Post
by DsGrouse » Thu Oct 17, 2024 9:23 am
I can't believe the change in this rifle. I honestly wish i'd sent it back earlier. It has NEVER shot like this in the past. I went through my piles of worked up loads and tried them all out yesterday. With the exception of Matts's 158 grn SWC over CFE-p, everything grouped in the 1 to 2" groups at 50 yds. Many were sub-1-inch groups for a 5-shot group. I'd struggled for months to get groups under 2".
I chalked it up to my inexperience at reloading and proper load development. It's crazy fun. I dropped 300 rounds of load work ups yesterday while chronoing. I am stupidly happy and pleased.
So much so that I sent a thank you note and asked if I could have the same repair work done on my 45 colt. Since the 357 was out for repairs, I've been shooting the piss out of it. It's developed a habit of light primer strikes. So I hope the new single-piece firing pin and bolt are available for this also.
On a side note, the new bolt on the 357 bbx kicks the brass out beautifully. It was always lackluster before. If I didn't briskly, bordering on forcefully, work the action, it would jam. Now, even worked slowly from the bench, it flips the brass up in the air for you to catch. There are no more failures to eject. This wasn't really a problem I noticed until I didn't have to dig empty cases out of the chamber.
Stupidly, grinning idiot-level pleased with the repairs.
I took some 100 yd shots at a 6" plate and an 8-inch plate. Off-hand and delivered hits every time.
One thing to note load-wise: My previously low-pressure load for 180-grain subsonic using 244 is now showing signs of pressure levels, IE flattened primers. So I ran a few and checked the case volume with water. It changed from 27.3 grains of H20 down to 25.6. That changed the pressure from 14,700psi up to 16910. No, that's nowhere near the max, but it is worth noting. In changing the bolt and setting the headspace, they've changed the parameters of how the gun operates. So, if you get this repair done. Don't go firing high-pressure rounds until you figure out if your pressure levels will be significantly higher.