.357 major uspsa?

[RevoShooter]

Am I reading the rules right? If you shoot revo, .357 can be scored major, it's only not if you're shooting in L-10 as there is a .40 restriction on caliber. Or did I read an old rulebook? Playing around with handloads now that I've got my bench built and wondering what to try for the next IPSC match. Deciding if major would be worth more difficult ejection and reloads vs .38 or not as well. Any suggestions from you who are more 'sperienced?
Thanks!

 

[The Antichrome]

You are reading the rulebook correctly.


Minimum bullet caliber / cartridge case length
.38 cal. / 9x19 mm (0.354" x 0.748")

Minimum bullet caliber for Major No


Just be sure you dont have undersized .353 bullets.
When I become president, the min caliber will be .327

 

[Scott Hearn]

FYI, you can load .38 to major, heck some load .38 short colt to major. Use heavy bullets, the heavier the better. And only in a 6 shot gun. 8 shots are minor PF by rule.

 

[Scott Hearn]

.327?

10 shot super Redhawk here I come!

 

[No.343]

The nay sayers will tell you that the 357 will kick too hard and that you will hurt. Unless you are frail, I say give it a shot. My only concern would be the bullets pulling out with recoil. Most of the bulk bullets that we use do not have the cannelure needed for a roll crimp. I experimented with the lowest charge for a 357 with a Bayou bullet and roll crimp. I have only shot a few and can't say if the bullet will pull out, or if the roll crimp will damage the bullet and cause other problems. I haven't chronoed them either. I still have a lot of work to do. Anyway, those are the only concerns I can think of.

 

[RevoShooter]

Right on. Thanks guys. The only issue I have with hot 357 in my GP is sometimes the bottom of the frame catches my trigger finger on its way back to target position. I've blasted over a hundred at a time before and didnt have other issues with recoil.

The bullets I'm trying from rimrock are .358 diameter 158gr RN and have a nice roll crimp accepting cannalure on them. They're also a BHN of 12 or 14 I think. I've got a few loads I'm working up this weekend. I started with 15 grains of 296 and loaded several in increments up to 16.5gr. I'm thinking 15 should be enough to make major pf. The book shows over 1300 fps in a 10 inch bbl and I'm shooting from a 6". I figure I'll play at the range Saturday and check for leading issues and see what I like best and try it next time I play USPSA.

That's funny, Scott. I've been wishing I had a SRH Alaskan in .454 to cut for moons and play the .45ACP game just to hope i could say I out shot some bottom feeders with a snubbie. Haha. Went to h&h on lunch break and saw they had a 625JM. Was tough to not spend my savings account on it, but I left with only some primers. Haha.

P.S. I found trail boss in .38 might barely make minor and shoots like a dream, too. Definitely going to use those for steel challenge this month.

 

[Scott Hearn]

Don't go too light on the 296, it doesn't like it.

That said you don't have to use full house .357 mag loads to make major either. My home brew defense load makes 195PF out of my 2.5" snubby and it's a starting charge right out of the book. I'd use another powder and back it off to about 170/172'ish. With that barrel I'm thinking N340 or something in that range would be good. Unique would probably do it too, it has a reputation for being dirty, but in a stout load it should be fairly clean.

 

[RevoShooter]

Yeah. I have some Unique on backorder, so the 296 is all I've got to work with. Trail boss in .357 looks to be about the same as the .38 loads with it, and it's the only other powder I currently have. The soot doesn't bug me too much. I shoot cap and ball for fun sometimes and dirty smokeless is nowhere as bad as pyrodex or real bp. Lol.

On the plus side a 15gr starting load is over major most likely and 10 or 11 gr is fun in my cz52 :-

 

[No.343]

The real test of a revolver load, IMHO, is shooting double action weak hand only. Don't forget about the USPSA match at OKCGC tomorrow. Squad up with the revo squad. There are people way smarter than me there.

 

[RevoShooter]

Haha for sure. Not much use in a match if you can't shoot the stage that calls for weak hand only worth a poop.

I'm going to try to make it out there tomorrow, but it just depends on if I can actually get off work by midnight or not. Saturday 9 am is not really easy to get to when you get off work at 2 or 3 am. Haha.

 

[RevoShooter]

Pre work h&h trip has given me the confidence to try it next time. Didn't get enough loaded to try .357 tomorrow but it's good to know it will work and my handloads worked well from up close to the furthest H&H's handgun range goes.