Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 357 mag 180 buffalo bore velocities

How do they get 1400 fps with a 180 gr bullet in a 5" revolver? Is anyone getting close to this with handloads? If so how are you doing it? Thanks


Trystan

I think it's smoke and mirrors. I haven't chronographed my 180 grain XTP's on top of a heeping helping of H110, but I doubt I'm getting 1300 if that.

I chronographed my load of 14 gr H110 with 180 XTP in my 6" smith 686...chrono says 1050. I'd be happy if it was pushing 1300


Trystan

I have chronographed a boatload of Buffalo Bore ammo and it pretty much always meets or exceeds the claims.

Recently chronoed the Buff Bore 180 .357s from my 2.75" S&W M66-8 and from 16" Rossi 92

Labradar Muzzle Velocity
60 Deg F

M66-8 2.75" …………………………………………….. 1,312 fps

16" Rossi M92 carbine …………............................…. 1,894 fps



Handload Previously Chronoed w/Comp Elect at 5 Long paces from Muzzle

5 1/2" Freedom Arms M97, 15.0gr H110 185gr Beartooth LFNGC ....... 1,384 fps (75 deg F)

FWIW,

Paul

Yeah, the BB 180 load clocked about 1350 from my 4" SS. I have no idea how they do it.

Is that 180 a cast bullet or jacketed? Usually you can pick up a good bit of velocity, 100 fps or so, with cast at the same pressure. Gas check will help a little over plain base. The more of the bullet is forward of the case, the less case capacity is "consumed" by bullet base, so the more velocity you can pick up. Pushing closer to SAAMI max pressure by monitoring shot to shot variation can gain you some. Selection of some ideal powder, or formulation of one that's not available to reloaders as a canister powder, might gain something. The net sum of many small gains may not be small at all.

Tom

Yes it's a cast bullet. Thanks for the explanation


Trystan

Sounds like I need to go up with my powder charge


Trystan

If you are using the Hornady JHP, I'd be reluctant to increase your powder charge. Hornady manual max for that bullet when seated to top crimp grove is 13.1gr H110 and 13.7gr WW296 - same powder, different lots. The BB bullet and the one I used are both hard cast gas checks.

FWIW,

Paul

Paul, my thoughts were I haven't reached the hornady advertised velocity so I have a little room. I'd for sure not attempt to reach into the 1300's. I was thinking 1150. In reality I'm thinking I might be better of going with the 158 XTP because I'm afraid I'm pushing the velocity window for good terminal performance with the 180. I'm planning on hunting whitetail deer

Trystan

Another great 180 gr bullet is the old school Remington 180gr JHP. They open decently down to 1125 fps in stock form; I'll often drill the hollow point a bit deeper which gets them opening reliably even slower than that. Of course you could probably do the same for the 180 XTP if you were worried about it. Drill em a bit and keep that weight for better penetration and less deflection off bone etc. The 158 XTPs work well but they are not 180's. In my opinion with a handgun, you want as long a hole as possible.

If you're wondering about performance, best recent investment I have made for handgun hunting load workup is a block of clear ballistics gel. It allows for a lot of experimentation before you put your sights on an animal. Obviously, it doesn't exactly mimic what a bullet will do to a deer, but it gives a sense, especially for the lower windows of bullet performance. You can start with a load you already know works on animals, set that as your benchmark, and go to town.

Thanks, Max. Good info.

Powder capacity and pressure is what makes speed. with Buffalo Bore 158 grain GD ammo in a 4" M19 I got near 1400 fps chrono'ed

Smokin'.... Wonder where the point of diminishing returns for barrel length would be with that load.