Is anyone using RMR's 147gr jacked happy face bullet for 357 mag ?

[lewmed]

  I've been shooting 38 spl +p ammo in my vintage 357 revolvers but I recently acquired a new 2020 4 1/4" Python and want something a little hotter. The only bulk heavy jacketed bullets I've found at a reasonable price are RMR's 147gr happy face bullets. There is no loading data available for that new bullet and the closest thing I can find is for Speer's old 146gr jacketed bullet. The powders I have on hand are W231, Accurate #7, True blue, Unique, 2400, W296 and Tite Group. I'm wanting a powder that will fill the case so I'm thinking of trying 2400 or W296.

[Wobbly]

I shoot that bullet in 38Spc and 357M.

• In 38Spcl I use 4.0gr of W231, which gives good case fill and very reasonable accuracy.

• In 357M I'd suggest 2400 or No.7 (and BE-86).  Using Unique will give you the best "case fill". The most dangerous powder is the W296, which is also sold as "Hodgdon H110", which can be highly reactive when under-loaded or over-loaded.

Use the Speer 357M data and work up from the Starting Load in small increments. Only the W296 is going to require Mag Primers.

[lewmed]

 Wobbly  thank you for your info. I think I'll try Acc. #7  9.5 -10.5 grains with a medium crimp. I'm also going to try your 38 spl load Thanks again
 I just got off the phone with Jake at RMR what a nice guy he also thought #7 would be a good choice we must have talked for 10 min.

[m1a_scoutguy]

I bought and am using these bullets & love them. I have used them in a few 38SPL+P but the majority is for 357 Mag loadings. I do use H110 because I want magnum loads and the feel of mag loadings, yea that's just me. I have shot many out of my S&W Highway Patrolman Mod 28 and they are perfect & drop out of the pistol unassisted. I have shot the majority out of my Henry 357 and they are both super accurate and function perfectly. While Wobbly is correct it's like anything with reloading, watch your process, & then double-check your whole process again. I won't post my loads as I needed to work them up myself cuz that is all I had was the Speer book with 146Grn loads listed so do the work, be careful, and have a blast. Also, while my loads are stout, there are no signs of anything out of the ordinary, primers are perfect, etc

[Wobbly]

Use W296/H110 if you need a sun tan...

[lewmed]

 I had time this AM to try the RMR Happy Face bullets in my new 4 1/4" Python.  At 10 and 15 yards the loads with 10-10.5 garins of Accurate #7 were very accurate. The loads with 15.5 grains of W296 were accurate and eye opening people in the next lane said they felt the concussion.
 I'm liking this new Colt the DA is very smooth and after firing LHBWC and HiTek coated lead SWC's it is much easier to clean than my vintage blue S&W revolvers due to the very tight .003" gap between the forcing cone and the cylinder.