GP 100 .357 loading, Where to Start?

legi0n said:
Campro bullets are cheap and that's the end of it.
If you're looking for accuracy at 25 or 50yds look somewhere else.
Most people are shooting shotgun patterns at 10m and think 5" groups at that distance is accuracy (the correct word would be precision).
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I shoot at 20-25 meters with campros. The bullet are more accurate than I am unless I use a handrest. 1-3 inches group.
 
VinnyQC said:
I shoot at 20-25 meters with campros. The bullet are more accurate than I am unless I use a handrest. 1-3 inches group.
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your mileage may vary but I can't attain that from a rest with weighted bullets.
challenge: 5 groups 5 shot each at 20 yds below 3"
are you game?
 
I like campros, at my range there are gongs at 25m, with campros have lots of fun ringing them, but on paper.. Well I try not to shoot them at paper lol for accuracy have had great results with 158gr swc from bullet barn
 
Riley1981 said:
I like campros, at my range there are gongs at 25m, with campros have lots of fun ringing them, but on paper.. Well I try not to shoot them at paper lol for accuracy have had great results with 158gr swc from bullet barn
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Wish we were allowed gongs at ours :mad:
 
legi0n said:
Campro bullets are cheap and that's the end of it.
If you're looking for accuracy at 25 or 50yds look somewhere else.
Most people are shooting shotgun patterns at 10m and think 5" groups at that distance is accuracy (the correct word would be precision).
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Do you have a suggestion? I can find 148 gr lead wad cutters. I am interested in accuracy at 25.
 
Even though 357 magnum loads are exciting, they are mostly a waste on paper targets. You might employ them for hanging clay matches or bowling pin challenges, but semi-auto firearms will beat you 90% of the time.

The Ruger GP100 was designed to fire 158 grain lead semi-wad cutters. Copper plated or FMJ's are okay infrequently, as a steady diet of plated bullets will wear the bore. One can extend the longevity of your bore by avoiding metal on metal contact bullets.
Plated 148 grain wad cutters or plated wad cutters can be problematic too.

I have found/discovered that powder coated cast lead bullets deliver the best accuracy and value. Plus P loads are preferable over magnums unless you need the magnum power to....do what?

Here's a receipe: a powder-coated 158 grain SWC under 2.8 grains of RedDot powder will be outstanding......
 
hatman1793 said:
... The Ruger GP100 was designed to fire 158 grain lead semi-wad cutters. Copper plated or FMJ's are okay infrequently, as a steady diet of plated bullets will wear the bore. One can extend the longevity of your bore by avoiding metal on metal contact bullets.
Plated 148 grain wad cutters or plated wad cutters can be problematic too....
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??? I'd not heard this before. Now I suppose that 10,000 rounds of jacketed may result in comparitively more wear than the same in lead, but that's a LOT of shooting. I recently came across an article by "Iowegan", who seems quite highly regarded on the Ruger Forum, and he states the opposite:

Optimizing for lead bullets: GP-100s come from the factory optimized for jacketed bullets. The bore diameter is typically very uniform at .357~.3575”. Cylinder throats are typically .3575”. This is a bit tight for lead bullets. You can open the throats to .3585” with a throat reamer from Brownell’s. This will make all throats the same size. It allows lead bullets to “bump-up” in diameter then get sized to bore diameter by the forcing cone. Chamfering the forcing cone to 11 degrees is also recommended. Optimizing for lead bullets will improve accuracy and reduce lead fouling. You can still shoot jacketed bullets with near-equal performance to the factory set up. Accuracy will probably not change but fouling will be reduced. You will lose a token amount of velocity, typically 25-50 fps for a magnum load.
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I "don't have a dog in this fight" so am just curious :)
 
lowburb said:
Just when I thought I knew what to order... Heh heh Interesting discussion!
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Well, for heaven's sake don't ever ask about the "superiority" of the 9mm vs the .45 (or - God forbid -"the best calibre for bear defence.")

Ultimately, all the banter, however entertaining, may end up being splitting hairs. I'd wager that unless you're a VERY good pistol shot, the differences between one bullet & powder combination may not be all that significant. If you found the factory 158gr to your liking, I'd get some lead or bullets in that weight and maybe a can of Unique and start from there. I think that plated bullets, unless very hard (lilke the Bullet Barn, @ 22 BHN) are happier below 1100 fps, which seems to be the velocity you're interested in, and Unique should be good for that. Alliant and Hodgdon have online reloading charts which can be useful if you have one of their pistol powders already on hand.) :)
 
I'm definitely the weak link in the accuracy department but I do test from a rest... Heh heh More research is needed... I'll tell the wife I'll be busy for a while ...
 
lowburb said:
Do you have a suggestion? I can find 148 gr lead wad cutters. I am interested in accuracy at 25.
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I've had good results with Hornady 158gr XTP and even better with Sierra Tournament Master 170gr (can't find them any more)
These are not as cheap as Campro but... ask any target shooter about the price of good bullets :)
 
legi0n said:
I've had good results with Hornady 158gr XTP and even better with Sierra Tournament Master 170gr (can't find them any more)
These are not as cheap as Campro but... ask any target shooter about the price of good bullets :)
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XTP seem to have a very good track record for accuracy. About 12 gr. of 2400 or 8 gr of Unique should make a nice mid-range load?
 
My favourite .357Magnum load is 14.0 grains 2400 under Speer 158grain JHP. Gives 1 inch 15 meter groups. Maximum is 14.5 grains 2400 though a respected shooter in a US forum says .5 grains more is better, but that should be shot only from heavy and robust revolvers. I don’t see the point of loading to the pressure limit anyways, for regular shooting.

My regular shooting load uses .38 special cases and Lee 158 LSWC tumble lube over 4.1 grains 700X powder. Gives 1,000+ FPS out of my 6 inch 686, with minimal leading using wheelweight. 4 inch groups at 25 meters.
 
Best accuracy combo, if not as much drama as the hi-po .357 lol...158gn Speer LSWC at +P .38spl Unique load. Chrono's at just shy of 900fps through the 4.2" barrel.

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josquin said:
??? I'd not heard this before. Now I suppose that 10,000 rounds of jacketed may result in comparitively more wear than the same in lead, but that's a LOT of shooting. I recently came across an article by "Iowegan", who seems quite highly regarded on the Ruger Forum, and he states the opposite:



I "don't have a dog in this fight" so am just curious :)
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Iowegan's info is correct.

Also of interest

ht tps://gunner777.wordpress.com/2008/08/24/ruger-gp100sp101book-of-knowledge/

As far as reloading for 357 loads I use Win296 with good results. 38 loads I've settled on Titegroup. HS6 was far to dirty but seemed to have the edge in accuracy.
I only load 158 grain. Campros have offered reasonable accuracy for the cost. Easy enough to ring an 8X8 gong at 50 meters.
 
Yeah I don't agree hatman and if you want to save your bore, lead is the best way I suppose but plated are not going to hurt the bore copper is a lot softer than the barrel and depending what color of powder coating you use it could be abrasive on your barrel.. Avoid and metallic finish powder coat
 
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