them?

I think I'm going to return the H110 to the 44 mag realm and stick with 2400, 231 etc. for 357

And try a go to more lead 158 gr. bullets as well.

 

[Miracle Man]

Miracle Man, do you trim the brass to 1.240" per the Hornady Loading Manual?
I played around with the 140 FTX last year and figured out that for my uses, I don't need to trim the brass to 1.240" the way Hornady tells you to in my 9th Edition Manual. Seating the bullet to the cannalure, the cartridge loads and feeds in my Marlin 1894 and it ejects a loaded round with no problem. I'm not posting my load because it is not in any manual and it is above any max loads listed that are out there. My gun shoots this load consistent sub moa groups at 100yards, which is all I ask of the gun.

I did not trim them. Every time I've attempted to trim pistol brass maybe 5 out of 100 even barley need trimmed. I'm miracle man BTW because of my granddaughter (Miracle) that's her name. She has cerebral palsy. Love her to death, she puts a smile on my face from ear to ear every time I'm around her.

Got off in the weeds, sorry.

 

[venomballistics]

Congratulations on the new revolver

As a long time H110 user, that sounded pretty light to me as well.

H110 does not play well at low pressures so I looked to what the Hodgon site shows

It is interesting that Hodgon lists loads for that projectile almost 10,000 PSI below what the 140 XTP is loaded at.

I never really looked at the construction of the FTX, not sure what is different in that projectile

I know that is what the website says, but for me I would be looking toward a different powder for those pressures and velocities. Perhaps 231

H110 has always been a FULL Power only type of powder.

For decades I have loaded many thousands of the Winchester 125 JHPs with 21.7 grains of H110

the FTX projectiles are more or less spire points with elastomer inserts ... it tends to put more shank in the case, thus, lower loads.
They were originally intended for tube fed guns like lever actions, affording them higher BC.s than RN and FP designs.
Seems to be at the cost of a little velocity.

 

[white cloud]

I really like .357 carbines and find it interesting that the 140 grain XTP has a better ballistic coefficient than the FTX.

I strong advise against "light loading" the .357 when using H110. Certainly nothing less than what Hodgdon recommends. My experience is that the warmer .357 loads using H110 are very accurate.

 

[Skeet 028]

I actually have a Python fired one time with approx 7.5 gr 296. It only has 3 cylinders left..no top strap...otherwise the gun is pristine Nickle. Winchester told the owner it said in the manuals to NOT download 296. I got one round out of the cylinder... tore it down and weighed the powder. The owner said he had downloaded them to under 8 gr. He was right. Detonation?? Don't know...but I wouldn't shoot one loaded that way. Hodgdon downloads H-110 a bit more than Winchester recommends for their version of the same powder.

I am about to put the gun in a shadow box to hang on the wall...take to gun shows etc

 

[stansdds]

I actually have a Python fired one time with approx 7.5 gr 296. It only has 3 cylinders left..no top strap...otherwise the gun is pristine Nickle. Winchester told the owner it said in the manuals to NOT download 296. I got one round out of the cylinder... tore it down and weighed the powder. The owner said he had downloaded them to under 8 gr. He was right. Detonation?? Don't know...but I wouldn't shoot one loaded that way. Hodgdon downloads H-110 a bit more than Winchester recommends for their version of the same powder.

I am about to put the gun in a shadow box to hang on the wall...take to gun shows etc

The take-home message here: Do not stray from published reloading data. Yikes!!!!

 

[Miracle Man]

The take-home message here: Do not stray from published reloading data. Yikes!!!!

Yep

I've never been a "let's see how far I can push it" reloader. "Hey if 16.5 grs is good (max)18 has to be better, right?". Ummm NO And the same thing applies to the low end.

Those guys producing the manuals have forgot more about pressure than we'll ever know. There are very good reasons for start and stop levels.

I'm glad I started out reloading bottle neck rifle. Learning to look for cratered primers, real shinny rings around base of brass and always eye checking case volume.

I'm a bit of a noob pistol reloader. Only been doing it oh 8 years or so. But it sure seems to me it's much easier to make a mistake reloading for pistol.

 

[Nevada Ed]

One reason that I neve bought any of those two powders.

I know I am human and getting older and don't need no stinking, surprises.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

One reason that I neve bought any of those two powders.

I know I am human and getting older and don't need no stinking, surprises.

Ed: Seriously, you have never loaded any full bore Magnum loads with either WIN 296 or H110...?

Have you ever shot any?

Cheers!