125 grain 357 magnum load damage to revolver

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oldcrab

Bearcat
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Nov 23, 2022
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I have been reading a lot about the damage that can occur to a 357 magnum revolver when shooting 125 grain max loads. Would someone please explain to me exactly what is going on to cause the damage?
I don't want to over-tax my GP100 if it is a large problem.
I reload, and could allocate the 125-grain bullets to slower target loads and step up to 158-grain loads for self defense.

Your suggestions?

Thanks much.
 

3manfan

Single-Sixer
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Feb 18, 2018
Messages
310
From the complaints or warnings from years past that I can recall, they were warnings of occasional accelerated forcing cone erosion and/or top strap flame cutting if a steady diet of that particular load (125grn bullet in the 1400-1500 fps range) was fed in lessor revos such as....... anything but Rugers.
Since you hand load you can simply tailor the power of the loads to suit you preferences.
 

Wvfarrier

Blackhawk
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May 21, 2017
Messages
740
Keep in mind this occured with early model 19s that were being pushed past their limits. Ive been shooting that load for most of my life and have never actually seen it occur. One powder you do need to use caution with for those light loads is Lil Gun. It has been recorded and proven to eat away at the top strap.
 

dhains1963

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Sp101 gp100 no problem. Lighter s&w charter arms revolvers I would worry about. Any of the air-weights and perhaps even the ruger lcr 357mag
 

Johnnu2

Hunter
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I have a very old notice from Alliant Powder Co. that I cut out of one of the gun magazines that specifically says the Alliant warns NOT to use Blue Dot powder with 125gr bullets in the 357Mag cartridge. I keep it taped to my wall over my reloading bench (it doesn't have a date on it but it's gotta be 10+yrs old).

J.
 

transplant

Bearcat
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Question. I use to reload a lot of 125gr to high end loads. Gave a hell of a muzzle blast and in low light conditions the cylinder gap flash was just as eye opening. This load was mostly for my Blackhawk with the 6 1/2' barrel. Does the cylinder gap play a part in the gas cutting, the metal compound of the top strap, the powder selection?
 

Enigma

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Houston metro area, TX
Question. I use to reload a lot of 125gr to high end loads. Gave a hell of a muzzle blast and in low light conditions the cylinder gap flash was just as eye opening. This load was mostly for my Blackhawk with the 6 1/2' barrel. Does the cylinder gap play a part in the gas cutting, the metal compound of the top strap, the powder selection?

It's caused by hot gas exiting the barrel/cylinder gap. The top strap is made of the same steel as the rest of the frame. Powder selection might mitigate top strap gas cutting to some degree, but it's generally a self-limiting situation, anyway. It progresses to a certain point and then stops, typically. The powder gases are also eroding the forcing cone area of the barrel, but it generally takes a lot of shooting to perceive any damage.
 

blammer

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Oct 6, 2007
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Nebraska
As stated in other posts, top strap erosion is the one I've heard about. Everything I read said that it was self-limiting: once it cut to a certain point it would not go further (assuming similar loads). Never read of a failure because of this. Shooting heavier bullets causes the bullet to remain in the case longer, allowing more powder to burn and lessening erosion.
 

shoot to thrill

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ny
never knew why the old Russian revolver that when the hammer dropped it pushed the cylinder forward into the cone sealing the gas and no gas cutting was never adopted to modern pistols. S&W and Colt 357's not built as bull strong as Rugers
 
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jdavis

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Feb 13, 2011
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Florida
never knew why the old Russian revolver that when the hammer dropped it pushed the cylinder forward into the cone sealing the gas and no gas cutting. S&W and Colt 357's not built as bull strong as Rugers
Have you ever handled or fired an N-frame .357 S&W? It might make you rethink that statement if you had.
 

BearBiologist

Buckeye
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Dec 4, 2021
Messages
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Are you talking lighter guns such as j-frame or K-frame sized revolvers? I can't believe an N-frame sized revolvers would have problems.
 

shoot to thrill

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the N frame may not have problems if you do not push hot loads all the time. I figure they would shoot loose way before a Ruger triple lock GP 100 would
 
Joined
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I have a Nagant 1895 and the cylinder actually comes forward as the hammer is cocked. Between production tolerances and the design in general
I've never fired and gun with a higher double action trigger pull. The cylinder doesn't actually provide the seal, it's the cartridge case that protrudes
out the front of the chambers and actually extends into the barrel a bit, the bullet is seated below the end of cartridge case.
Don't have a trigger pull gauge that will go high enough but I'd guess double action pull is more than 22-25 pound range.
 

shoot to thrill

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I was trying to remember how it worked. glad you cleared it up. I want to know why that design was not tried with modern pistols
 

Dan in MI

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The top strap flame cutting is worst with light bullets and ball powders. Stick powders for whatever reason do not do it. (gas temperature difference?)

I've always thought the reason flame cutting stops at a certain point is flame temperature. Once the top strap cut is so deep the gasses have cooled enough they can no longer do damage.
 

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