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I was browsing the net, looking for load suggestions for my 357. The 357 is not what I'd like to categorize as a cowboy caliber, and the SAA NF with a 7 1/2" barrel doesn't fit the typical combat revolver definition. I was searching for a load that would help define my SAA NF, a fit, a gun that shots like it looks.
My search led me to a Skeeter article and in it he listed a medium load using Red Dot. I just happened to have about 2 pounds of Red dot that my brother gave me. He was talking to his neighbor about shooting, and how his brother (me) reloads for him, and his neighbor says that he used to reload and gives him some powder in a coffee tin. It has a label on it that said "Red Dot". Considering the circumstances, I'd normally just dispose of this powder, but I examined the powder and it had the "Red" dots in it, and there was about 2 pounds of it.
Bottom line, I loaded up some "Skeeter" ammo, with the Speer SWC HP instead of the Lyman 357466. We (my son and I) fired off a box, and I'll be loading some more. Clean burning, no leading, accurate enough to be a keeper and inexpensive to load. We went through a box in no time at all. I went 5 for 5 on the gong at 35 yds, although it didn't really ring it like a rifle does, soft(ish) lead at slow speed.
Before loading this load I checked other sources, to confirm it was a safe load. I referenced a 1978 Hercules manual, Speer #9, and Lee #2. It is not a top load, Skeeter wouldn't have listed it if it didn't have some merit, a 1000 fps load in a list of 1200 fps loads.
See the article @ http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=30
This load defines the gun, a gentle but powerful load (it meets or exceeds a 38 special +P or FBI load) and our local Sporting goods store stocks the bullets, Red Dot is available ( the 2 pounds will take some time to "burn" at 5 gr. a pop) and small pistol primers are also available. I'm presently using a CCI 500, and will probably try some others, Skeeter did not specify which primer he used, it suspect it didn't really matter.
I like the Speer SWC HP, it comes in a box of 500, they are well made, perhaps less than a dozen were misshapen or odd looking and they are 0.358 in diameter with a tough coating, similar to what is on 22 LR lead ammo. Very good product for those of us that don't cast our own bullets. I haven't tried them on game but they do a number on jugs of water and rip the crap out of the 2x4"s we use to attach our targets to. I don't as a rule endorse products on forums, but these are good.
TTFN
My search led me to a Skeeter article and in it he listed a medium load using Red Dot. I just happened to have about 2 pounds of Red dot that my brother gave me. He was talking to his neighbor about shooting, and how his brother (me) reloads for him, and his neighbor says that he used to reload and gives him some powder in a coffee tin. It has a label on it that said "Red Dot". Considering the circumstances, I'd normally just dispose of this powder, but I examined the powder and it had the "Red" dots in it, and there was about 2 pounds of it.
Bottom line, I loaded up some "Skeeter" ammo, with the Speer SWC HP instead of the Lyman 357466. We (my son and I) fired off a box, and I'll be loading some more. Clean burning, no leading, accurate enough to be a keeper and inexpensive to load. We went through a box in no time at all. I went 5 for 5 on the gong at 35 yds, although it didn't really ring it like a rifle does, soft(ish) lead at slow speed.
Before loading this load I checked other sources, to confirm it was a safe load. I referenced a 1978 Hercules manual, Speer #9, and Lee #2. It is not a top load, Skeeter wouldn't have listed it if it didn't have some merit, a 1000 fps load in a list of 1200 fps loads.
See the article @ http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=30
This load defines the gun, a gentle but powerful load (it meets or exceeds a 38 special +P or FBI load) and our local Sporting goods store stocks the bullets, Red Dot is available ( the 2 pounds will take some time to "burn" at 5 gr. a pop) and small pistol primers are also available. I'm presently using a CCI 500, and will probably try some others, Skeeter did not specify which primer he used, it suspect it didn't really matter.
I like the Speer SWC HP, it comes in a box of 500, they are well made, perhaps less than a dozen were misshapen or odd looking and they are 0.358 in diameter with a tough coating, similar to what is on 22 LR lead ammo. Very good product for those of us that don't cast our own bullets. I haven't tried them on game but they do a number on jugs of water and rip the crap out of the 2x4"s we use to attach our targets to. I don't as a rule endorse products on forums, but these are good.
TTFN