.358" cast bullets for accuracy?

DanM · 01-20-2005, 11:10 PM

I am glad to hear from someone who has tried this little experiment with good results. I really enjoy shooting older weapons, and always try to match the bullet diameter to the bore diameter for best accuracy. Perhaps the fine construction of the Po8 makes this process unnecessary, but I feel better knowing the exact bore diameter of a vintage weapon, and tailoring my loads to fit. I was very interested to hear that a bore diameter of .357-8" is normal with these pistols. You guys are right of course, and with a new untried bullet I always drop a round in the chamber to make sure it fits. If it sticks out further than a factory round, then it is either too long, or too fat. That is not a problem with the bullets I am using.

I did have some success with one load. The .357 Rainer 125gr flat point copper plated bullet shot very well for me with Winchester Super Field powder. I managed a nice group with four touching and one about an inch out, at 25yds. The load chronoed at 1055fps, and 'felt snappy', which we like. This bulllet is intended for the .357 Sig, but works well in this Po8 at an OAL of 1.125". Any longer and they started binding in the magazine.

BTW, I received the new mag springs and bases from GT, and they are very nice indeed. I have converted one Mecgar mag, and it is working great. I hope to find another at the Greensboro show, and will convert it also. Thanks GT!

01-20-2005, 11:10 PM	#13
DanM User Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: East Bend, NC Posts: 11 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I am glad to hear from someone who has tried this little experiment with good results. I really enjoy shooting older weapons, and always try to match the bullet diameter to the bore diameter for best accuracy. Perhaps the fine construction of the Po8 makes this process unnecessary, but I feel better knowing the exact bore diameter of a vintage weapon, and tailoring my loads to fit. I was very interested to hear that a bore diameter of .357-8" is normal with these pistols. You guys are right of course, and with a new untried bullet I always drop a round in the chamber to make sure it fits. If it sticks out further than a factory round, then it is either too long, or too fat. That is not a problem with the bullets I am using. I did have some success with one load. The .357 Rainer 125gr flat point copper plated bullet shot very well for me with Winchester Super Field powder. I managed a nice group with four touching and one about an inch out, at 25yds. The load chronoed at 1055fps, and 'felt snappy', which we like. This bulllet is intended for the .357 Sig, but works well in this Po8 at an OAL of 1.125". Any longer and they started binding in the magazine. BTW, I received the new mag springs and bases from GT, and they are very nice indeed. I have converted one Mecgar mag, and it is working great. I hope to find another at the Greensboro show, and will convert it also. Thanks GT! __________________ Ten Bears: "You are the Grey Rider. You would not make peace with the blue coats. You may go in peace." Josey Wales: "I reckon not."