The 357 with 200gr Lead

Bass Ackward

Active Member
Guys, the projects are pilin up again. You guys got me tryin to get my 06 back, I’m workin with 5744, I have a 4 cal 280 gr I’m failing with at the moment & I just stubbed my toe on my FA 357, 200 gr load in a 4” S&W N-frame. The bullet worts in the FA (15 twist) but looks rather RPMy (laugh,laugh) outta the Smith. Not a lot of load options here cause of powder space, anybody played with this successfully? See the pic.88302FD1-2B39-4247-95F1-24F4B0A9FD4D.jpeg
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
I've not tried 5744 in the 357 FA but I did try 1680 which is right at the same burn rate though a ball powder. That load used the RCBS 180 Silhouette bullet which will not seat as deeply as the bullet in your picture and while it looked like it was going to shoot fairly well I ran out of powder space before getting to my velocity goal. This load also used Maxi brass trimmed to fit the FA cylinder and was some longer than 357m brass. Well before that I used the RCBS 200 gr bullet for quite some time but again, not 5744, that load was with H-110. This load shot quite well and I scored many a 40x40 with it. Only switched to the 180 Silhouette for the better BC and 200 velocity/momentum.

If you like I can try and dig up the load data for these bullets in the FA 357 but again not 5744.
 

Bass Ackward

Active Member
I've not tried 5744 in the 357 FA but I did try 1680 which is right at the same burn rate though a ball powder. If you like I can try and dig up the load data for these bullets in the FA 357 but again not 5744.

No, no, no. The 5744 is another project. My 200 gr load for years has been 11 gr of H4227 which shoots well in the FA. I tried those shells (to use up what was loaded) in my 627, 4”. Since the twist rate is slower and barrel length shorter, I was wondering if I just couldn’t shoot 200 grains in the Smith. Or I was wondering if somebody else succeeded and I just need to add this project to the list.
 

Bass Ackward

Active Member
The older one gets ..................... There’s a .002 larger throat & bore on the 627 than the FA. Too old? Or too many guns? Geez.
 

Rick

Moderator
Staff member
Well Bass, if those are the two choices it must be age cause I can't imagine too many guns. :confused:
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
"Too many guns." That sort of heresy just isn't healthy.

My pet load for the 200 grainers in 357 came right out of the Winchester powder data flyer from 1999. W-W case, CCI 550 primer, Lyman #358430 seated long (crimp in top lube groove), 12.4 grains of WW-296. Book velocity was 1200 FPS, 6" barrels gave 1150-1180 in my testing. My 4" 686 gives it right around 1100 FPS. #358430 has been VERY accurate for me, from 700-1200 FPS in S&W twists (1-18-3/4"). It is sort of short and squatty for a 35 caliber 200 grain bullet, though. Laws of physics seldom get plea-bargained.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
nope.
but I could tell you about using AA-2230 in a 357 maximum under a 250gr saeco bullet.
it makes an odd sound when you fire it, but those steel plates just disappear off the rack.
the falling plates sometimes come back up again, or you tip over 3 at a time from the vibration.
other than that I got nuthin, the 180 is as far as I go in the 357 regular.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Thanks Al. From 700 FPS, huh? Unexpectedly impressive. But .... the 35 bore just keeps on surprising.

I have used #358430 for a long time--it was one of the first 3 moulds I bought locally in 1981 when I began this addiction. I suspect the bullet at 700 FPS is barely stable, because when they hit jackrabbits at that start speed the bullets appear to tumble as they traverse their carcasses--and mess things up some. Bullets started at 1100+ FPS don't seem to tumble, and do less observable damage to the targets as they bore straight through. The jacks still go DRT, but the processing is a bit neater.
 

Bass Ackward

Active Member
I tried again & saw tipping @ 50 yards in the holes in the target with 950 FPS. I suspect that was the intent with the 195 gr slug. I actually thought I’d be a shade over 1000 fps, but that’s close enough for me to call it. That’s why I have the 15 twist FA.
 

CZ93X62

Official forum enigma
Thinking back--I don't think I put the 38 Special/700 FPS loads on paper past 25 yards, and didn't whack any jacks past 35-40 yards with the slow ones. The 1100 FPS/357 loads drilled jacks and paper at 50 yards very capably, sometimes farther out on the jacks.