Mouse fart 357 Mag pistol loads

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swampratt

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Like I have nothing better to do.
I have not shot the 357 for some time and really wanted to shoot it.
Yea I shoot in the garage sometimes.

I have made low power loads when fire lapping a barrel but not this low.

357 magnum nickle R-P case CCI500 primer. 158gr Lee TL SWC powder coated HF Red.
Sized to .3575" which is .001" larger than my barrel slugs and same size as my cylinders.

I started with 1.3 gr of bullseye and that was loud.
Then .8 gr bullseye Still loud.
I then tried .8 gr Red Dot.
Both of those penetrated well in the old encyclopedia I am shooting at. about 1/4" deep into it.

Still loud though but better.
I dropped the charge. I continue to use the same case for all testing.
.4gr Red Dot..Now we are getting a little quieter and less penetration the bullet does not bounce back off the book instead it now drops to the floor near the book.

.4gr Bullseye that penetrated deeper than the Red Dot load but still a little louder than a mouse fart.

No longer using Red Dot as penetration is not as good as the Bullseye Powder.

.2gr Bullseye. I Think I heard the bullet hit the hard back Book but failed to hear the gun go off.
I retrieved my bullet and noticed the impact was 4" lower than point of aim.
They had been hitting point of aim.. Little dent in the book cover from the .2 gr load.

At .4 gr you get a slightly sooty case upon extraction. Double that load and no soot.
Be careful as the bullet will ricochet and get your attention. Be aware of that when shooting into something.

These loads are fun and work in my gun and may not be safe in yours.

Here is a picture of the book and the bullets.. notice the deformed nose on the upper left one..yea it was 1.3 gr Bullseye load.
The paper under the bullets are what was swabbed out of the barrel after each shot.

Look closely at the black in the picture and see the dent from the .2gr load.
Upper hole is .4gr Bullseye and below that is the .4gr Red Dot load On the word (The)
In the picture with the ship is the .8gr red dot load.



The lower bullet and paper was the .2gr load not much crud in the barrel. Overall I like the Bullseye better as it kept barrel cleaner. Only remains in barrel were in the first 2" with any powder.
I can't give these old books away so figured burn them or shoot them I do both.
3rd printing 1960
Distance was 11 feet to target.
002.JPG
 
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swampratt

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HA ! All good ones guys.
My neighbors come over and shoot into the stump in my garage when they get a new gun or just because.
I have shot .308 into the stump many times and not a mouse fart load either 42gr Varget and 165 Game king.
Neighbors do not care and I make a lot of racket in the garage anyway. probably sounds like hammering.

I hammer leaf springs with a sledge to straighten them and that is much louder.. but that is outside most of the time.

One thing for sure the neighbors all get along and like each other.
Even the ones behind me..I know all of them that border my fences and then some.
 

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