Low node 358 win.

[Kevin Stenberg]

I have started messing with my new 358 and Sloooow bullets. Wowser. With very limited testing my load of choice is 3 gr. of promo with both of the bullets I have tried it with. I have used both Mihec's 120 gr round nose bullet, and NOE's copy of the RCBS 35 - 200gr. At 25Yards I get a consistent 1" groups.
My main use for this load will be for partridge from my deer stand. With consistent 1" groups I can head shoot the birds and not loose any meat.
THe only drawback is that the load is louder than I would like. I may try and reduce the load even more to loose some sound.

 

[Ben]

I know you will , but....................
You're well aware, you can stick a bullet.
Be careful and be certain if you reduce the load that you are certain that the bullet left the barrel before firing a 2nd round.

Ben

 

[Josh]

That's pretty low, I'd be more inclined to try a 100 gr bullet than reduce powder further. I'll bet that 200 gr load isn't going but 500 fps.

You could also look for powders that net less velocity with more charge. Powders with less nitroglycerin content would work well. I could also see a use for Trail Boss and Tin Star powder as alternatives for even slower loads.

 

[nanuk]

I have read of folks going down to less than 1 grain RedDot

I’d suggest you keep going lower till you stick one
Then go up 0.1 grain at a time till they always exit, no matter powder position
That becomes your lowest charge, then adjust up only enough to get the accuracy or sound level you want
Once found, you’ll have your best lowest load.

 

[Ian]

This is what silencers are for.

 

[RicinYakima]

This is the problem with bigger bores. My 18” 45acp is much louder with 3.5 grains of Bullseye than the 357 with 3.5 grains.

 

[JWFilips]

OK
Like I have said; I shoot all my rifles in Low node but with strict regards to loading and shooting light loads.
These set of targets represent a series of loads heavier "Light Load" dow to the lowest I would go with the RCBS 200 grain bullet and Red Dot
Shot with my .358 Win Vanguard and Red Dot Powder ( have also used Bullseye & American Select...Which I feel is the most accurate) The power of the scope is 32x and range was 50 yards. Even with the lightest loads, while recoil is very light, You will know the bullet when down range and Also I look for its impact! I load all my rifles single shot so I never crank the next round in the chamber just in case something didn't seem right!


Approx speed with 8.0 gr red dot was 1110 fps
with 3.0 gr it was 716 fps

 

[JWFilips]

This is the Bullseye test I don't have speeds for Bulls eye but the 9.4 Grain American Select load Left center 10 shots was 1249 fps
I would think it is close to the Above Red Dot range

 

[RBHarter]

Time to PC a 358066 or 35866 .
How much hammer do you need for a chicken ? A 60 gr BB at 1000 fps ought do the job . I've killed coyotes with 5 vital hits with a 4 ftlb .180 4.5 gr B steel at 40 yd they started at 1500 fps MV but still . I think you're over thinking this .

I forget about the no hold change details....

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

I follow most of the rules stated so far. Single loading making sure of the hit on the paper or seeing dust fly from the backstop.
I have no idea what the velocity is of these loads. My crony can't see them.

 

[JWFilips]

Well you are anywhere from 700 to 800 fps with the 3 grain load of Promo! How long is you barrel?

 

[JWFilips]

Just a note on sticking a bullet:
I have fire lapped about 5 mil sup barrels and my go to load depending on caliber is 1.5 to 2 gr BE! They always come out the barrel!
Now if there is no powder or a tiny bit of powder in the case yes it is a possibility so I always watch for an impact!

I have a Ground Hog load with my GEW98 of 180 gr bullet with 2.5 gr BE ...It has a 29.5" barrel They always come out & if they didn't you sure would know it...unless you are not aware of the world around you
Low Node shooting needs you to be aware of this and you train yourself or they will be writing about you on the internet!

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

Having stuck more then a few myself... lead is no usually problem removing.

I have removed squib jacketed enough to not want to do any more. I keep a few diameter brass rods in my kit for competitions. Seems common someone sticks one. Ten times outta nine they aint prepared.

CW

 

[richhodg66]

Somewhere around I have a .38 Wadcutter mold that casts about a 60 grain bullet as I recall. Another option might be that little 95 grain Lee tumble lube bullet for the .380.

I think if I were looking for that light, a very light bullet would be in order, possibly a round ball, and I'd go with Bullseye.

 

[Kevin Stenberg]

Richhodge I went the roundball rout in my 30 cal (3030) but never got to the point of measuring groups.
I can visualize an 80 gr bullet in that big 358 case. The 120gr er looks small.
JW my barrel is a 19" bull

 

[richhodg66]

I personally like the idea of downloaded centerfires for small game. I did it quite a bit a few years ago with a .22 Hornet trying to circumvent the .22 LR shortage. I also found a coffee can of loaded .30-30 rounds in Dad's stuff with what looks like the Lee 113 grain "Soup can" and his note said five grains of Clays. I shot some though a littlr H&R single shot and then went sqirrel hunting. Guessing that's about .32 S&W Long ballistics, but it worked well.

 

[RBHarter]

NOE 358-90 looks like the Lee 358-158 sectioned at the bottom of the top band .
I did shoot a few 148 WC out of my 358 just for giggles . Holes were just visibly out of round at 100 from the 24" 1-14 .

No self respecting 38/357 owner and caster doesn't have at least one SWC , ogival WC , or RNFP of 158ish gr . While not everyones cup I'd bet 7/10 have an RNFP for a 9mm something between 115-147 gr it they have a 9mm . Probably 25% have them in a 6c Lee.........

I got a 45 cal ML and remarked to a fellow that the former importer advised a max load of FFg twice the caliber so the 45 could safely go to 90gr of FFg and about 80 gr of FFFg , 70 gr of 777 by volume. I'd shot several loads of 70gr of FFg Goex and was surprised at how fast that little 140 gr PRB got to that pie pan ...... probably pizza pan rock at what was later found to be about 250 yd . It was an exercise in "I wonder if I can hit that" .
The guy says "well it's a 45-70-140 your probably up around 2800 fps at the muzzle" . It was just one of those moments when the ol' mental roll a dex spun and I remembered that the TC 50 Hawkins book says 110 gr launches a 180 gr PRB at 2800 fps MV.

With that empathy tale told .
380,9,38,357, and 358 all share .355-.358 grooves , most moulds cast .358-.360 for any and all of the above. The little 358-90 casts .358 and the 358-125&158 run closer to .359 than .358 depending on me most days .

Just for geewiz application I had to go down under 3.5 gr Unique to get a 223-62 and 6.8-130 under 1200 fps MV. I have no record of what was in the 358 for the misc pistol bullets I had on hand but probably 4-6 gr .

 

[richhodg66]

Thinking about this, a box of swaged HBWCs designed for the .38 Special would probably last you for years as a grouse load for deer hunting. They're designed for those kind of velocities.

 

[JWFilips]

JW my barrel is a 19" bull

Well a 200 gr bullet will come out with a 2.5 grain BE charge that has been weighed! You have to weigh every charge individually with light loads!

 

[fiver]

your gonna be fighting under stabilization at some point.