Things I learned from a steel plate....

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Went out to the range today, it is finally warm enough, to try out the new rifle and a new steel plate.
Paul went along but ended up not shooting his rifle as he soon realized he had grabbed his 223 savage and it just wasn't going to work with the 308 ammo he brought. Seems that having identical rifles in the rack can cause issues?
Had the plate hanging at 50 yards. First shot was with the Win 92 in 357 mag. An MP 359640 over 12 gr of 2400. Nice center hit but suddenly the plate is hanging by a single chain? I had used some cheap 1/4 carriage bolts as they were what I had on hand. It seems the head on them may be pressed on? The head popped loose of the bulk of the bolt and was laying on the ground.
Got that sorted out by using a washer under the small room emailing bolt head. All went well and a few more hits were made. That all ended when I shot the 624 and soon saw something flying onto the berm. Plate is again hanging by a single chain. Other chain is no longer anywhere near but was soon sound on the berm. I must have center the chain well with a 265 gr swc and ripped it entirely away.

IMG_2960.JPG
Nice little dimple left by the pentagonal HP on the MP 359640. Kinda neat.

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This is the remains of the bolt. Notice how the head appear to have sheared off? Chain getting hit cleanly broke the bolt in two. Some grade 8 bolts are in my future.
 

smokeywolf

Well-Known Member
I'm kinda curious how IMR 4227 will do in the 357 cartridge in your Model '92. I don't own anything that chambers a magnum cartridge, but have read that 4227 shines in those cartridges.
 
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Ian

Notorious member
There's a reason alloy steel bolts are the standard......

Try Tractor Supply Co., they have bins full and sell by the pound, much cheaper than autoparts stores or fastenal.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I was going to just hit Ace hardware. We do have a TSC nearby and can easily hit them. I just need to measure the mounting holes and get as large as I can.
I will likely make some O1 washers about .20 thick as bullet splash from hits is hard on washers and tends to erode them. Then again if I get bolts with large enough heads that isn't an issue.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
I'm kinda curious how IMR 4227 will do in the 357 cartridge in your Model '92. I don't own anything that chambers a magnum cartridge, but have read that 4227 shines those cartridges.
I have a fair bit of I4227 so I can certainly find out?
This bullet is a little long in the nose for easy feeding from the magazine so I may need to try something else. I have a few ideas in mind.
 
F

freebullet

Guest
Poor Paul! Don't feel bad, have done same at half the age o_O. Been know to forget the spotting scope when trying to test @300+:rolleyes:

Brad,
Glad to hear you made it out. So it takes 55+°? My wife even goes with down to about 40:oops:

I don't think grade 8 will do any better. The lateral spalling will likely cut anything on the face except more ar500.

Bubba would tack weld some chain in the upper back corners if ya want. I'm at the shop now & have the welder out. Gimme a call if ya wanna bring it over.
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
My other plate does well with the O1 washers I made. They are about an inch in diameter and .2 inch thick. This gets the bolt head out of the splash zone so to speak.
I think a hex head bolt will do far better. This carriage bolt almost acted like the head was pressed onto the shank after a small head was formed.
 

Will

Well-Known Member
I’m afraid I’m going to run into the same problem with my new t-post steel target hangers.A4CC9A7C-7E3D-4CD6-9209-EDC1BF715CE4.jpeg
 

Todd M

Craftsman of metals...always learning.
Another idea would be to weld a bead or 3 across below the bolt heads to deflect lead splatter.
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
Brad.....did you say a 265 grn wadcutter? Is that correct? If so I'd love to see a pic of that round, and would love to try it out in my 358 Win....man that would have some smack. In the meantime, I'll research that mould number.. Very cool imprint
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
Swc. You were semi right?
The 44 Special load is the NOE version of the HG 503 over 4 gr of Titegroup. Shoots very well for me.
The MP 359640 is an excellent mould.
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
Ahhhhhh thanks..I read and assumed the 94 Win in 357 was the 265...should have read it through again. Thanks
 

Brad

Benevolent Overlord and site owner
Staff member
A 265 gr bullet in a 357 mag would be interesting. Not sure it would chamber in anything.
 

35 Whelen

Active Member
And that is why I was so pumped thinking about that weight in the 358 Win. I did end up getting the 358627 but haven't shot it yet.