New NOE Mold

[KHornet]

Awhile back, I bought a NOE 360-180-FN on special. Got it for my 357 M94 Win, and a friends 357 Maxi. This weekend got around to casting, sizing and lubing about 800 of them. They weigh with my melt an average of 196. If this bullet shoots well, may consider it for 100 yd deer. It is sort of an odd looking bullet, round nose, with a flat a bit larger than a SR primer, and just a bit of semi WC edges. Find no current 357 load data for bullets in the 200 grain area, and would be interested in experience with this bullet in 357M. Figure on starting with a max 200 grain load for 38Special and working up. I thank in advance anyone
who responds to this thread with experience with this bullet.

Paul

 

[Rick]

I shot quite successfully the RCBS 200 @ 202 gr in a 9 inch FA with 16.0 gr H-110. Velocity was about 1550 and it was a good long range revolver (200 meters) load. In your Winchester you may want to start out about 15 gr H-110.

 

[Ian]

Sounds like a thumper!

 

[KHornet]

Hope so Ian. If it shoots well, will make a couple dozen Bruce B's soft points.

Paul

 

[KHornet]

Thanks Rick, Appreciate the advice!

Paul

 

[Rick]

I was using 18 BHN, it worked best with CCI 550.

 

[KHornet]

Rick, I loaded 15 rds with my 196 bullet, over 15 gr of H110 as you recommended for
my 94 Win. Primers were flattened, but no cratering, and believe I am well satisfied as I
am shooting these thru a 24" bbl. One 5 shot group at 50 went into .8", smallest group
I have ever shot with the rifle. Am a firm believer that even a blind hog finds an acorn.
And at my age with my eyes, I relate to a blind hog on occasion. The other two 5 shot
groups were under 2", with a bit of stringing. That is more typical for me with this rifle.
Blts sized to .358,lubed with Ben's Red and BLL.

Thanks very much for the advice.
Paul

 

[Rick]

Tough in a 357 to beat a heavy for caliber bullet and snoot full of H-110. Pay attention to the age of the brass, as it work hardens you will get inconsistent bullet pull and that will open up groups. What primer did you use? I had been using Fed 205 and was fairly happy till I tried CCI 550 and cut 200 meter groups in half. I promptly stocked up on the 550's. I haven't tried Ben's Red but everyone reports success with it so. Did you get any chrono readings?

Dang a hog huh? And I always thought it was a blind squirrel that finds that occasional acorn.

EDIT: I typed the wrong primer and fixed that minor little oopsie.

.

 

[Brad]

Rick, he has a chronograph but I don't think he has ever used it.

 

[KHornet]

Have used the chrono just once. May be time for a second time. I shot the 15 with brass that had probably been loaded 7-8 times, and I noted a variance in seating pressure recuired. The bullet is quite long in the powder chamber, and I believe in starts to encroach in the interior taper of the case. Did use CCI 550's, will make it a point to stock up on same. I believe I will order out 100 new brass strictly for the 94. Have never annealed handgun brass, and wonder
if you had after 3-4 loadings? I also have never trimmed ANY handgun brass. Might consider it for this venture. Will keep you posted when I take it out again after I get new brass. Took the scope off, and will try it with iron sights. Really appreciate your words of wisdom. Many thanks!

Guess it depends on the part of the country you are raised in. In western N.Y. twas always the blind hog, but guess same applies to a blind tree rat!

Paul

 

[Ian]

If you want good accuracy with a roll crimp, trimming your brass to a uniform length would be a very good idea. I can't speak to annealing, once my .357 brass gets a few firings on it it all goes in the same range-fodder bucket for combat-distance shooting. You can do a little better sometimes with groups when testing loads by sorting into batches as you seat the bullets based on how the press handle feels.

 

[KHornet]

Am strongly inclined Ian, to agree with you on the feel of the press when
seating. Not real scientific, but if there is a difference in feel, there is more
than likely a difference when the bullet leaves the muzzle. Probably a very
strong reason to have on make of brass, and that from the same lot.

Paul

 

[Ian]

if there is a difference in feel, there is more
than likely a difference when the bullet leaves the muzzle.

There is, and your targets will tell you so, especially at longer ranges.

Checking targets from groups with light/medium/heavy bullet pull (by feel) will often show three different points of impact and sometimes, depending on how sensitive the powder is to the amount of bullet pull present, pull can affect group dispersion within a consistent range of pull compared to those groups fired with more or less pull. If you overlay the targets from all, you get one big group, but picking out those with like bullet seating pressure will almost always show smaller clusters.

 

[Rick]

The other two 5 shot groups were under 2", with a bit of stringing. That is more typical for me with this rifle.
Blts sized to .358. Paul

Quite possible inconsistent NK tension is where the vertical stringing is from. That Winchester most likely has a generous throat, you might try sizing .359" or even a tad larger if they chamber alright.

H-110 is ignition sensitive and that's why it does so well with heavy for caliber bullets and good NK tension. The heavier bullet takes more pressure to get it moving giving the H-110 that little bit more time to get burning well, makes for a more consistent burn. Also of course is why the reverse is true, light bullets and/or a light H-110 load will not give a consistent burn or make for a happy shooter.
.

 

[KHornet]

Thanks guys! Playing with this bullet in a 94 will for sure be a learning experience!

Paul

 

[gman]

KHornet,
If you ever want to try a different bullet than what you are using I have the NOE 360-180 WFN and the 360-180 RF (BRP) molds. These two shoot very well in my Ruger 357 maxi's. Have not tried in a rifle but you are welcome to give me a shout if you want to try them.

 

[Brad]

Buy new brass and keep them set aside so they are all fired the same number or times. It helps immensely with uniformity.

Dang, am I starting to sound like Rick? Ewwwwww

 

[Rick]

Dang, am I starting to sound like Rick? Ewwwwww

Not yet!

What I do is all new brass goes into it's own MTM ammo box, that is it's home, it is never mixed with any other brass, not in the tumbler or anyplace. None of the brass in that box gets reloaded again until all of the brass in that box has been fired.
.

 

[KHornet]

Gman, thanks for the offer! May take you up on it a bit down the road. Again, Thanks!

Paul

 

[KHornet]

Rick, that is exactly what I intend to do! Ordered out 200 new
Starline brass, and some more 50 round slip top boxes, that will
be marked "M94-357 Loads Only". Again, many thanks Rick.

Paul