News from the Shooting Bench

I have been working feverishly with new cast loads for my 35 cals. This past weekend, I finally got a chance to run them through the chronograph.

35 Whelen

I pulled the Whelenizer out of the rotation last year in preference to my new 30-06 Ruger Hawkeye. This year, it was time to put it back in. I have been casting RCBS 35-200-FN with gas checks, and then powder coating them. My old Whelenizer load for the Rem 7600 was a 200 grain Rem CL over H4895, running at slightly reduced velocities– roughly equivalent to a 358 WIN. I started the cast load at hot REM 35 levels, and I am going to work up to a comfortable, accurate load.

Marlin 1894 .357 Magnum

This has become the hiking around gun at camp. Since the coyotes really started to be a problem, I’ve tried to have everyone pack heat when they go about. You never know anymore when you are going to run into trouble. I have a Lee 158 grain GC mold. Again, I used powder coating in lieu of conventional lubrication. Again, I had a winner. I clocked these at over 1500 fps– not a max load of H110, but healthy. They gave fairly good accuracy, enough for quick snap shots at 25 yards.

Ruger Blackhawk .357 Magnum
I tried the same loads in my 357 Mag Ruger Blackhawk, it was considerably slower coming out of a pistol barrel, but I was able to hit what I aimed at, and used it around the farm on dirt clods and rotten stumps.

GP-100 and Ruger LCR .357 Magnum
KYHillChick and I both are in the process of working up self-defense loads. In her GP-100, I was able to come close to a 125 gr 38 SPL +P load with 4.5 grains of Titegroup. I can handle a bit more in my Ruger LCR. My load is complete. I’m using 5.0 grains of Titegroup under a 125 grain Hornady XTP. The whole idea here was that full-blown 357 mag loads were going to result in too much recoil for either of our tastes. I used 125 grain Lee casts and started working up from a 38 Special load until we each found a comfortable load. 5.0 grains were a tad too much for ‘HillChick. We will have Hornady XTP’s for daily carry and matching cast loads for practice. Mine clocked in the high 980’s. Hers chrono’d at 890, just under the 38 +P loads she is currently carrying. By downloading 357 Mag, you get the benefit of reduced recoil, less pressure, and longer case life. It also keeps crud from building up in the chamber from firing 38 SPC in a 357 Mag.

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