Berry's plated in .357 mag

Ikarus1

Avtomat Krishna-kov
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So I think I screwed the pooch.

Loaded up Berry's plated 158gr HP for 38s, low to mid jacketed velocity around 800fps. Shoots great.

So I ordered some 125gr plated HPs for use in the same 38s and said let's make some .357 mag. Same deal, mid-jacketed data. Then I realized that Berry's suggests staying south of 1250fps for their normal plated projectiles.

oops. Think these will run right around 1400fps, at least in a 10 inch test barrel, but I'm shooting them from a 3" SP101 so should I even worry about it? What's the worst thing that could happen, besides copper/lead fouling and crap accuracy?
 
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looking at this chart here, only the Corbon 125 JHP approaches 1250. So I think I'm good to go.
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html

my load is about 5% more than the minimum load data for Hornady XTP, same COAL as suggested by Berry's.

HP38 is a medium burning powder. If this was H110 or lil gun, no way I would attempt this type of load
 
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I was under the impression too much speed (and the pressure/heat to produce it) could cause separation issues. Some manufacturers produce heavy base plated bullets safe to push at higher speeds
 
Stripping the plating and possibly creating a bore obstruction is the first thing that comes to mind. Last thing you want is a bulged barrel....
 
Stripping the plating and possibly creating a bore obstruction is the first thing that comes to mind. Last thing you want is a bulged barrel....
that would happen over time, yes? And at a slower pace than say, leading from too small of a projectile? And a bore obstruction bad enough to cause a bulged barrel from slow-rate test firing? How did Elmer Keith and all those guys get away with shooting lead with no gas checks?

Gonna clean it, check the bore, choot em, clean it and check the bore before making further observations on accuracy. From everything I am seeing, no way I will exceed 1300fps in a 3" gun with HP38/Win231.

Might try to recover a bullet or 2 just to see what shape they're in. Might have to bust out some sandbags for that.
 
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I was under the impression too much speed (and the pressure/heat to produce it) could cause separation issues. Some manufacturers produce heavy base plated bullets safe to push at higher speeds

yeah those are good to 1500fps is what Berry's says. No way I'm reaching that in a 3" barrel unless I'm using a magnum powder.

Also, I'm using SPP, not magnum primers, so theoretically pressures should be lower than the data (if it ignites).

Yay Science!
 
Had enough daylight when I got home so tested 5rds. Felt good, sounded good, bore looks as clean as before. Will clean with some copper remover and see what comes out on the patches. But my gut tells me Im in the clear with this load in this gun.
 
I was under the impression too much speed (and the pressure/heat to produce it) could cause separation issues. Some manufacturers produce heavy base plated bullets safe to push at higher speeds
The way I see it is plated lead is the equivalent of water quenched lead aka surface hardened via heat treatment. Alot of those early adopters of the .357 didnt start out using gas checks, and people push powdercoated soft lead pretty hard in rifles. I feel good about it up to 12-1300fps and less than full power magnum loads. For those I would step up to the thicker plated ones and/or a copper jacket jhp.
 
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So based on @Smack sending me quickload's 4 estimates and my finely attuned seat of the pants recoil meter, this load is sub 1100fps and sub 35K psi pressure level. Feels like a 9mm from a G19 to be honest. I think i will do some more testing. There might even be a bit more wiggle room in a 3" barrel [emoji6]
 
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