.357 Mag casting help.

Boolit Bub Join DateJan 2011Posts43

Hello Professors.
I was blessed yesterday to win an auction on GB for a Ruger GP100 with 6 inch barrel. I then went to my supply place as was astonished to find, Lee dies, a .358 125gr RN and a couple hundred primers.
I have a ton of Power Pistol and some 231. I know these are not ideal powders but would like to use them.
I have cast for 30-30 several times and am a novice.
Questions.
1. Lyman's Cast Bullet handbook skips the 125gr bullet for load data. Want to find a basic load for this bullet. Safe and light.
2. Should I size the bullets to .358 assuming the Lee Mold pours a little bigger? If I need to slug the gun what method do you like? I did a MN with fishing weights. Want to also size down to 9mm as well.
3. Planning on lubing with 45/45/10. Is that OK?
4. Anything else I might not know about revolver bullet casting that I did not learn whilst rifle bullet casing?
Thanks

#1. I'm not home, so don't have access to my book

#2. I'd keep them as big as you can ... You really should take the cylinder out of the gun and slug each cylinder throat ... They need to be atleast as big as the barrel ... Some Ruger's have a restriction (tight spot) where the barrel is threaded into the frame ...

#3. Yeah that should work ...

#4. Read above on the cylinder throats ... If they are too small you will need to clean them out ... If you have a restriction you may want to fire lap it ... If it is causing leading ...

Shawn

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Boolit Master Join DateNov 2009Posts849

The Hodgdon book gives a start load of 4.6gr and top load of 5.5gr for 231 using 125gr cast in 357mag. Velocities are 1052fps and 1185fps in 10" bbl.

Good accurate loads with that bullet are in the 5-5.5 range with 231 and around 6 grs with Power pistol. Those are accurate in 3 of my rifles and my Ruger GP. They are kind of mid level about 1000 fps in a handgun and 1200-1300 in the rifles. For a milder load try around 4 grs of 231 that should be in the 750-800 fps range.

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
Herbert Spencer (1891)

I load 8gr of PowerPistol in my .357 125gr loads

Boolit Man Join DateDec 2011LocationYakima, WAPosts141

Go to Hodgdon powder for 231 data. http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp It gives data for 231. I copied this from the site:

125 GR. CAST LRNFP Winchester 231 .358" 1.580" 4.6 1052 13,800 CUP 5.5 1185 18,800 CUP

As always verify this for yourself.

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Abbreviations used in Reloading
Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt"

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