American Handgunner July/August 1982

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SILUETAS
Continuedfrom page 22
trajectories, (5.0 inches, 5.2 inches), drift in
a 10mph crosswind (5.2 inches, 6.2 inches)
and time of flight (.34 sec, .35 sec) are also
substantially the same for the 7mm and .30
caliber, respectively.
Then why is the 7mm TCU so popular?
Inherent accuracy is a possibility, but I expect
it's because everybody else has one,
and most of all, because the cases are
• easier to form.
Overlooked by all but a few is a cartridge
with renowned inherent accuracy,
that uses less powder and cheaper bullets
(and better yet works well with even
cheaper cast bullets) and, with the right
loads, hits the rams just as hard. The
cartridge? Our subject, the .357 magnum.
This underpowered revolver cartridge, in
the Contender or the Merrill, becomes
downright respectable.
Let's look at the numbers. I've included
a table of load data for a lO-inch Contender
for your reference. The first half of
the table is to get you oriented, to show you
how much extra muscle the cartridge gains
in the longer, gapless barrel; while that's
okay on the front three, it's not enough to
make much difference at 200 yards with
these stubby pistol bullets. That's what the
last halfofthe table is for. Using heavier or
heavier and more efficient bullets, the little
magnum becomes a real ram-slammer.
For example:The top load with the 180­
grain Speer FN comes from their manual.
It's pleasant enough to shoot, and provides
200 yard values as follows: momentum­
.90 p s; midrange trajectory-9.3 inches;
drift-12,4 inches; time of flight-,46 sees.;
check back-the knockdown is not much
different than our hot dogs, and the rest
isn't too important over known rangesunless
you live in Kansas. Although it's not
in the table, you can easily toss the 200­
grain Hornady SP at 1400 fps, which at 200
yards provides: momentum-.99 p s; midrange
trajectory-lO.6 inches; drift-lO.O
LtoR: 158 gr. cast RN; 160 gr. Hornaday,
FMJ; 180 gr. Speer; 200 gr. RCBS/FN.
inches; time of flight-,48 sec.
Now these bigjacketed bullets cost more
than 7mm or .30 caliber pills-50% or so
more. But you only need ten-per-round.
The best of both worlds are the big cast
bullets. Cast yourself, they're inexpensive,
and .35 caliber bullets are easier to cast
and shoot than 7mm or .30 caliber. We're
talking real cast bullet applications here,
big and slow. Should you decide to give
this approach a try, be sure to stick with
RN or FN designs in 200- to 250-grains
with gas checks, and experiment with sizing
diameters to get the best accuracy. Seat
them out to lightly engrave on closing, and
use a hard (wheel weights are marginal)
alloy.
The 200-grain RCBS FN (gas check)
load shown groups well, with no development
to tailor it to the test gun. Out at the
ram line it should grQup within eight
inches (the ram's body is twelve inches
deep) and provide: momentum-.92 p s;
midrange trajectory-II.O inches; drift­
16-5 inches; time of flight-,49 sec.
This bullet, designed for rifles, has done
well in the variety of pistol/cartridges
we've tried, including .35 IHMSA XP and
a .358JDJ T/e. Jim Betush, Phoenix area
cast bullet aficionado, fine-tuned a load
using this bullet for a IQ3,.\t-inch .357 mag
Merrill to where, from a Ransom rest, he
was averaging five-inch, five-shot groups
at 200 meters. Accuracy with this bullet
was better in this pistol than with the 200­
grain Hornady.
That load was 17.0 grains 296 (this is on
the warm side, so start low and work up
slow if you try it); muzzle velocity is a
healthy 1600 fps. That pumps the 200-yard
momentum up a bit to .96 P s.
Jim and I have just started to work with
a couple of SSK Industries heavy bullets.
Nominal weights are 182- and 220-grains.
Our's, however, tipped the beam closer to
200- and 220-grains in the alloy used. The
heavier one looks good so far; it's a gas
check, with a long multiple grease groove
body, and a stubby truncated-cone nose.
(It would load up short enough for a revolver.)
I've not tailored the indicated load
to the pistol either, nor shot it beyond 50­
yards, but it looks good so far.
Walk the firing line, and you'll see a few
.357 Magnum single-shots, either in the
hands ofa beginner or an expert. I noticed
Jim Rock, and the rest ofthe Rock/Merrill
bunch, shoot .357 mags, even in their
longer tubed guns. I think they know
something most people don't.
Ifyou were considering obtaining a Production
gun, and after sorting through the
array of available cartridges, from the
dazzlers to the duds, you found one thathad
minimal recoil, used readily available
brass, had a modest appetite for powder
and lead, was widely regarded fot its inherent
accuracy, worked well with easily
cast bullets, had ample knockdown with
appropriate bullets-would you buy it,
even if it was a .357 ......
Magnum?'
26 AMERICAN HANDGUNNER . JULY / AUGUST 1982