So I got my Hornady free bullets from the purchase of my LNL press yesterday. Normally I prefer heavier bullets in pretty much every application (lightest I've ever loaded for .38 is 135gr, and most of my .357 experience has been with 158 or 180gr), but since they only offered free ones at the light end of the spectrum, I went ahead and selected these 110 grain XTPs.

Now that they are here, I'm not really sure what I want to do with them. I have a Marlin 1894, a GP100, and an SP101 chambered in .357 Mag, and a J-frame chambered in .38 +p. The temptation is there to make some screaming hot .357 mag ammo (could be upwards of 2000fps with H110/296 out of the rifle)...just for fun, and possibly varmint hunting. But I hear horror stories about flame cutting in revolvers with light .357 bullets. I know the flame cutting is an issue caused by the gap between the cylinder and the forcing cone of a revolver...the rifle obviously doesn't have this gap, so do I need to be worried about damage to it from hot-loaded light bullets?

As for the revolvers, should I be safe loading these things down to .38 +p levels, or should I go even lower and just use them as light .38 plinking loads?

One of the agencies I worked for issued factory 110 gr ammo for our GP100s. I reloaded that round and it was very accurate. Don't dis the 110gr bullets. Very nice ammo. If you don't want it, send it to me!

quote:

Originally posted by odin:
One of the agencies I worked for issued factory 110 gr ammo for our GP100s. I reloaded that round and it was very accurate. Don't dis the 110gr bullets. Very nice ammo. If you don't want it, send it to me!

Oh, I'm not dissing it. I think there's definitely potential there (I'm thinking particularly that it might make a nice .30 carbine-like round in .357), I'm just trying to determine the best way to use it without causing any undue damage to my guns. Were the rounds you had issued .357 mag, or .38? Any suggestions on powder?

I would just load them to the 38 Spcl +p level to be used for carry or the range.

There is a school of thought where light bullets with high charges of H-110/296 can contribute to an increased rate of top strap erosion.

The lighter bullets are idea for the snubbies. Can’t really get the 158 grain bullets up to speed with the short barrels, but those 110s would serve them well.

If you are asking will the hot light loads hurt the Marlin, no.
I think that would be a FUN load to play with.

Jackrabbit devastators! GP100 or Marlin.

If you have a 357sig, load them in that.

quote:

Originally posted by fredj338:
If you have a 357sig, load them in that.

I'm not sure that's good advice. I think .357 SIG bullets are actually .355 inches and .38 special/.357 Magnum bullets are a true .357 inches.

I'm not sure it's enough of a difference to matter, but I wouldn't try it.

Insert in GP, Shoot, GRIN!!!!!

Well, I used them with a LOT of H-110 in a Grizzly (oversized 1911) .357 GWM

P02grizzly357a by David Casteel, on Flickr
this is essentially a .45 Win Mag necked down to .357

and I also used them in a .357 Maximum revolver, again with a LOT of H-110

P08sevillea by David Casteel, on Flickr
this is a Seville SA revolver--the cartridge is a lengthened .357 Mag.

Did I mention I like lots of muzzle flash? FWIW, the .357 Maximum ammo did cause some topstrap cutting in my Ruger SA revolver, but the Seville had a slightly longer chamber and was made of very tough stainless steel and did not suffer.

flashguy