Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading .357 velocities

Finishing shot. Yep. Then that same pistol shoots gobs of small game and pests like red squirrels using unique and fmj's. Doesn't even damage the meat/hide on something as small as a red squirrel.

Can't think if another hand gun cartridge more versatile.

That is definitely a versatile gun/loads you have indeed.

So what’s the straight scoop on lil gun? FA says it destroys their revolvers and I got it straight from Hodgdon that they have seen no evidence of such? It’s the one powder in all of this that gets me the numbers I’m looking for.

The issue with Lil'gun is flame cutting of the forcing cone. Mainer or other high volume Lilgun shooters have you experienced this?

I learn something every day........the 357 had a reputation for doing that with 125s in K-Frames, before LG

Nope, about 3 lbs of lil gun through my little trail gun shooting only 180 grain bullets. The flame cutting is an old wives tail.

Anyhow, it's a fkn ruger, so hopefully after a few more years, it'll rattle loose and I can toss it in the trash.

Mainer thanks for the info. Ruger guns have some issues but "after a few more years, it'll rattle loose" is not one of them. I suspect it will take more than a few more years before your handgun will be ready for the trash heap.

Two things happened in my world recently- I've taken a renewed interest in my .357 Magnum's, and I noticed that I have STUPID amounts of fast burning powder such as Clays, 700-X and Bullseye/IMR-Target. I carry a SA .357 a lot around the place doing chores, feeding the cows, etc., but rather than carry full-house, ear-splitting loads I typically carry a 158-173 gr. cast SWC running 1000 fps or so. So a few days ago I set about testing loads with IMR-Target, which is for all practical purposes Bullseye. 6.0 gr. of Target and a cast 158 gr. SWC netted 1140 fps from a 4 3/4" barrel, and that's still a full grain below max. Velocity from my 20" Rossi was well north of 1300 fps. I'm guessing were I to go to 7.0 grs. velocity in the revolver would probably be 1250-1300 fps. With the 173 gr. cast (358429) SWC, velocity was right at 1100 fps from the revolver and 1300 from the carbine.

I've never really seen the use in very slow powders in revolvers. I've loaded 2400 and H110 in my .357's, but found that I can get close to the same velocities with 50% lighter charges of Blue Dot.

I guess my point is- Why use all that slow burning powder for few if any gain in velocity when faster burning powders will do the same with lighter charges?

A fast burning powder will produce much higher pressures to produce the same velocities. That works okay if you are not after higher speeds. At high velocities you'll have excessive pressures.

Understood, but my point is, if one can get the same velocity with 10 grs. of Blue Dot (below max load)as with 17 gr. of H110, why use H110?