I recently got a great deal on a .357 Maximum T/C Contender pistol barrel. It shoots great with the ammo a friend gave me to try but they are not the bullets I want to use for hunting. I have been looking for a load for the 140 grain Barnes X bullet but can't find any data.
Does anyone have any data they would like to share?
Thanks,

Kudu40

I absolutely love this caliber in the Contender! I have a 14 inch Bbl with iron sights. I have not had the best luck with 140 grain bullets as far as accuracy goes when compared to 180 and 200 grain bullets. The 200 grainers fly good and I have hit big steel plates out as far as 300 yards. I have never killed any game with it. Anyway.... behind a 200 gr cast bullet I am using 16.0 gr of Viht N110. This gives me about 1500 fps.

The Speer manual I have..12 edition (Old) lists 140s with Winchester 296 24.5 start - 26.5C for about 2200 fps.

N110 19.0-21.0 for about 2000fps

Alliant 2400 the same as N110

IMR 4227 22.0 - 24.0C for about 1980 fps.

You could find some updated data I hope from Speer.

The 180 gr load runs about 1600 or so fps. I had a neighbor that used 180 gr Hornady XTPs to kill a few deer. One was hit behind the shoulder at 75 yards and he was pleased. I just like to gong steel plates and for me I want heavy stuff.

Thanks for the data. I have some Barnes 140 grain X pistol bullets that I am hoping will work because of their lenght being longer than a standard 140 grain bullet. I would use it for woodchucks if it flys straight. If they don't work, I would like to go wiht the 200 grain load you gave me. Are either the 180 or 200 you used Beartooth Bullets?
Thanks again,

Kudu40

The 200 grainer I use is the RCBS cast Flatnose bullet. I cant remember the mold number. I have a Saeco mold for the 180 gr Flat nose. I have simply been casting old wheel weight metal for many years with these and they work well with no problems. At 50 yards and rested it will easily shoot 1"or less groups where, at least for me, I was making loads with the 140 and 158 grain jacketed stuff and the groups were awful. I don't know why. Once I saw how the heavy bullets worked and how consistant they were I didn't care why. I will just use what works. The velocities these are running are possibly at the max for wheel weight to prevent leading but I have had no leading that I could ever tell. Accuracy remains good always with regular cleaning.

i really don't think the max was intened for light bullets, all i use is 180grs. and up.

The max I've played with was a Ruger. I loaded the Beartooth 200 gn FNGC DCG. I don't remember the charge, but is was a generous helping of H-110. I'll have to look it up in my loads. It's been a while.

__________________
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The Contender has a long throat designed for the heavier bullets with a long cartridge overall length. The only "light" bullet I ever saw that worked was the 150gr Remington CL-PSP but it's no longer available as a separate reloading component.
http://handloads.com/loaddata/defaul...Powder&Source=
The Barnes has to rank as one of the most expensive .357" handgun bullets I've ever seen. $75+ per 100????

I have not had good luck with bullets much lighter than 150 grns in my contender. I now make it a rule to keep at least 158's in the Max and mostly I have been shooting 180 to 200 grn for best accuracy.

Great round and highly addictive!

__________________
38 Super and the 38/44. Two great rounds still today.

If he can find the 140gr X bullet, it will probably be as long as the 158 grain bullets, due to the X being a solid copper construction. Another possible choice for this cartridge would be the 140gr FTX bullets, which are also quite long for their weight. I'm not sure how well they would hold up at higher velocity, though.

Since the Barnes 140 has a longer bearing surface do not use the same data listed for other bullets for your load work up. Measure the bearing surface and find one similar. I have a Handi-Rifle in 357 Max and get my best accuracy with 173-215 gr bullets.

More than likely he's shooting "boolits"

Me too. A 180 gr RF with IMR4227.

..

Try 20 or 21 grains of H110 with a 190 grain Ranch Dog bullet. Picture on the far right:



My 14" TC fires those at a blistering 1950-2000fps, no leading, and accuracy is pretty dang good.

Is that a picture of a 38 Special, 357 Magnum, 357 Maximum?

I was thinking more along the lines of :

too small, getting close and just right!

They look like 38/357/max to me.

__________________
38 Super and the 38/44. Two great rounds still today.