What rounds cause the most flame cutting?

[Amy May]

In .357s.... Are there certain loads that will cause more cutting than others?

 

[Joni_Lynn]

I've experienced flame cutting with both 125 and 158 grain factory ammo.

 

[badge 851]

In .357s.... Are there certain loads that will cause more cutting than others?

Just about any full power 125gr loading is pretty harsh & causes erosion. Remington® has a milder load (1220 vs 1450fps), in their Golden Saber™ round #GS357MA, albeit NOT a practice round. Magtech® load #GG357 is also in this category. I use either of these loads when I carry my 357 Mag snubbie. If I have to use 125gr ammo, I use these two. The 158gr loads cause FAR LESS erosion than the ANY 125gr ammo, in my experience. From the preceding narrative, you may conclude I practice w/158gr ammo in my 357 Magnums.

 

[Nframe357]

Feederal and Remington full power 125 loads are the worst in my experience, but flame cutting only goes so deep and stops. Throat erosion is another story though, I'd imagine some of the hot boutique ammo like Buffalo Bore and Doubletap would be culprits as well but can't speak from experience.

 

[CT Smith Fan]

I agree that full 125's are pretty rough,However try a winchester 158 gr round with a slow burning powder(ww296)and you should be fine.PS. burns best in longer barrels.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

The reading I have done and my personal experience bears this out, is that light bullets and ball powders are the problem.

If you do a bunch of reading up on the 357maximum you will find that the problem with the Ruger's were trying to fired 110 and 125 grn loads with powders like h110 or 296. The ball powders would cut a nasty groove in the top strap quickly. If you stuck with 158's or 180's and stick powders like 4227, no real issue. As a reasonably heavy 357 Supermag/Maximum shooter, this has been a real concern.

So my rules for high pressure rounds.
1) No ball/spherical powders for hot loads
2) No light for caliber bullets.

Thus I will use 231 for a plinker 148 grn target round in 357 magnum but I won't use 296 with 110 jhp's.

 

[ENH]

WW 110 gr 357 mag is a well known flame cutter.

 

[TSQUARED]

In .357s.... Are there certain loads that will cause more cutting than others?

It is my understanding that max loads with light bullets and slow burning powder are the major culprit.

 

[nitesite]

Worst culprit was/is a 110-gr bullet loaded to ungodly velocities.

Second worse was a 125-gr JHP loaded hot with slow powder.

This phenominon was usually experienced with K-frame Smiths (with the yoke cut machined off the bottom of the forcing cone) causing flame cutting plus cracked cones.