I recently purchased a Uberti Colt replica SA in .357mag. It is a Cattleman Drifter model with the 5-1/4” octagonal barrel. I already shoot this caliber in my Winchester 1873. With the rifle, I use H-110. So I thought I would try it with the revolver. I’m using 125gr FCP/TC plated bullets. (And sometimes I use XTP’s in the same weight.) I’m using Starline brass and SP magnum primers.
Using Hodgdon data, I started with a hundred rounds at a 21.0 grain charge. Their minimum for H-110 in a revolver and that weight bullet. Talk about a flame throw’n, shoulder kicking, hand shattering load. The muzzle flash was so big, I had people coming over to me at the range that thought I was shooting a 454 Casull.
Thus ended that experiment. I chose Titegroup to continue on my journey with the revolver. I loaded 50 rounds at 6.8gr, and 50 rounds at 7.0gr. What a difference! I liked the 6.8gr charge better. It’s easy to shoot. And pretty accurate too. It is cleaner as well. And spent casings just fall out of the cylinder, unlike the H-110 loads that needed help to be removed.
Here’s my question(s). Can I load down with Titegroup? How low can you go? What kind of speeds should I expect with the 125gr bullet and lower charge weights?
I don’t compete in Cowboy Action, but I may one day.