The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - The expert at the LGS set me straight on the .357

The expert at the LGS set me straight on the .357 (reply)

FOG — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 17:06:24 +0000

When I was a kid, he told me it would only crack the block of a car engine, but a .44 would go 'clean' through it.

Wouldn't you know it, I soon had the opportunity to test his theory on an old, abandoned motor I found in the mountains. I don't know what it was, but it was big and apparently made of cast iron.

One day, I squared off against the beast with my trusty .357 and popped it one, right in the upper manifold.

PLUNK!

No dice: Zero penetration. The bullet hardly left a dent, just a smear on the surface.

I thence selected a weaker link in the chain for my target and tried again.

PLUNK!

This time, a nice but small and irregularly-shaped hole appeared. Admiring the hardware I held in my hand, I was well pleased.

Walking up and taking a closer look, however, proved rather more disappointing: The bullet merely finished the job that rust had started, probably in the Pleistocene.

So much for the block-cracking power of the .357 − and the insights of your everyday, ordinary Gun Shop Commando.

I was to meet many more of the type in later years, and I was always glad I got such a good start.

You got that right (reply)

FOG — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 16:33:02 +0000

Stingers sure work.

So should 'your version'.

Dare to be different (reply)

Dave B — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 14:28:45 +0000

I will have to take a pictures the standard HP, he 5 side should have more controlled expansion.

That 5-point plug is a 'scary' but difficult proposition (reply)

FOG — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 13:57:25 +0000

You should have gone with six.

Thanks! (reply)

Dave B — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:41:04 +0000

I will certainly give that a try.

Overkill if we're talking about K Cars (reply)

Dave B — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:39:22 +0000

They pretty much die on their own.

THAT...was was funny:) (reply)

rob — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:34:30 +0000

Can you only hunt Chryslers with those? NM (reply)

Andrew — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 16:27:13 +0000

Yes, that HP pin needs to stay HOT. Ignore a bit of sprue (reply)

John K. — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 14:16:24 +0000

tearing, if need be - as long as the outer edge of the base is filled out and sharp, you will not notice any difference. These aren't BPCR bullets fired for score at 600yds.

If visual imprefections bother you, try this: save ten rejects, load, and segregate. Shoot them in a group (at typical distance you would use the load) and compare to a ten shot group of "good" bullets. Do this on the same day, light conditions, etc. Then your reject decisions will be made on evidence.

I have to be, saves me from embarrassment (reply)

Dave B — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 02:45:08 +0000

I worry about less than perfect bullets giving me and others less than perfect results at the range. I don't know that they will, but I worry about such trivial details. Going to turn the temp up, and cast a little faster. The solids from the mold are much easier to cast.

In the 50th Anniversary Flattop (reply)

uncowboy — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 22:23:07 +0000

half back to the pot in witch they came? Your beeing too pickey

In the 50th Anniversary Flattop (reply)

Dave B — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:45:45 +0000

They fit with room to spare.

They are 162gr .357 (reply)

Dave B — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:39:22 +0000

I size them to .359.

Boy! I'll say. (reply)

Hoot — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 18:20:07 +0000

What caliber?

Should be a dandy small/medium game bullet

Dave B — Wed, 20 Mar 2013 17:35:18 +0000

Casting HPs is a dark art to me, and one I have yet to master. Cast up a bunch of these this morning before work, unfortunately, over half went back in the pot.