Velocity spread to high

[Rugerfanboy]

Since I've bought my Big Boy Steel 357 Magnum rifle, I been working on some load data for the rifle. I'm not of the kind that runs different ammo threw none of my rifles. I will admit that I do have some duel ammo applications for a few of my revolvers, but I know what the POA and POI is for each allotment of ammo that I have on hand for each revolver. Rifle on the other hand, I stick with only one allotment of ammo and that's because it's for precision. I'm a stickler for accuracy. I hate aiming at a target and the POA does not coexist with the POI. This is where working up load data comes in for me.

Right now, I'm working on velocity and I'm having a hard time closing the feet per second spread. At my current powder charge of 18.2 grains of Winchester 296, I'm getting a spread of 1926 - 2086 velocity. One would think, wow that's allot but not terribly bad....negative....that's unacceptable by my standards for my reloads. I don't like shooting vertical strings cause the velocity has a wide spread.

My problem lies in my brass casings cause I'm using mixed brass. To build precision ammo for this rifle, I just don't have one of the critical components on hand to do that task and that would be brass casings. The problem with my brass casings, is there mixed manufactured casings. One manufacture of brass, the case volume is different from another brass manufacture. This in return changes the case pressure, which will effect the velocity. Difference in the case volume, which effects case pressure, will in return, cause a vertical shooting string. To fix this problem, I'm gonna have to order some brass casings from Starline. That way, the case volume will be pretty close. That will stop the vertical shooting string that I'm getting. I hate to do this cause I have several thousand 357 Magnum casings on hand. Since I'm gonna do this for my rifles, I've decided to do this for my revolvers as well.

Kentucky windage.....NOT GONNA HAPPEN...!!!

[JEBar]

interesting report .... as one who is getting ready to reload for 357, this is great info

[PT7]

A lot of interesting aspects of ammo prep/usage in your post...I liked reading it.
I also really liked the phrase you used, "...the POA does not coexist with the POI." That's surely shooting for that accuracy!!

BTW, Kentucky Windage and I are on very friendly terms!

Since I've bought my Big Boy Steel 357 Magnum rifle, I been working on some load data for the rifle.

I'm a stickler for accuracy. I hate aiming at a target and the POA does not coexist with the POI. This is where working up load data comes in for me.

Kentucky windage.....NOT GONNA HAPPEN...!!!

[CT_Shooter]

... this is great info

Yes, it is. Thanks for your report, RFB. I only shoot offhand, so my POA has a lot of variation and my POIs are scattered. As a new shooter and a new hand loader, I'm no where near being able to gauge the accuracy of different loads like you do. I do want to be consistent, though; so I use the same charge (at the low end of the min/max range for the revolver) in both my revolver and my rifle, and I don't do any experimenting. I also keep all of my brass separated by head stamp into boxes of 50 to minimize the case variations you talked about, particularly with the crimp.

[JEBar]

My problem lies in my brass casings cause I'm using mixed brass.

I've been thinking about it and got to wondering, do you full length resize your cases ? .... have to admit that I've never noticed any difference made by the mixed cases we use

[clovishound]

I will admit that I do have some duel ammo applications for a few of my revolvers

I thought dueling was outlawed years ago.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[Rugerfanboy]

interesting report .... as one who is getting ready to reload for 357, this is great info

Did you get you a BB357Mag...???

A lot of interesting aspects of ammo prep/usage in your post...I liked reading it.
I also really liked the phrase you used, "...the POA does not coexist with the POI." That's surely shooting for that accuracy!!

BTW, Kentucky Windage and I are on very friendly terms!

Thank you...!!!

... this is great info

Yes, it is. Thanks for your report, RFB. I only shoot offhand, so my POA has a lot of variation and my POIs are scattered. As a new shooter and a new hand loader, I'm no where near being able to gauge the accuracy of different loads like you do. I do want to be consistent, though; so I use the same charge (at the low end of the min/max range for the revolver) in both my revolver and my rifle, and I don't do any experimenting. I also keep all of my brass separated by head stamp into boxes of 50 to minimize the case variations you talked about, particularly with the crimp.

Since you only use the low end of the powder charge, be very careful cause low powder charges for revolvers don't always seal the casing in the cylinder and sometimes, burnt powder residue will come back at the shooter. Remember to always wear safety glasses when shooting, specially a revolver. This is one thing that I check when I'm working up load data for a revolver.

When I reload for a revolver (38,357 and 44), I have several allotments for each caliber. Like for example: 38 Special and 38 Special+P, 357 and 357 Magnum and 44 Special, 44 and 44 Magnum. Then I have allotments of ammo for barrel lengths as well. Pretty much, I reload what each of my revolvers like, not what it will shoot. Now for my BBS 357 Mag and my BBS 44 Mag, the ammo for these two rifles will not be used in any of my revolvers. The ammo for my BBS 44 Mag, I can shoot that ammo in my Ruger Redhawk 44 Mag, but it will beat you to death cause there at the max powder charge.

My problem lies in my brass casings cause I'm using mixed brass.

I've been thinking about it and got to wondering, do you full length resize your cases ? .... have to admit that I've never noticed any difference made by the mixed cases we use

All straight wall casings have to be full length sized. I'll post a picture that shows two casings with different case volumes. These two casings were charged with the same powder charge but had different velocities. One had 1931 velocity and the other was 2067 velocity.

[Rugerfanboy]

I will admit that I do have some duel ammo applications for a few of my revolvers

I thought dueling was outlawed years ago.

Sorry, couldn't resist.

[JEBar]

interesting report .... as one who is getting ready to reload for 357, this is great info

Did you get you a BB357Mag...???

we are currently in South Dakota spending the summer in our camper .... on July 20th my plan it to call home and ask our firearms dealer to special order a Henry H012M Big Boy Steel .357 Magnum /.38 Spl that will be a gift for our grandson who will turn 8 in September .... when he was born we gave him a lifetime NC Hunting and Fishing License, gave both of our granddaughters the same licenses when they were born .... when he turns 8, his father (our youngest son) will take him NC's Hunter Safety Course .... the Henry 357 will become his first deer hunting rifle .... my plan is to order it with the large loop, a hammer extension, Nikon scope, special serial number, and am exploring the cost of having it color case hardened .... we've reloaded hunting and target loads for both of our son's Ruger GP100 357's since the late 70's/early 80's .... our plan is to use the same hunting and target loads for the Henry that we've been using for their GP100's

[CT_Shooter]

Since you only use the low end of the powder charge, be very careful cause low powder charges for revolvers don't always seal the casing in the cylinder and sometimes, burnt powder residue will come back at the shooter. Remember to always wear safety glasses when shooting, specially a revolver. This is one thing that I check when I'm working up load data for a revolver.

I don't understand what it means, "seal the casing in the cylinder". The spent brass and the gun never show any signs of unburnt powder using the lower end (not lowest) of the published data that I use. And, yes, I always wear eye and ears. Can you elaborate? Thanks.

I'm editing this to ask another question that occurred to me while loading a box for the range. I only shoot jacketed bullets. Does this potential safety issue pertain more to lead than jacketed bullets in revolvers? That would seem likely, though it's a new consideration for me, so... thanks again.