110 Gr 357 "Plinkers" Just About to Give Up!

[ESquared]

I'm fully prepared for the veritable Greek Chorus of "I told you so," but I had to find out for myself whether or not these little 110 gr XTPs would be worth a darn in my 357 reloading exercises.
The target below, from yesterday is 50 rounds of said projectile, all over 9.5 grains of Unique. Other particulars are at the bottom of the target.
It's hard to explain, other than "the bullet's too light." The 10-shot groups are numbered, 1 to 5, starting at the upper left, moving clockwise and ending up in the big target in the middle.
All was as stable as could be. Except for the one group where I landed a few to make the old "ragged hole," the rest were just, well, scattered.
I've got some 125 gr, 140 gr and (more) 158 gr XTPs on order, to go along with the 50 rounds of 110 gr that I've already loaded, so I'll continue the experiment, but (and here comes another newbie "Aha!"), I've also discovered that the cost in bigger bullets is minimal, yet bigger bullets use less powder, so why am I driving myself crazy trying to make these 110s work? I guess because they were free, huh?
Yet, it was a great way (for me, anyway) to get started reloading, and I'm very happy with the processes, the set-up and the nice looking rounds.
More to come. Thanks for putting up with my escapades!

357 110 Gr AGAIN Jan 16 2019 002.JPG (111.67 KiB) Viewed 1431 times

[JEBar]

well understood .... been there .... that's why when I find a load that works, that's it for me .... no more experimentation .... no new powders, same old bullet, no new nothing .... hang in there .... you'll soon walk down to a target that will make you smile ...

[CT_Shooter]

I agree with JEBar and completely understand. I still have about 100 or so Hornady swagged lead bullets that I bought when I first started reloading and will likely never use (well maybe someday in .38s). My current combination of choice is 158 grain ZERO JHP/JSPs (much cheaper than XTPs) and a load of H110 that's just above the starting load for revolvers. At my 25 yard indoor range, they are the most accurate ammo for my BBB H006M and my SmokeWagon, so I don't experiment anymore. It's what my guns like.

[Flinch]

I've had better luck using HS-6 gunpowder when reloading with JHP or FMJ bullets. The accuracy node for both the 158g XTP and 125 XTP is around 1,300 fps for loads I shoot in my 1892 EMF Hartford. Both loads will shoot 10 shot 1-1/4" groups at 50 meters with buckhorn sights. The loads might group better if 1) I could see as well as I could 50 years ago or 2) I mounted a scope on my rifle. Neither one of the those things are going to happen.

You may have to push your 110g XTP bullets faster to get decent groups. OEM Winchester 110g Silvertips shoot decent groups out of my 1892. Ten shot groups measuring 1-5/8" Wide x 2-1/2" High at 50 meters with several shots touching. The Silvertips chronograph at 1266 fps out of a 24" barrel. I don't recommend the Silvertips for a lever action rifle, because they cause a lot of feeding problems.

I use Unique gunpowder for loading with cast bullets. My cast bullet loads are reasonably accurate between 1,000 fps and 1,100 fps. A 158g Remington lead SWC will shoot ten shot 4" groups at 100 meters with buckhorn sights. I don't have 50 meter groups with that load logged in my reload data. I have not had good results reloading JHP or FMJ bullets with Unique gunpowder.

If those are 1/2" grid squares on your target, I would say you are shooting decent groups.

[Ojaileveraction]

It's not the bullets. it's the powder.

[ESquared]

It's not the bullets. it's the powder.

Hmmm...

Okay, I'll bite: what do you suggest?

[Ojaileveraction]

I have several combinations of 2400 and Berrys plated that I'm going to test.
Unique I a powder that I'd want a big stash of if everything went south.
It works for any caliber. That doesn't mean it's the best for everything.
I'm want my rifle loads to have the highest percentage fill I can get for what I want that load to do.
I'd like an 80 percent or more but that is not always possible.

[Rifletom]

You could try 2400. Not sure how it will work with 110's. Work rather well with 158 JSP's.[XTP's]
May have to try those ZERO 158 JSP's in my .357.

[Ojaileveraction]

You could try 2400. Not sure how it will work with 110's. Work rather well with 158 JSP's.[XTP's]
May have to try those ZERO 158 JSP's in my .357.

Sierra and Speer list loads for 110gr bullets and 2400.

[Flinch]

Are the grid squares on the target in the OP 1/2" x 1/2"?